Oxford 2008 Application and Beyond

[11111]

hi , has anyone applied for the visa yet ? i would like to have some first hand info about the whole process.
pls pm me.

[nightlife2569]

Hi all,

I am looking to apply to Oxford's MFE program for 2009 and would like to gather some feedback on how my chances of being accepted stand given my current profile.

2 yrs work experience-Financial Analyst-JP Morgan Private Bank
Undergrad degree in Finance, minor in Math (just missed the major, but took Statistics, Linear Algebra, Classical Analysis...) GPA 3.96/4.0
GRE Scores (from 2006) Q= 770 (85%), V= 630 (89%), A=5.0
Letter of recommendation from college economics professor who received Masters in Literature from Oxford and manager at JPM Private Bank


I believe that my coursework from college and work is there... slightly worried about the GRE score since average Quant i've seen from previous Oxford classes is 90%, though I am above the avg in Verbal and right there in analytical. Should I be concerned with being just under in the Q section for Oxford? What is the acceptance rate for this program? Thanks!

[mbaoxford]

Got the admission offer today. Came as a great relief. What is the next step?

[jzh200]

Congratulations to everyone who was accepted.

Does anyone have information on the Oxford acceptance rate for 2008 intake?

[questioner]

Hi -- I'm looking for some advice on my profile for the Oxford MFE Program for entry in 2009. I'm very unsure of my ability to get in and reallly wanted some advice from those of you who have better insight into what they're looking for. I'm looking to apply in R1 or R2:

Degree:
BS degree with double major in Actuarial Science & Finance. Minor in Mathematics. Overall GPA: 3.0/4.0 (graduated in 3 yrs) Top university.
=> Not a very strong performance at all. But the Act Sci courses were taken with graduate students. I was also the youngest graduate in my year.
* Also did internships at a couple of top investment banks.

Experience:
JPMorgan's Fixed Income Group for the last two years. Can provide strong recommendations.

GMAT:
Have not taken the test yet, but am expecting a 720-740 based on practice tests.

Don't know if extracurriculars matter, but I'm also an amateur journalist.

I'm not sure if I stand a chance for the MFE. If I get in, I'm hoping to use this as a segway to the MPhil and the DPhil, which is the ultimate aim.

Looking forward to your opinions!

[3amp]

Originally Posted by questioner

Hi -- I'm looking for some advice on my profile for the Oxford MFE Program for entry in 2009. I'm very unsure of my ability to get in and reallly wanted some advice from those of you who have better insight into what they're looking for. I'm looking to apply in R1 or R2:

Degree:
BS degree with double major in Actuarial Science & Finance. Minor in Mathematics. Overall GPA: 3.0/4.0 (graduated in 3 yrs) Top university.
=> Not a very strong performance at all. But the Act Sci courses were taken with graduate students. I was also the youngest graduate in my year.
* Also did internships at a couple of top investment banks.

Experience:
JPMorgan's Fixed Income Group for the last two years. Can provide strong recommendations.

GMAT:
Have not taken the test yet, but am expecting a 720-740 based on practice tests.

Don't know if extracurriculars matter, but I'm also an amateur journalist.

I'm not sure if I stand a chance for the MFE. If I get in, I'm hoping to use this as a segway to the MPhil and the DPhil, which is the ultimate aim.

Looking forward to your opinions!

Hi,

I would recommend that you expand your application horizon. I mean apply at LBS and LSE besides Oxford. Infact I would rate LBS as the 1st school of choice, closely followed by LSE and finally Oxford. All of these schools have an incredible faculty, have been acknowledged as the best by the employers and have a very powerful alumni list. If you ultimate goal is MPhil then I would seriously recommend LSE, its M.Sc. in finance is quite rigorous in its approach and has great faculty.

No matter whether you apply at LBS or Oxford or LSE, the MFE program demands a high GMAT score (720+) with a very high Quant score (48+). If you are able to score well in these two quarters then half the battle is won. The next the adcom sees is whether you have taken Maths - which you have as a minor in BS, in your undergrad. Generally most schools also expect the overall GPA to be over 3.5.

Also certain schools have more detailed admission criteria such as LBS; it expects the applicant to have the relevant work experience i.e. you should have been working at an investment bank / in finance to apply.

Your experience at JPMorgan is definitely a huge plus. References and extra curriculars generally don't really matter that much in the case of MFE as this is course is a more academic intensive than a MBA.

I think that the only bugbear in your case might be the overall GPA which the adcom expect it to around 3.5.

Overall if you expand your horizon to Oxford/LSE/LBS you will be better placed and might even get a choice of schools.

[questioner]

Thanks very much for the insight! I don't think I'm as interested in LBS though for some reason.. I'm most interested in Oxford's MFE, which I'd like to follow up with an extra year to do MPhil courses and then to move on to the PhD. However, LSE could well be an option. Failing these two, I'd rather continue working for another couple of years and apply to MBA programs in the US.

But my biggest concern now is my undergrad GPA.. will the fact that I took Maths and Statistics graduate classes as a 19 year-old factor into their consideration if I score high on the GMAT?

My courses at undergrad included Calc I-III, Linear Algebra, Stochastic Processes, Investment Mathematics, Regression and Time Series Analysis as well as a slew of Finance courses, although I scored a B to B- average in all these.

Will doing the CFA make up (somewhat) from my undergrad record?

Thanks for your help!

[3amp]

Originally Posted by questioner

Thanks very much for the insight! I don't think I'm as interested in LBS though for some reason.. I'm most interested in Oxford's MFE, which I'd like to follow up with an extra year to do MPhil courses and then to move on to the PhD. However, LSE could well be an option. Failing these two, I'd rather continue working for another couple of years and apply to MBA programs in the US.

But my biggest concern now is my undergrad GPA.. will the fact that I took Maths and Statistics graduate classes as a 19 year-old factor into their consideration if I score high on the GMAT?

My courses at undergrad included Calc I-III, Linear Algebra, Stochastic Processes, Investment Mathematics, Regression and Time Series Analysis as well as a slew of Finance courses, although I scored a B to B- average in all these.

Will doing the CFA make up (somewhat) from my undergrad record?

Thanks for your help!

LSE asks for 3.5 GPA in your undergrad degree. However I think they might be able to overlook that hygiene score factor as you currently work in investment banking. So my take is give it your best shot.

Oxford might be a bit relaxed on the GPA score front. So you hold a better chance @ Oxford.

I think based on yr undergrad studies, your math background shouldn't be much of an issue.

Ace the gmat coz a lot hinges on the GMAT overall & the quant score. It is something that you can control, forget the undergrad score it already done and dusted.

Focus on GMAT & essays; mention in your essays that you wish to do your MPhil/Phd.

My take is that you have a strong overall app, so be confident and finally apply early.

[amitp_infy]

Originally Posted by mbaoxford

Got the admission offer today. Came as a great relief. What is the next step?

Hi,

I am planning to give my GMAT in October '08 and looking for Oxford 2009 admission. Have a questinon for you...Is there any preferences/additional advantage for R1 than R2,R3,R4 etc... or all the rounds carry equal weightage inerms admissions..and schols...

TIA.

[indrani12]

Hi!..
This thread has been exxxxtremely useful!....So thankful to everyone who shared their experiences....

I'm planning to apply to SBS for an MBA startin Fall 2009....gonna try n send in my application in R1, the deadline is 24th Oct.....my GMAT is on 17th Sept n my profile is as follows....
-Strong acads...Topped college in 12th in 4th Rank in Final yr....
-Cleared my CA Final in the 1st attempt in May 2008 and currently undergoing articleship which ends in April 2009, which would then make me a qualified CA
-Decent extracurriculars

I'm hoping to get in touch with other applicants for my intake as well as get my queries sorted once i actually start my application process

Cheers,
Indrani