mit mfin essay sample

Sample Personal Statement Finance (MIT Sloan)

by Talha Omer, M.Eng., Cornell Grad

In personal statement samples by field | personal statements samples by university.

Here is the personal statement of an applicant who got admitted to MIT Sloan’s  Masters in Finance program . For personal statement, Sloan poses several questions to applicants, which the admissions committee expects to be answered in an essay form. MIT provides these personal statement prompts to encourage students to self-reflect and then to share their insights with the program. 

The following essays are an example of a compelling story and reflect the original voice and personality of the applicant. Get inspiration from them and try to incorporate their strengths into your own personal statement.

In this Article

Personal Statement Prompt 1

Personal statement prompt 2, personal statement prompt 3.

Please discuss past academic and professional experiences and accomplishments that will help you succeed in the Master of Finance program. Include achievements in finance, math, statistics, and computer sciences, as applicable. 

As an ardent finance student, I have always sought opportunities to develop a solid grounding in the subject.

During my undergraduate, I successfully co-founded a philanthropic long/short Impact Investment Hedge Fund, “Australian Students Asset Management” (ASAM). The fund secured firms like Goldman Sachs to provide pro-bono services and mentorship. In addition, I developed a proprietary ESG algorithm to identify investment opportunities per our social development mandate. As a result, our investments have consistently outperformed our benchmark. Furthermore, I attended two courses at LSE on Alternative Investments and Financial Risk with “A” grades. This involved in-depth exploration of topics like Monte Carlo, Bootstrapping, Financial Modelling and Stratification.

As an Associate at PwC, I created PwC’s first fully automated valuation process. This consisted of using industry-specific valuation templates using Python and VBA for data scraping. This solution saw significant savings for the firm and is now used by PwC throughout the world.

As an analyst with Barclays Capital, a Global Quantitative Hedge Fund, I gained exposure to arbitrage trading strategies by implementing statistical principles like mean reversion, volatility trends and co-integration in Python. This helped me develop successful trading algorithms yielding a highly desirable annualized return of 33%.

Describe your short-term and long-term professional goals. How will our MFin degree help you achieve these goals?

My short-term goal is to return to Australia and establish my own quantitative “for-profit” hedge fund. I will utilize my previous experience co-founding the philanthropic hedge fund, ASAM, to that effect. My long-term goal is to expand this hedge fund’s operations overseas and invest in the North American markets, as they present significant growth opportunities.

At MIT, I am eager to research the implications of current trends in institutional capital flows. This detailed exploration will enhance my understanding of the potential risks of passive investing and provide an edge in building trust with future investors.

As an Analyst at Barclays Capital, I developed event-driven and relative-value trading algorithms using Python. With the MFin, I will create an advanced, intuitive approach to data science problems, enabling the manipulation of alternative data sets to automate trading decisions and executions. The Advanced Analytics and Data Science courses and Analytics Certificate are especially exciting as they will allow me to understand shallow models and train deep neural networks in an economic context. I also hope to improve my technical skills around asset pricing and general dimension reduction techniques and ensemble methods which are critical to forming accurately priced derivatives.

Please share personal qualities that will enable you to contribute to the advancement of our mission.

THE MISSION

The mission of the MIT Sloan School of Management is to develop principled, innovative leaders who improve the world and generate ideas that advance management practice.

I believe success as a Leader requires one to have a passion for taking the initiative, thinking outside the box and persevering in adversity.

These traits have always been integral to my personal and professional pursuits, including my recent experience as a special education teacher in San Pedro, a rural village in Costa Rica. I was required to develop creative methods to overcome the language barrier and constructed visual aids from cardboard pieces to make block numbers. In addition, the school had a dire need for wheelchairs, so I devised a cost-effective design to repurpose old bicycles into wheelchairs that we implemented as a team. My commitment to improving the world through innovation will allow me to contribute actively to MIT’s mission.

Furthermore, my extensive involvement in boxing has enabled me to develop perseverance and increased focus in facing challenges. My first loss was devastating, and I considered giving up the sport, as my goal had been to maintain a perfect record. Ultimately, increasing training intensity, dance classes and the strong support from my team allowed me to win my next match and achieve the Most Improved Fighter award by the Sydney Boxing League.

WANT MORE AMAZING ARTICLES ON GRAD SCHOOL PERSONAL STATEMENTS?

• 100+ Outstanding Examples of Personal Statements
• The Ultimate Guide to Writing a Winning Personal Statement
• Common Pitfalls to Avoid in Your Personal Statement
• Writing a Killer Opening Paragraph for Your Personal Statement
• Ideal Length for a Graduate School Personal Statement
• 100 Inspiring Quotes to Jumpstart Your Personal Statement

Sample Personal Statement for Masters in International Business

Sample Personal Statement for Masters in International Business My journey began amidst the kaleidoscope of Qatar's landscapes, setting the stage for a life attuned to cultural nuances. Transitioning to Riyadh in my teens, I absorbed a mosaic of traditions, sparking a...

Sample Personal Statement for Family Medicine Residency

Personal Statement Prompt: A personal letter is required. We are looking for mature, enthusiastic physicians who bring with them a broad range of life experiences, are committed to providing excellent patient care, and can embrace the depth and breadth of experiences...

Harvard Personal Statement Example

In this article, I will be providing a sample grad school personal statement for Harvard University. This example aims to show how prospective applicants like you can seamlessly weave your passion, skills, and relevant experiences into a compelling narrative. In...

[2024] 4 Law School Personal Statement Examples from Top Programs

In this article, I will discuss 4 law school personal statement samples. These statements have been written by successful applicants who gained admission to prestigious US Law schools like Yale, Harvard, and Stanford. The purpose of these examples is to demonstrate...

Sample Personal Statement Cybersecurity

In this article, I will be providing a sample grad school personal statement in the field of cybersecurity. This sample was written by an applicant who got admitted into George Mason, Northeastern and Arizona State University. This example aims to show how prospective...

WANT AMAZING ARTICLES ON GRAD SCHOOL PERSONAL STATEMENTS?

• 100+ Personal Statement Templates

What are your chances of acceptance?

Calculate for all schools, your chance of acceptance.

Your chancing factors

Extracurriculars.

5 Marvelous MIT Essay Examples

What’s covered:, essay example #1 – simply for the pleasure of it, essay example #2 – overcoming challenges, essay example #3 – dreams and aspirations, essay example #4 – community at a new school, essay example #5 – community in soccer.

• Where to Get Feedback on Your MIT Essay  

Sophie Alina , an expert advisor on CollegeVine, provided commentary on this post. Advisors offer one-on-one guidance on everything from essays to test prep to financial aid. If you want help writing your essays or feedback on drafts,  book a consultation with Sophie Alina or another skilled advisor.

MIT is a difficult school to be admitted into; a strong essay is key to a successful application. In this post, we will discuss a few essays that real students submitted to MIT, and outline the essays’ strengths and areas of improvement. (Names and identifying information have been changed, but all other details are preserved). 

Read our MIT essay breakdown  to get a comprehensive overview of this year’s supplemental prompts.

Please note: Looking at examples of real essays students have submitted to colleges can be very beneficial to get inspiration for your essays. You should never copy or plagiarize from these examples when writing your own essays. Colleges can tell when an essay isn’t genuine and will not view students favorably if they plagiarized. 

Prompt: We know you lead a busy life, full of activities, many of which are required of you. Tell us about something you do simply for the pleasure of it. 

After devouring Lewis Carrolls’ masterpiece, my world shifted off its axis. I transformed into Alice, and my favorite place, the playground, became Wonderland. I would gallivant around, marveling at flowers and pestering my parents with questions, murmuring, “Curiouser and curiouser.” If Alice’s “Drink Me” potion was made out of curiosity, I drank liters of it. Alice, along with fairytale retellings like the Land of Stories by Chris Colfer, kickstarted my lifelong love of reading. 

Especially when I was younger, reading brought me solace when the surrounding world was filled with madness (and sadly, not like the fun kind in Alice in Wonderland ). There are so many nonsensical things that happen in the world, from shootings at a movie theater not thirty minutes from my home, to hate crimes targeted towards elderly Asians. Reading can be a magical escape from these problems, an opportunity to clear one’s mind from chaos. 

As I got older, reading remained an escape, but also became a way to see the world and people from a new perspective. I can step into so many different people’s shoes, from a cyborg mechanic ( Cinder ), to a blind girl in WWII’s France (Marie-Laure, All the Light We Cannot See ). Sure, madness is often prevalent in these worlds too, but reading about how these characters deal with it helps me deal with our world’s madness, too. 

Reading also transcends generational gaps, allowing me to connect to my younger siblings through periodic storytimes. Reading is timeless — something I’ll never tire of. 

What the Essay Did Well

This essay is highly detailed and, while it plays off a common idea that reading is an escape, the writer brings in personal examples of why this is so, making the essay more their own. These personal examples often include strong language (e.g. “devoured,” “gallivant,” “pestering” ), which make the imagery more vivid, the writing more interesting. More advanced language can add more nuance to an essay– instead of “ate,” the writer chooses to say “devoured, ” and you can almost see the writer taking the book in almost as quickly as they might polish off a tray of cookies. 

The writer also discusses how reading can not only be a solace from events that seem nonsensical, but a way to understand the madness in these events. By giving two different examples of how this can be so, that seem so varied from each other (the cyborg mechanic and the girl in WWII’s France), the writer creates more depth to this idea. 

What Could Be Improved

At the beginning, the writer should consider cutting the introduction paragraph by a line to leave more room for the two major points of the essay in the following paragraphs. Instead of a long sentence about a love of reading being kickstarted, the writer could create a short, powerful sentence to kick off the next two paragraphs. “I was in love with reading.” 

The detail at the end about how reading also transcends generational gaps seems like an add-on that doesn’t connect to the past two ideas– instead, I would suggest that this author expand a little more on the prior two ideas and tie them together at the end. “In this timeless world of reading, I can keep drinking from the well of curiosity. In the pages of a book, I have a space to find out more about the world around me, process its events, and more deeply understand others.”

Prompt: Tell us about the most significant challenge you’ve faced or something important that didn’t go according to plan. How did you manage the situation? 

“It’s… unique,” they say. 

I sag, my younger sister’s koala drawing staring at me from the wall. It always seemed like her art ended up praised and framed, while mine ended up in the trash can when I wasn’t looking. In contrast to my sister, art always came as a bit of a struggle for me. My bowls were lopsided and my portraits looked like demons. Many times, I’ve wanted to scream and quit art once and for all. I craved my parents’ validation, a nod of approval or a frame on the wall. 

Eventually, my art improved, and I made some of my favorite projects, from a ceramic haunted house to mushroom salt-and-pepper shakers. Even then, I didn’t get much praise from my parents, but I realized I genuinely loved art. It wasn’t something I enjoyed because of others’ praise; I just liked creating things of my own and the inexplicable thrill of chasing a challenge. Art has taught me to love failing miserably at something to continue it again the next day. If I never endured countless Bob Ross tutorials, I never would’ve made the mountain painting that I hang in my room today; if I never made pottery that blew up (just once!), I wouldn’t have my giant ceramic pie. 

I’m still light years from being an expert, but I’ll never tire of the kick of a challenge. 

The detail about the sister’s koala drawing being framed and praised while this writer’s portraits look like “demons” and bowls “lopsided” draws a nice contrast between the skills of the sister versus those of the writer.  In response to this “Overcoming Challenges” prompt , the author justifies that this is a significant challenge by saying that they “wanted to scream and quit art once and for all” and that they still desired their parents’ approval. 

The writer’s response to the situation—taking more tutorials online, creating many different pots before getting it right–is nicely framed. Many times, students forget to include examples that demonstrate how they respond to the situation, and this writer does a good job of including some of those details. 

The writer seems to emphasize the parents’ approval piece in the first paragraph, but then moves away from that point more to focus on the “thrill of chasing a challenge.” This essay could be improved by focusing a little more on how the writer emotionally moved past not getting that approval “Even then, I didn’t get much praise from my parents, but I finally realized I didn’t need to focus on that. I could focus on my love of art, on the inexplicable thrill of chasing the challenge…” 

Additionally, the sentence that starts with “Eventually, my art improved…” leaves the reader with the ques tion– how? Saying something like “Eventually, after many YouTube tutorials and a few destroyed pots, my art improved” would add detail, without taking away from the sentence about the Bob Ross tutorials and the pot blowing up. 

Prompt: Describe the world you come from (for example, your family, school, community, city, or town). How has that world shaped your dreams and aspirations? (225 words)

When the school bell rang, I jumped on my bike and sped home to watch the Tom and Jerry cartoon. I took off my school uniform and sat in the living room, pressing the remote’s power button. I pressed it again frantically, feeling another heart drop as the screen remained black. “Oh my God,” I sobbed as I rushed up to ensure that all wires were properly plugged into their respective sockets, but the screen was still black.

I unplugged the television, disassembled it, and examined every component, starting with the power switch. I’ve been tinkering with old radios for a long time, so I easily realized that a power surge had destroyed its capacitor. I replaced it with one from my radio, and the TV turned on immediately. While I couldn’t watch the cartoon, fixing the TV not only made me happy, but it also piqued my interest in the digital world. I began looking into technical opportunities in my community, starting with a nearby repairing shop, where I became acquainted with electronic devices: smart phones, laptops, televisions, and printers. Today, if I’m not repairing people’s electronics, I’m amazed by integrating broken gadgets.

This writer does an excellent job of addressing the “dreams and aspirations” line of this prompt. They clearly describe how their interest in technology emerged, in a well-paced, energetic way that makes us readers vicariously feel their passion and excitement.

Additionally, introducing us to their love of repairing electronics through the seemingly mundane event of their TV not working is a smart choice, for two reasons:

• Everyone has experienced their TV, phone, laptop, etc. not working, so this story helps readers relate to the student
• They go on to talk about how they used their newfound skill to help others, and thus portray themselves as someone who views even the simplest occurrence as an opportunity to make the world better

Obviously, one of the main goals of the college essay is to connect with admissions officers, to get them personally invested in your story and, by extension, excited about your potential as an MIT student. Being relatable is one of the best ways to build that connection.

And, of course, MIT wants to accept students who are going “to advance knowledge and educate students in science, technology, and other areas of scholarship that will best serve the nation and the world in the 21st century” (per MIT’s mission statement). At such a selective school, grades and test scores alone won’t set you apart–aligning your values with theirs is critical, and this student does so in a natural, authentic way.

While this essay is well-written, there’s one major issue: the student doesn’t fully answer the prompt. As noted above, they focus primarily on the “dreams and aspirations” line, and while they do tell a compelling story, we don’t learn anything about their “ family, school, community, city, or town,” beyond a brief mention of a repair shop where they live.

Especially at highly selective schools like MIT, admissions officers choose their essay questions carefully, based on the information they feel they need to properly evaluate your candidacy. So, if you fail to answer part of a prompt, in a certain sense your application is incomplete. As you work towards the final draft of your essay, make sure you reread the prompt and confirm you’ve responded to it thoroughly.

In this essay, for example, the writer could have reworked the opening paragraph slightly, to include details about who they typically watch TV with, whether that’s their friends, siblings, parents, or someone else. They also could have gone into more detail about the repair shop, by describing what their boss was like, if they had any coworkers, and so on. These additions would make the student’s “world” come alive in a way it currently doesn’t. 

Of course, fully responding to a prompt while staying under the word count can be hard, but this student actually has 31 extra words at their disposal. And even if they had to make cuts elsewhere, answering all parts of a prompt takes priority over including every single detail in your story.

Finally, on a linguistic level, the ending of this essay is quite abrupt. In a relatively short supplement like this, you don’t need (or even want) a lengthy conclusion, but you should have a quick line or phrase to wrap up the story. 

For example, say the last line read something like “ Today, if I’m not repairing people’s electronics, I’m amazed by integrating broken gadgets, and dreaming of all the fixes I have yet to learn.” With just a few extra words, this version not only brings things full circle by connecting back to the prompt, but also subtly builds a bridge between the student’s current passions and their potential future at MIT.

Prompt: MIT brings people with diverse backgrounds and experiences together to better the lives of others. Our students work to improve their communities in different ways, from tackling the world’s biggest challenges to being good friends. Describe one way you have collaborated with people who are different from you to contribute to your community. (225 words)

Embarking in a new environment can be challenging, but when everyone is new, it can be disastrous. After completing grade 9, every Rwandan student is transferred to a new school to pursue advanced secondary schooling. When I transferred to a new school, people only talked to those who had previously attended the same school, resulting in fierce competition and people being unable to interact together.

In an effort to solve this problem, I brainstormed ways to bring the entire class together, and “The caremate game” came to mind. I assigned each student a caretaker, another student with whom they were unfamiliar, and required them to look after him / her for the entire week, which included telling stories, buying snacks in the canteen, jogging together, and so on. However, because some people would not accept this game in the first place, I spoke to the tastemakers in the class before introducing it so that they could persuade others.

Everything went as planned; some students who couldn’t even interact before ended up in relationships. Everyone wanted to play it again, and we ended up doing so three times. Today, we are no longer divided; rather, we are a family of brothers and sisters.

In this essay, which is responding to a creative take on the classic “Community” prompt, the student does a great job of showcasing several qualities that MIT prizes in its students: problem-solving, imagination, and empathy, as well as an ability to make a difference in their everyday life.

We also want to highlight that the same student actually wrote both this essay and Example #4. We point this out because these two essays work in tandem, to present the student as simultaneously inventive and altruistic, even in quite ordinary situations. This picture would not be as clear if the student has chosen to highlight one set of qualities in Example #4, and a different set here.

Because college applications are inherently limiting in how much information they allow you to share about yourself–nobody can pack their entire personality into a transcript, an activities list, a 650-word personal statement, and a handful of supplements–some students are tempted to pack as much about themselves into their supplements as possible. However, that approach typically ends up being counterproductive.

Of course, we are all multifaceted, but if you choose to present yourself in three different ways in three different essays, MIT admissions officers may be unclear on who exactly they’d be admitting to their school. Remember, they’re trying to determine not just how well you’d do at MIT yourself, but also how you’d fit into the broader freshman class they’re assembling.

For example, if you were to talk about your love of fixing electronics above and then, say, your Taylor Swift fandom here, admissions officers may have a hard time determining how those two pieces of your personality fit together. After all, they have no additional background context on you, and they also have no choice but to read applications quickly, because they have so many to get through. 

So, while having different, seemingly conflicting sides to your personality is part of being human, in the context of college applications specifically your goal should be to emphasize the same points in each essay, like this student. Cohesive applications are more memorable to admissions officers, as they clearly and directly show what that student has to offer that nobody else in the applicant pool does.

Just like there is some overlap between the strengths of this student’s essays, this essay’s biggest fault is a disconnect with the prompt, which asks applicants to “Describe one way you have collaborated with people who are different from you to contribute to your community.”

Remember, MIT admissions officers choose their prompts carefully. Including the bolded line, rather than having the prompt be just “Describe one way you have contributed to your community” means they want to see collaboration highlighted in your response.

While this student briefly mentions speaking “ to the tastemakers in the class before introducing it so that they could persuade others,” this is the only mention of collaboration in the essay, and we get no detail about what their conversations with these other students looked like, or the specific actions the other students took to ensure the success of the project. When a topic features so prominently in the prompt, you want to make sure you give it more than a passing glance in your response.

We also don’t get any explanation of what made these students different from the author. We can infer that they didn’t go to the same school before, but you never want to leave a key detail up to inference, as it’s always possible your reader doesn’t read you the way you intend. 

Additionally, going to a different school doesn’t tell us what made these students different on a deeper level. MIT wants to see that you’re prepared to thrive at a school with students from all corners of the world, some of whom will have drastically different life experiences from you. Because we don’t know what made this student different from their peers in terms of personality, background, etc., nor how they worked across that difference, we can’t envision how they’d navigate MIT’s diverse student body.

Overall, the takeaway here is that choosing a topic for a college essay is a two-fold process. First, you need to have a strong story, which this student does. But secondly, and just as importantly, you want to cater the details of that story to the specific prompt you’re responding to, so that admissions officers will have all the information they need to make a well-informed decision about your candidacy.

Prompt: At MIT, we bring people together to better the lives of others. MIT students work to improve their communities in different ways, from tackling the world’s biggest challenges to being a good friend. Describe one way in which you have contributed to your community, whether in your family, the classroom, your neighborhood, etc. (200-250 words)

“Orange throw!”

As I extended my arm to signal properly, the smallest girl on the orange team picked up the ball to throw it back into play. In AYSO, U10 players often lift their back foot when throwing the ball, so I focused my attention there.

Don’t lift it. Keep it down.

It shot straight up. 

My instincts blew the whistle to stop the game. The rulebook is simple: the rule was broken, give it to the other team. But the way she tried, eager to play, eager to learn and try again— I couldn’t punish that. So I made my way over to the sideline to try it myself.

“When we’re throwing it in, we wanna keep our back foot down. Try again!” After demonstrating, I backpedaled a bit and watched her throw again.

Don’t lift it. Keep it down… Ah, it stayed down.

“Nice throw!”

And just like that, we were off again. These short, educational encounters happen multiple times a game. And while they may not be prescribed, they provide so many learning opportunities. These kids, they’re the future of soccer. If they learn the basics, they can achieve greatness.

Every time I step out onto the pitch, that’s what I see: potential. Little Alex may not throw correctly now, but with work, she could become the next Alex Morgan. That’s why, in every soccer game I referee, every new situation I’m thrust into, I strive to see what’s more; I strive to see the potential.

There is so much imagery in this essay! It’s easy to see the scene in your mind. Through details such as “smallest girl” and describing the team as the “orange,” the reader can more easily picture the scene in their mind. Giving color, size, and other details such as these can make the imagery stronger and the picture clearer in the reader’s mind. 

The writer narrates their thought process through their use of italics, bringing the reader into the mind of the writer. The space for each line of dialogue separates each thought, so that the reader can feel the full emphasis of each line. The mingling of cognitive narration and details about the setting keep the momentum of the essay. 

Through this essay, we learn that this referee is supportive to the members of the youth soccer teams that they are refereeing; instead of seeing the role of referee as punitive (punishing), this writer sees it as a coaching experience. This idea of creating educational encounters as one’s contribution to the community is definitely a great idea to build upon for this essay prompt. 

The contribution to the community is clear because of the emphasis on the coaching aspect of refereeing. However, especially thinking about structure, the author spends about half the essay on a single situation. Limiting this story to a third of the essay could give the writer more space to provide examples of other ways that the author has coached others. The author could have also connected this coaching experience to a mentoring experience in a different context, such as mentoring students at the YMCA,  to create more connections between other extracurriculars and give more weight to this author’s contributions to the community. 

The second to last paragraph ( “And just like that, we were off again…” ) could benefit from another example or two about showing, not telling. The sentence “And while they might not be prescribed, they provide so many learning opportunities” is already clear from the situation that the author has given; the author has already called these “educational encounters” in the prior sentence. Instead of that sentence, the writer could have given another example about a child thanking the writer for a coaching tip, or the expression on a different player’s face when they learned a new skill. 

Additionally, the role of the writer is not immediately clear at the beginning, although it’s suspected that this student is most likely the referee. The writer also provides details about “AYSO” (American Youth Soccer Organization) and “U10,” where they could have simply referred to the games as “youth soccer games” to get the point across that the players are still learning basic skills about throwing the ball in. 

To make all of this clear, the writer could have said “As a referee for youth soccer games, I have seen that players often lift their back foot when throwing the ball, so I focused my attention there.” Acronyms are usually best to be avoided in essays- they can take the reader’s attention away from what is actually happening and lead them to wonder about what the letters in the acronym stand for.

Where to Get Feedback on Your MIT Essay 

Do you want feedback on your MIT  essays? After rereading your essays countless times, it can be difficult to evaluate your writing objectively. That’s why we created our free Peer Essay Review tool , where you can get a free review of your essay from another student. You can also improve your own writing skills by reviewing other students’ essays. 

If you want a college admissions expert to review your essay, advisors on CollegeVine have helped students refine their writing and submit successful applications to top schools. Find the right advisor for you to improve your chances of getting into your dream school!

Related CollegeVine Blog Posts

How to get into MIT Master of Finance

by admin | Jan 11, 2019 | Blog | 0 comments

Are you a high-achiever looking for a rewarding career in finance?

Then here’s a deal that will work wonders with you and reward your future preparations with the right results. With the high esteem it carries in the business world an MSC can be a springboard for a career in Finance today.

MIT’s Master of Finance program features a rigorous 12 or 18 months curriculum, emphasizing a foundation in how markets work and engineered around the most advanced financial theories, quantitative models and industry practices.

MFin carries with it a legendary reputation, world-renowned faculty and innovative, hands-on learning experiences in a top-ranked, early-stage finance degree.

The program is adaptive to meet your specific requirements across a broad range of premier career opportunities in sought-after established financial institutions, corporations, consulting firms, the public sector, and fintech.

About MIT Sloan                         

MIT S loan is a different kind of management school. They are not iterating on a better widget or cashing in on the latest business fad. They are not talking about management in the abstract. As part of the world’s leading research institution, They are bringing together today’s brightest minds to tackle global challenges.

The MIT Sloan School of Management began in 1914, as the engineering administration curriculum (“Course 15”) in the MIT Department of Economics and Statistics. The scope and depth of this educational focus grew steadily in response to advances in the theory and practice of management.

At the intersection of business and technology, They are exploring the future of work. They are launching companies that kick start local economies in the developing world. They are retooling systems to make health care work better and to engage people around the world in addressing climate change.

• For  students , this means different kinds of opportunities. Hands-on learning. Global experience. And a relentless focus on impact.
• For  faculty , this means different fields of research. New work in emerging areas that don’t fit into existing departments. And colleagues across MIT.
• For  alumni , this means a vibrant global network of like-minded innovators, ready to help you advance your career and turn your vision into reality.
• For  organizational leaders  the world over, this means a wellspring of ideas and talent. Brilliant minds. Practical problem-solvers. Meaningful research. And tools you can apply to your own work.

Practicality is the essence of MIT’s Master of Finance program. It’s just one year, as opposed to numerous MIT MFin programs that are 1.5 to 2 years. According to the website notes, it was developed “as a direct response to demand in the financial industry”.

In spite of the short duration, the program offers flexibility to tailor it to your needs. Moreover, it’s an “early career” program for students, pre-program experience averages 0-4 years. According to the website, about 50% are coming directly from undergrad.

MIT Master of Finance Acceptance Rate

A premium university, such as this, certainly has its standards high enough to make anyone sweat, and that is fair enough, given the quality courses, programs and top-notch faculty that is provided by the institute.

With an acceptance rate of around 10%, the selected student must also have solid academic achievements and test scores.

You should have average GPA of 3.7 (in programs spanning various disciplines, from economics and math to engineering and business to humanities and science). GMAT mid 80% range 700-770, with quant 48-51. GRE quant mid 80% range 161-170.

So, this is a general overview of all that is required at the minimum stage of MIT finance course’s acceptance.

How to get into MIT as an international student

With the acceptance rate of 10% getting into MIT Master of Finance is no child’s play, here are some prerequisites that MIT sets before aspiring applicants-

• Prerequisite  quantitative coursework , here’s an example-

Listed below is an outline of the mathematical background and programming skills that students are expected to have in order to be successful in the most challenging of courses in the program.

• Linear algebra : Basic topics, including matrix/vector notation, operations on matrices and vectors, determinants, eigenvalues and eigenvectors, quadratic forms, and systems of linear equations.
• Calculus : Multivariable differentiation and integration, series expansions, and function approximation and maximization.
• Probability : Sample spaces and random variables, common distributions and densities, moments of distributions, conditional probability, and Bayes’ theorem, the law of large numbers, central limit theorem, joint distributions, covariance, correlation, and stochastic independence.
• Stochastic processes : Random walks, Bernoulli trials, Markov processes, basic properties of linear time series models, continuous-time processes, and Ito’s dilemma.
• Statistics / econometrics : Parameter estimation, confidence intervals, hypothesis tests, linear regression models, ordinary least squares, and likelihood principle.
• Computer literacy : Students entering the MIT MFin program are expected to possess basic programming skills needed for processing and analyzing data. As part of the degree requirements, all students in the MFin program need to pass the programming aptitude test (PAT).

Entering students will take the PAT at the beginning of the summer term using any of the following programming languages: R, Python, C, or C++.

Those who do not successfully pass the test will be required to take the additional class(es) on coding and retake the PAT.

• Most desired personal qualities are the ability to collaborate, willingness to think/look outside of the proverbial box (a classic MIT value), and high motivation (use your essays to demonstrate these qualities).
• While most of the students have no official professional experience. The adcom wants to see at least a related internship so that students come with some practical exposure.
• Interviews are selective (about 30%) and by invitation only. Every accepted applicant is interviewed (about 30% of those interviewed are admitted).
• Good news for internationals: a TOEFL score is not required!

  What if you do not have the perfect profile for MIT Master of Finance?

Most of the people might not have the perfect grades or scores, but they can highlight their other strengths to compensate for it. For instance, your letter of recommendations-

Letter of Recommendation

At MIT, it is required that all applicants send in two letters of recommendation. One from a math or science teacher (“Evaluation A”) and another one from a humanities teacher (“Evaluation B”).

You should certainly ask a teacher who has taught you in an academic class in high school. Ideally, this will also be a teacher who knows you as more than just a student who does well on all the tests.

We find that the best recommendations are written by teachers who know an applicant well as both a student and a person.

Also, your interview plays an important role in your admission because a strong interview definitely helps your chances of being admitted. Always remember that an average or bad interview does not help but is not likely in itself to crush your application.

There have unquestionably been students admitted to MIT whose interviews did not go well.

Class Profile for MIT Master of Finance

Below is the class profile for students entering summer 2018.

MIT Master of Finance Admission Requirements

So, to apply to MIT Sloan, please prepare a variety of materials to help them assess your qualifications. Remember, all materials must be submitted online by the application deadlines .

A complete MIT Master of Finance application for July 2019 entry consists of the following:

• VIDEO ESSAY
• LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION
• ACADEMIC RECORDS (TRANSCRIPTS)
• OPTIONAL QUESTION
• TEST SCORES
• SUBMITTING YOUR ONLINE APPLICATION
• APPLICATION FEE

So, MIT Master of Finance seeks smart, motivated applicants who are passionate about finance. Recent graduates, early career professionals in finance, engineers, mathematicians, physicists, computer programmers, and other high-tech professionals are encouraged to apply.

Therefore, each applicant is measured on his or her academic and professional accomplishments. And if your dream is to be one of them, it is time to grip up your pants and get ready for your admission!

Submit a Comment Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published.

Recent Posts

Top 6 strategies which will lower your cost of studying abroad, 5 tips to learn a foreign language.

First-year applicants: Essays, activities & academics

Rather than asking you to write one long essay, the MIT application consists of several short response questions and essays designed to help us get to know you. Remember that this is not a writing test. Be honest, be open, be authentic—this is your opportunity to connect with us.

You should certainly be thoughtful about your essays, but if you’re thinking too much—spending a lot of time stressing or strategizing about what makes you “look best,” as opposed to the answers that are honest and easy—you’re doing it wrong.

Our questions

For the 2023–2024 application, we’re asking these short answer essay questions:

• What field of study appeals to you the most right now? (Note: Applicants select from a drop-down list.) Tell us more about why this field of study at MIT appeals to you.
• We know you lead a busy life, full of activities, many of which are required of you. Tell us about something you do simply for the pleasure of it.
• How has the world you come from—including your opportunities, experiences, and challenges—shaped your dreams and aspirations?
• MIT brings people with diverse backgrounds together to collaborate, from tackling the world’s biggest challenges to lending a helping hand. Describe one way you have collaborated with others to learn from them, with them, or contribute to your community together.
• How did you manage a situation or challenge that you didn’t expect? What did you learn from it?

Depending on the question, we’re looking for responses of approximately 100–200 words each. There is also one final, open-ended, additional-information text box where you can tell us anything else you think we really ought to know.

Please use our form, not a resume, to list your activities. There is only enough space to list four things—please choose the four that mean the most to you and tell us a bit about them.

Self-reported Coursework Form

How you fill out this form will not make or break your application, so don’t stress about it. Use your best judgment—we’re simply trying to get a clear picture of your academic preparation by subject area. We see thousands of different transcripts, so it really helps us to view your coursework and grades in a consistent format.

Here are a few quick tips to help you complete this section:

• The self-reported coursework should be completed by students in U.S. school systems only. If you attend an international school, we’ll just use your transcript.
• The information you provide does not replace your official high school transcript, which must be sent to us from your school to verify your self-reported information (in order to avoid accidental misrepresentation, it might help to have a copy of your high school transcript in front of you while completing this form).
• Avoid abbreviations, if at all possible, and enter the names of your school courses by subject area. Please include all classes you have taken and are currently taking. If your courses were taken outside of your high school (at a local junior college or university, for example), tell us where they were taken in the “Class Name” field.
• In the “Grade Received” field, list term and/or final grades for each class, as found on your school transcript (semester, trimester, quarter, final, etc.). Use one entry only per class. For example, it’s not necessary to use a separate entry for each semester of the same class. Place all grades for a class in the same field, separating grades with commas.

2024-2025 MIT Sloan MBA Essay Tips and Example Essays

Jun 27, 2024

• Who is MIT Sloan looking for?
• How should I answer MIT Sloan essay questions?
• Make Sure you Get Into MIT Sloan
• MIT Sloan Deadlines

UPDATE : This article was originally posted on August 27, 2018. It has been updated with new information and tips below. 

With the Media Lab, the Entrepreneurship and Innovation track, and a motto of “Mens et Manus,” or “Mind and Hand,” MIT Sloan is a hotbed for professionals seeking to work with cutting-edge industries and entrepreneurs alike. 

However, with the number of MBA applicants hoping to land jobs in technology and entrepreneurship increasing every year, landing a spot at MIT Sloan has become more challenging than ever. 

That’s why we’ve prepared this guide to help you use your Sloan admissions essays to stand out. We’ve rounded up our best tips and links to MIT Sloan MBA sample essays to ensure you give your Haas application your best shot. 

1. Who is MIT Sloan looking for?

“MIT Sloan students are informed and responsible global citizens with the vision, drive, and practical experience to make significant contributions to their organizations and to the world.” MIT Sloan Admissions Team

As one of the prestigious M7 schools, the average MIT Sloan student tends to have a demonstrated track record of academic excellence and a high GMAT/GRE score. The ~400 admits to the Class of 2025 had a median GMAT score of 730. GRE verbal scores ranged from 157-167 and quant scores ranged from 157-168.

However, with a major focus on diversity (it’s been the theme of Sloan’s interview essay for the past several years), it’s no surprise that MIT Sloan’s admissions team works hard to continually increase the diversity of perspectives present in its class. The Class of 2025 had 60 countries represented (that’s almost as many as London Business School!) and included 28% of students from underrepresented U.S. minority backgrounds and 46% women. 

According to the admissions team, they also look beyond the numbers to ensure applicants fit with Sloan’s values. 

(Source: MIT Sloan’s Website)

In addition, MIT Sloan tends to favor applicants who demonstrate excellence and commitment both at the office and in the community. 

So, if this sounds like a community in which you’d be right at home, you’ll have to think of the ways in which you align with the main characteristics of MIT Sloan’s students. This means forming your business school brand and then focusing on the aspects of that brand that align with collaborative leadership, analytical thinking, and a commitment to solving urgent issues in business and society. 

2. How should I answer MIT Sloan essay questions?

2.1. cover letter.

MIT Sloan seeks students whose personal characteristics demonstrate that they will make the most of the incredible opportunities at MIT, both academic and non-academic. We are on a quest to find those whose presence will enhance the experience of other students. We seek thoughtful leaders with exceptional intellectual abilities and the drive and determination to put their stamp on the world. We welcome people who are independent, authentic, and fearlessly creative — true doers. We want people who can redefine solutions to conventional problems, and strive to preempt unconventional dilemmas with cutting-edge ideas. We demand integrity and respect passion.

Taking the above into consideration, please submit a cover letter seeking a place in the MIT Sloan MBA program. Your letter should conform to a standard business correspondence, include one or more professional examples that illustrate why you meet the desired criteria above, and be addressed to the Admissions Committee (300 words or fewer, excluding address and salutation).

MIT has asked this question for years!

This is not surprising, considering how well the task of writing a cover letter aligns with Sloan’s goal of admitting practical candidates with a demonstrated track record of success. The cover letter, thus, allows you to concisely and pragmatically feature your key accomplishments, demonstrate your career plan, and demonstrate to Sloan’s admissions committee that you “fit” with their program. 

Though it may sound obvious, approach this essay as though you are applying for a new job. A good professional cover letter opens by demonstrating your strengths and creating a strong picture of the value you can contribute to your future organization. 

You should begin your MIT Sloan cover letter by doing the same. First, consider your background and professional history. Which examples show you are an innovator (a core value at Sloan )? What shows that you are passionate about the career you have chosen but are also practical enough to get results day in and day out?

After choosing 2-3 examples that show you thinking outside the box and offering pragmatic solutions to challenging business problems, as well as examples that demonstrate your leadership skills, consider how you might tell these stories in a short yet powerful way .

Then, begin your letter. We suggest you avoid a boring “My name is X, and I am applying to join Sloan” opening. Instead, craft a compelling hook introduction that not only grabs the reader’s interest, but that also sets the stage for the themes you will explore in your letter (opening with a line about teamwork then spending your whole essay talking about innovation, for example, would not be a good match).

TOP TIP : Dedicate roughly 75% of your essay to your past examples. Make sure these are told in STAR format .

After you show MIT Sloan what you’ve already accomplished (and make sure you do this well, MIT Sloan believes strongly that the best indicator of success is past behavior), you might want to mention a bit about your future ambitions if it makes sense in the context of your essay. 1-2 sentences here that focus on your career mission on a very high level works best. You don’t need or want a full, long goals paragraph here and want to make sure you have enough space to discuss Why MIT. 

Then, end the essay by giving a few examples of what kind of student you will be at MIT Sloan and why Sloan is the right choice to help you achieve your goals. You do not want to include a laundry list of classes and clubs, but a few, well-chosen examples and connections to how the MIT Sloan MBA experience will serve you well.

TOP TIP: Format your cover letter essay as a traditional cover letter. Elements like your address, your salutation and your closing do not count towards your final word count. 

Need more guidance? 

Our MBA Resource Center has dozens of MIT Sloan essays that worked to get our clients admitted to help you plan out a winning MIT Sloan essay. 

Our library also includes guides for all top global MBA programs, detailed essay brainstorms, interview tips and mocks, CV templates, and recommendation letter guides. Click to join ! 

Introduce yourself to your future classmates. Here’s your chance to put a face with a name, let your personality shine through, be conversational, be yourself. We can’t wait to meet you! 

Videos should adhere to the following guidelines:

• – No more than 1 minute (60 seconds) in length
• – Single take (no editing)
• – Speaking directly to the camera
• – Do not include background music or subtitles

Considering the short amount of time you have to make an impression on MIT, your goal with this essay is to introduce yourself to your classmates, and the best introductions usually contain a selection of interesting stories . 

To start brainstorming which topics you might want to include, imagine you’re at your first day of work and need to introduce yourself to your team. What would you want to make sure your new colleagues know about you? Or, better yet, if a new colleague joined and was introducing himself, what would you want to know about him?

Since you’ll have your entire cover letter to discuss your professional achievements, we suggest you focus more here on your personal interests than on examples of big wins at work. 

Of course, in your introduction, feel free to mention what you do for a living and give the necessary context for the experiences you do mention, but spend the majority of the video essay going beyond your profession. 

So think about what makes you YOU beyond what the school has already learned about you in your CV , letters of recommendation, and cover letters. 

You might want to devote your entire minute to one topic (for example, a client this year discussed her passion for fencing and her experience creating the first women’s fencing club at her university). If you do choose this route, you may want to consider filming your video in a creative environment that reflects your interest (the client mentioned above filmed her video wearing her fencing gear). 

However, if you have many different interests and would like to talk about several of them, this approach also works. Make sure you are able to fully describe what you’re interested in and why it’s important to you. A laundry list of extracurricular achievements is not the goal here. If you choose this option, try to record in a somewhat neutral environment so the focus is 100% on you. Nonetheless, we see videos focused on a single topic tend to do better overall. 

Finally, you might want to mention briefly how the theme you have developed connects to MIT Sloan and how you can contribute to the school. They don’t want to see a full-blown “Why MIT” statement, since they have asked you to speak to your classmates! However, if your whole video is about your passion for social impact, you might want to mention how how you’d share this passion of yours with fellow Sloanies. Or, if you use the fencing club example above, you might want to end by mentioning you’d like to create Sloan’s first Fencing Club! You don’t want to overdo it, however! 

TOP TIP : Try to choose a background or setting that complements your video. To again cite the fencing example, this client recorded her video in her fencing uniform, removing her mask right before introducing herself. Another client, who talked about her passion for Italian cooking and her sabbatical year at a cooking school in Rome, filmed from her kitchen. There is no right or wrong answer here, so be creative! 

No matter where you record, check your sound quality and lighting to make sure you will be easy to see and hear. 

Finally, we suggest you write a script and practice recording yourself several times to get just the right take. Usually, clients are able to comfortably fit about 170 words of content into 1 minute. After recording yourself a few times, you may want to send a few options to friends, family, or trusted advisors to get their take on which clip to send. The most important thing is to show MIT your winning personality!

Make sure you do not exceed the 1:00 limit.  

2.3. Optional Short Answer Question

Applicants are invited to expand on their background by responding to the following optional 250 word short answer question:

How has the world you come from shaped who you are today? For example, your family, culture, community, all help to shape aspects of your identity. Please use this opportunity if you would like to share more about your background.

This question is truly optional; applicants will not be evaluated more positively or negatively should they choose to respond. This is an opportunity for you to share more about yourself with the Admissions Committee, should you choose to do so.

* As of publication, the MIT Sloan online application form was not available. This question has appeared for the past 2 years, but it’s a good idea to confirm once the application opens. 

MIT Sloan values applicants who can contribute to its greater community and the educational experience for all. This question offers you the chance to give the admissions committee more information about what makes you you , as well as show how you will contribute to the overall diversity of the class. 

There is really no “right” answer to this question. We have seen clients discuss how growing up in a low-income context fueled them to overcome adversity and, later, share this success with other people in their communities. Other clients have talked about their varied multicultural experiences gave them a unique view of the world. When considering what to add here, I would suggest you think about what unique perspective you’ll bring to the MIT community and what experiences have shaped you to become this person. 

Though this essay is optional, since MIT’s application is so short, we suggest that you take advantage of it. Just make sure you don’t repeat information that can be found in your cover letter or video. 

2.4. The Interview Essays

MIT Sloan has also long required candidates who are called to interview to submit an additional essay. The questions themselves will be confirmed upon interview invitation. 

3. Make Sure you Get Into MIT Sloan 

One of the most common mistakes we see in MBA essays is that candidates fail to tell compelling stories . This is important because if your stories are not compelling, they will not be persuasive. At the same time, they must be backed by strong examples that establish a track record of success and prove to the admissions committees why you belong at their school. 

Striking this balance between content and creativity can be tough, however, as succeeding means not only choosing the right stories but ensuring they are told in an optimal manner.   

This is why our iterative developmental feedback process here at Ellin Lolis Consulting helps you mold your message through the application of our storytelling expertise until it reflects exactly what makes your profile stand out and show fit with your target program.   

Not only can you take advantage of our iterative feedback process through multiple edits – you can also benefit from it after a single review! If your budget is tight, our editors will be happy to help polish your text as much as possible and leave “bonus comments” so you can keep working on it on your own!

No matter how long we work with you, we will always ensure your essays shine . 

Sign up to work with our team of storytelling experts and get accepted.

4. MIT Sloan Deadlines

Here are the deadlines for the 2024-2025 season. You can access the MIT Sloan application here .

MIT Sloan Round 1 Deadlines

Application Deadline : September 30, 2024

Interview Notification : Ongoing

Decisions Released : December 12, 2024

MIT Sloan Round 2 Deadlines

Application Deadline : January 14, 2025

Decisions Released : April 4, 2025

MIT Sloan Round 3 Deadlines

Application Deadline : April 7, 2025

Decisions Released : May 15, 2025

Applications are due by 3 PM Eastern Time on the deadline date. 

Real MBA Essays That Got People In

School-specific sample essays that got our clients accepted

Get Access Now

98.9% Success Rate

With our expertise and 98.9% success rate in placing our consulting clients in at least one of their target schools, we can add more value to your application than you ever thought possible.

Recent Articles

Vanderbilt Owen MBA Deadlines for 2024-2025

Aug 6, 2024

If you’re preparing for the Vanderbilt Owen MBA (check out our essay tips and sample essays here!), ensuring you finish everything on time is essential. Here are the deadlines for the Class of 2027.    Round 1 Application Deadline: October 8, 2024 Interview...

Oxford Saïd MBA Deadlines for 2024-2025

Aug 5, 2024

If you’re preparing for the Oxford Saïd MBA (check out our essay tips and sample essays here!), ensuring you finish everything on time is essential. Here are the deadlines for the Class of 2027.    Round 1 Application Deadline: September 2, 2024 Interview...

2024-2025 London Business School Essay Tips and Example Essays

Aug 2, 2024

UPDATE: This article was originally posted on November 28,...

Ready to start your MBA Success?

Customized for You

Track Your Progress

Practice Pays

Practice thousands of GMAT questions with top expert solutions.

Identify and improve upon mistakes efficiently using our Error Log.

Get the latest tips and news from our top GMAT professionals.

- it’s free and easy!

Thank you for using the timer! We noticed you are actually not timing your practice. Click the START button first next time you use the timer. There are many benefits to timing your practice , including:

We’ll give you an estimate of your score

We’ll provide personalized question recommendations

Your score will improve and your results will be more realistic

ARINGO MBA Admissions Consulting Q&A Session: Unlock Top-Ranked MBA Insights!

Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth Coffee Chats

Begin your MBA admissions journey with a free 1-1 strategy call

FREE Prospects Evaluation!

Profile Evaluation and Enrichment

Conversation with leading business schools

Ace the "Why MBA" Essay & Define Your Post-MBA Goals

Nanyang Business School Postgraduate Fair 2024

09:30 AM PDT

10:30 AM PDT

08:00 AM PDT

09:00 AM PDT

03:00 PM EDT

04:00 PM EDT

08:00 PM PDT

09:00 PM PDT

08:00 PM EDT

09:00 PM EDT

07:00 PM IST

08:00 PM IST

09:00 PM IST

10:00 PM IST

11:00 AM SGT

03:00 PM SGT

Quick Question: MIT MFin Essay

Question banks.

The post is bookmarked successfully

Which program are you applying to?

Accepted Admissions Blog

Everything you need to know to get Accepted

September 22, 2019

A Glimpse into the MIT MFin Experience of an International Student

Learn how real students navigate their way through the business school admissions process and b-school itself with our What is Graduate School Really Like? series.

Meet Dave, a math buff, beekeeper, and recent graduate of MIT’s Master’s in Finance program

Dave, thank you for sharing your story with us!

Congratulations on your recent graduation from MIT’s Master’s in Finance program ! What did you enjoy most about your graduate experience?

Dave: Without a doubt: the people. Whether it’s my classmates or the professors I bonded with, the MFin class is a diverse set of students from different backgrounds and with various career projects, and the faculty is always glad to share their experiences for career advice or personal matter.

I understand you hold a master’s degree in applied mathematics. What inspired you to pursue the MFin?

Dave: My past internships in the banking field convinced me to find a job in finance where I could apply my mathematical skills. What drove me specifically to MIT’s MFin is the fact that here at MIT, they teach ALL finance – whether it’s Financial Engineering or Corporate Finance. After about 5 years of mathematics, I wanted to loosen a bit on the math part to better understand some of the financial concepts I have to deal with.

You’ve spent time working in France, the UK, and Israel. Can you share a bit about your international work experiences?

Dave: I interned as a data-scientist in an early-age startup in Israel, Fanzone. This was my first hands-on experience to apply my mathematical skills to a particular problem – in this case designing an algorithm for carpooling solutions.

I worked as an M&A Analyst intern at Societe Generale in Paris. That was my first big dive into finance. This internship was demanding with the classic working hours in the M&A workplace but I learned so much about finance and this made me want to pursue a degree in this field.

Lastly, I worked as a Quant researcher in Credit Trading at BNP Paribas in London. It was the perfect experience to discover the technical part of the markets and work on some concrete pricing problems. Plus, London is a lovely city!

When and how did you apply for your international internship positions?

Dave: I applied for my international internship positions at the end of my bachelor/master’s degrees. The process was not very particular, I just applied online, then went to the superday, etc.

Looking back, what was your graduate school application experience like? Did you encounter any bumps along the road to grad school acceptance?

Dave: Stressful, obviously, but the MIT Sloan admissions team is doing a remarkable job to ease the process. I called them multiple times to make sure I was submitting the right documents, etc. I did not really encounter any bumps along the road. The admissions committee and the program officers held various webinars to make it clear about the ideal candidate they’re looking for , which was helpful.

During the admissions process, did you face any unique challenges as an international student?

Dave: The one challenge I faced as an international student was probably writing my SOP (Statement of Purpose) . I was told by faculty and students that this was the most important piece of the application process so I wanted to nail it. However, the SOP writing is not an easy exercise, especially for an international student who never had to write one before. Finding the right trade-off between showing off skills and experiences and humility with this “American enthusiasm” was an uncomfortable moment for me.

Once graduate school began, what surprised you most about your program?

Dave: The incredible breadth of classes I could take.

Can you share examples of some of the more unique class offerings at MIT? Did you have any favorite classes?

Dave: There are some unique classes at MIT like How to make Hummus 101 or Poker Theory and Analytics. Being a math guy, I really enjoyed the math classes at MIT; they kind of helped me relax though finance classes at Sloan (yeah, I’m weird, I know). That being said, I did enjoy a lot all my business-related classes at Sloan. I’d say that my favorite classes had to be: The Finance and Science of Biotechnologies, which was a thrilling combination of biologists and finance people to tackle the big challenges of biotechnologies and healthcare finance related issues, and ​Fixed Incomes Securities & Derivatives, because of the enthusiasm of Prof. Deborah Lucas.

What extracurricular activities did you participate in before applying to business school? What activities did you participate in as a student?

Dave: I’m a beekeeper, so before applying to MIT I spent most of my spare time taking care of my bees or educating people at my former engineering school Ecole Polytechnique where I was the president of the beekeeping club.

Besides that, I took professional acting lessons, so the additional time I had I spent on the stage with friends acting some French plays.

Finally, I was on the rowing team of my former school.

While at MIT, I sometimes visited the beehives and rowed when the weather was great (so not a lot actually, haha). Having less time, I could not get as involved as I used to be with MIT extracurricular activities. However, MIT Sloan boasts a great set of clubs to socialize and talk about diverse topics in Finance. As far as I am concerned, I was the president of the Quantitative Financial Markets club, which means my friends and I organized talks and debates on this topic. It was a great experience, especially to share ideas with very techy people from the MIT Computer Science or Math Department, for instance.

What is an MFin Senator?

Dave: The Sloan Senate is an association of students elected by their program to make life at MIT Sloan the best possible. I was elected one of the Senators of the MFin Class to represent it during the Sloan Senate sessions held every few weeks. In addition to that, I sat in the admissions committee (each Senator has to join a committee) to enhance the diversity of applicants to MIT Sloan and make the application process as comfortable as possible.

What recruiting opportunities are available to MFin students?

Dave: ​Many opportunities:

• ​This year we’re celebrating the 10th anniversary of the MFin program. The alumni network is getting bigger and is always prepared to help you regarding career topics.
• Many company events are held at MIT Sloan or the MIT main campus.
• Boston is a fantastic finance hub – especially for hedgefunds and fintech.

What industry are you working in at the moment? What are your long-term professional goals?

Dave: ​I’ve just graduated and was offered a full-time job at JPMorgan in Credit Quantitative Trading. To me, this is a great tradeoff between quantitative and qualitative analysis. My long-term professional goal would be to become a portfolio manager.

If you could share one message with students at the beginning of their business school journey, what would it be?

Dave: ​My advice would be “Don’t dream it. Just do it.” No Nike ad intended here, haha.

Soon enough, you’ll discover through your journey in business school that there’s nothing you cannot do if you put your mind and actions into it (the famous “Mens and Manus” MIT motto). As Gandhi said, “Be the change you want to see in the world” and the world needs now more than ever principled, innovative leaders to change the world. So just go for it and do it!

Do you have questions for Dave? Questions for us? Do you want to be featured in our next What is Graduate School Really Like? post? Know someone else who you’d love to see featured? Are there questions you’d like us to ask our students in this series? LET US KNOW!

You can learn more about Dave by checking out his LinkedIn profile .

Are you setting out on your own business school journey? We can help you reach the finish line! Check out our Master’s in Finance Application Packages to team up with an admissions expert who will help you join the ranks of thousands of Accepted clients who get accepted to their dream schools.

Related Resources:

• Fitting In & Standing Out: the Paradox at the Heart of Admissions , a free guide • Accepted’s Master’s in Finance Tips , a collection of blog posts for MFin applicants • MIT Sloan Master in Finance: How to Get In! a podcast episode

About Us Press Room Contact Us Podcast Accepted Blog Privacy Policy Website Terms of Use Disclaimer Client Terms of Service

Accepted 1171 S. Robertson Blvd. #140 Los Angeles CA 90035 +1 (310) 815-9553 © 2022 Accepted

• Search forums

Follow along with the video below to see how to install our site as a web app on your home screen.

Note: This feature may not be available in some browsers.

• US Quant Programs

MIT MFin   Quantitative assessment section

• Thread starter fsez
• Start date 2/1/20

Hello, The interview invite for MIT MFIN mentioned a quantitative assessment section. Can anybody elaborate on what this is about?  

I don't know what it will be about. I'm just practicing differential and integral calculus, differential equations and some stats. What are you studying?  

Hey fsez and smiguel, I am an Indian student and planning to do MS Finance from USA or UK (MIT is my dream place). I would like you to just take a look at my profile below and comment if I have any chances for an admit at MIT MSFin or not. Also if possible which universities I have good chances? Nationality : Indian Age : 21 Undergrad : Computer Engineering from NIT Surat (a top 25 University in India) (highly selective) GPA : 8.7/10 (4.0/4.0 as per WES) and top 15% of class (Relative grading using bell curve) GRE : 335 (170 Q / 165 V) (GMAT Equivalent 760~770) IELTS : 115/120 Obtained all India rank of 4621 out of 1.5 million students in an engineering entrance exam (for undergrad programs), which results in top 1200 rank as per US population Internships: 1. Finance Research Internship at an Indian Institute of Management (Top 5 B School in India) 2. Data Analytics (in marketing) Research internship at the same Indian Institute of Management (Did this simultaneously with the first internship) 3. Equity research internship at a middle market firm (Winter internship) 4. Summer analyst (Investment banking) at Royal Bank of Scotland. CFA : Level 1 will be cleared this December MOOCs: Datacamp Datascientist using R, Spreadsheets Skilltrack, Wharton Accounting 1 and 2 (Coursera),Wharton Corporate finance (Coursera), Financial modelling Specialisation (Coursera), M&A Coursera and many other certifications related to finance. Extracurricular activities and volunteering : 1. College Football team captain. 2. Traded Stocks and Derivatives for 3 years during undergrad (Passionate about capital markets and investments) 3. Swimmer and weight lifter (Fitness enthusiast) 4. NSS (National social service body having its presence in multiple universities ) leader for university and organized various blood donation camps, eye checkups. 5. Made significant efforts to create self sustainability and health in local villages by giving them trainings and support from corporate and medical institutions for free 6. Taught to local community kids for 3 consecutive years I would really appreciate if you can let me know which universities I have good chance for MS Finance (Note:I dont want to join Financial engineering or computational finance type of course but I am fine with financial economics type of courses)  

Hi soni, I shall be joining the financial economics programme at columbia. I preferred this programme over MIT because of a small class size and better course structure, but you will have to take a call since MIT has a solid brand name in india. Other good programmes include the programme at UChicago and financial economics at oxford. Financial engineering courses are also pretty good but it appears you are not interested. I would recommend you try to have a good internship ( please do not EVER mention the paid video lecture series under prof mathur as an internship ). Your GRE is impressive and GPA is not too bad. NITS is one of the good schools so it should be okay. You need good projects and an internship. An internship at a BB bank ( GS, JP, MS, etc ) or a top research org such as CAFRAL in bombay ir NIPFP or even ISB might help. Try to do projects and maybe publish somewhere. You have a good shot at any of the 4 schools I mentioned. Goodluck!  

Thank you fsez, I was stressed a lot regarding my profile not being up to the mark but now looks like I have a good shot with some improvements as you have mentioned. Once again thanks buddy  

Hi @kdsoni I'm joining MIT. I think you have a great profile and have a great shot to be admitted to Princeton, MIT, Columbia, U Chicago, etc... Be sure to apply to all of them to hedge your chances to get into a great program. Excellent GRE score, great GPA considering the grade deflation Indian universities have, great internships and ECs (be sure to highlight those experiences in the essays). All in all man, you're in good shape man. Just be sure that your essays are great also. All the best man!!!  

Similar threads

• eminenceInShadow
• Education Advice

• Andy Nguyen
• UK Quant Programs

• This site uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register. By continuing to use this site, you are consenting to our use of cookies. Accept Learn more…

MIT Sloan Master of Finance Essay - Relevant details, such as awards, rankings, and media references

OP afe9 1 / 6   Nov 22, 2016   #3 @EditorPal Thanks a lot. I really appreciate your straight-to-the point advice. Of course I'd love to be much more specific, but I just don't have the words to do so! Unless I leave something else out, which is probably possible. I've actually done some reviewing since I posted this. However, I'm going to take all your advice into account and I'll post the results as soon as I'm done. Again, thank you very much for some really good points!

OP afe9 1 / 6   Nov 22, 2016   #5 @EditorPal Here's a revised edition. I really appreciate your honesty, so feel free to critique at will! :) Thanks a lot!

OP afe9 1 / 6   Nov 22, 2016   #7 @EditorPal Thanks A LOT, again! I feel like we're improving, hopefully this edition is even better. Hopefully you'll get the chance to comment on this as well, thanks a lot. One extra question: Am I leaving something really important out? [...]

OP afe9 1 / 6   Nov 23, 2016   #9 @EditorPal As always, GREAT advice. My essay is now just over 450 words, and I'm pretty sure I haven't dropped anything significant! I understand where you're going with the chronology, but I felt better trying to first start in academics and then moving over to the professional life.Obviously I've cut out a lot of things, but hopefully the message is still strong. I understand if you're getting tired of going over it for the zillionth time, but all further help is always appreciated. I want to thank you so much for taking your time to help me, you truly are a saint! Anyways, here it goes: I graduated top of my Economics class at ...

OP afe9 1 / 6   Nov 23, 2016   #10 Scratch that.. THIS one instead (Can't delete the other one): I graduated top of my Economics class at the University of Iceland with a good understanding of economics and finance as well as a solid quantitative foundation. My favorite subjects alongside traditional macro- and microeconomics included derivatives, bonds markets and time series analysis. I discovered my passion for asset ...

Keith817 2 / 2   Nov 25, 2016   #15 @afe9 suggestion I have graduated top of my Economics class i would prefer to use prefect tense ( has/have) to show an achievement With my excellent academic performance , I have been nominated for Stanford University's International Honors Program in 2014 based on my academic performance it could be emphasized on "you have been selected because of the excellent result " Thanks

OP afe9 1 / 6   Nov 25, 2016   #16 Thanks a lot EditorPal. I feel very close to being fully satisfied with my essay but I'll take your latest advice into consideration and I see if I can improve even further. I'd like to express my deepest gratitude for all your assistance. The essay has kept improving with each point you've made and I'm truly grateful that you've given so much of your time to help me achieve my dreams, I really don't think I can put it into words. I hope I'll succeed getting into this program and if I do, your advice and help absolutely played a big part. Thanks a lot for everything, you are awesome!

46 Essays that Worked at MIT

Updated for the 2024-2025 admissions cycle.

.css-1l736oi{display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;-webkit-align-items:center;-webkit-box-align:center;-ms-flex-align:center;align-items:center;gap:var(--chakra-space-4);font-family:var(--chakra-fonts-heading);} .css-1dkm51f{border-radius:var(--chakra-radii-full);border:1px solid black;} .css-1wp7s2d{margin:var(--chakra-space-3);position:relative;width:1em;height:1em;} .css-cfkose{display:inline;width:1em;height:1em;} About MIT .css-17xejub{-webkit-flex:1;-ms-flex:1;flex:1;justify-self:stretch;-webkit-align-self:stretch;-ms-flex-item-align:stretch;align-self:stretch;}

The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) is a world-renowned research university based in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Known for its prioritization of intellectual freedom and innovation, MIT offers students an education that’s constantly on the cutting-edge of academia. The school’s star-studded roster of professors includes Nobel prize winners and MacArthur fellows in disciplines like technology, biology, and social science. A deeply-technical school, MIT offers students with the resources they need to become specialists in a range of STEM subjects. In many ways, MIT is the gold standard for creativity, critical thinking, and problem solving.

Unique traditions at MIT

1. "Ring Knocking": During the weeks preceding the MIT Commencement Ceremony, graduating students celebrate by finding a way to touch the MIT seal in the lobby of Building 10 with their newly-received class rings. 2. "Steer Roast": Every year in May, the MIT Science Fiction Society hosts a traditional event on the Killian Court lawn for incoming freshmen. During the Steer Roast, attendees cook (and sometimes eat) a sacrificial male cow and hang out outside until the early hours of the morning. 3. Pranking: Pranking has been an ongoing tradition at MIT since the 1960s. Creative pranks by student groups, ranging from changing the words of a university song to painting the Great Dome of the school, add to the quirkiness and wit of the MIT culture. 4. Senior House Seals: The all-senior undergraduate dormitory of Senior House is known for its yearly tradition of collecting and displaying seals, which are emblems that represent the class of the graduating seniors.

Programs at MIT

1. Global Entrepreneurship Lab (G-Lab): G-Lab provides undergraduate and graduate students with the skills to build entrepreneurial ventures that meet developing world challenges. 2. Mars Rover Design Team: This club is part of the MIT Student Robotics program that provides students with the engineering, design, and fabrication skills to build robots for planetary exploration. 3. Media Lab: The Media Lab is an interdisciplinary research lab that explores new technologies to allow individuals to create and manipulate communication presentation of stories, images, and sounds. 4. Independent Activities Period (IAP): A month-long intersession program that allows students to take courses and participate in extracurricular activities from flying classes to volunteering projects and sports. 5. AeroAstro: A club that provides students with the opportunity to learn about aerospace engineering and build model rockets.

At a glance…

Acceptance Rate

Average Cost

Average SAT

Average ACT

Cambridge, MA

Real Essays from MIT Admits

Prompt: mit brings people with diverse backgrounds and experiences together to better the lives of others. our students work to improve their communities in different ways, from tackling the world’s biggest challenges to being a good friend. describe one way you have collaborated with people who are different from you to contribute to your community..

Last year, my European History teacher asked me to host weekly workshops for AP test preparation and credit recovery opportunities: David, Michelangelo 1504. “*Why* is this the answer?” my tutee asked. I tried re-explaining the Renaissance. Michelangelo? The Papacy? I finally asked: “Do you know the story of David and Goliath?” Raised Catholic, I knew the story but her family was Hindu. I naively hadn’t considered she wouldn’t know the story. After I explained, she relayed a similar story from her culture. As sessions grew to upwards of 15 students, I recruited more tutors so everyone could receive more individualized support. While my school is nearly half Hispanic, AP classes are overwhelmingly White and Asian, so I’ve learned to understand the diverse and often unfamiliar backgrounds of my tutees. One student struggled to write idiomatically despite possessing extensive historical knowledge. Although she was initially nervous, we discovered common ground after I asked about her Rohan Kishibe keychain, a character from Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure. She opened up; I learned she recently immigrated from China and was having difficulty adjusting to writing in English. With a clearer understanding of her background, I could now consider her situation to better address her needs. Together, we combed out grammar mistakes and studied English syntax. The bond we formed over anime facilitated honest dialogue, and therefore genuine learning.

Essay by Víctor

i love cities <3

Prompt: We know you lead a busy life, full of activities, many of which are required of you. Tell us about something you do simply for the pleasure of it.

I slam the ball onto the concrete of our dorm’s courtyard, and it whizzes past my opponents. ******, which is a mashup of tennis, squash, and volleyball, is not only a spring term pastime but also an important dorm tradition. It can only be played using the eccentric layout of our dorm’s architecture and thus cultivates a special feeling of community that transcends grade or friend groups. I will always remember the amazing outplays from yearly tournaments that we celebrate together. Our dorm’s collective GPA may go significantly down during the spring, but it’s worth it.

Essay by Brian

CS, math, and economics at MIT

Prompt: What field of study appeals to you the most right now? Tell us more about why this field of study at MIT appeals to you.

Studying MechE course 2-OE will empower me to create biomimetic robots to enhance our ocean restoration efforts. Working “mens et manus” in Prof. Kim's Biomimetic Robotics Lab or advancing the SoFI fish in Prof. Rus' CSAIL Lab, I aim to explore the interdisciplinary nexus between novel materials, haptic feedback systems, soft grabbing mechanisms, and AI algorithms leveraging advanced sensors to tell apart coral species. For my capstone design project, I’ll assemble a multidisciplinary Beaver team ready to collaborate, brainstorm, and get their hands dirty to build a parrotfish equipped with a powerful robotic jaw to bite off harmful fire coral.

Essay by Félicie Hoffmann

Lover of Oceans and Robotics @ Stanford - both International/Domestic

Prompt: Describe the world you come from (for example, your family, school, community, city, or town). How has that world shaped your dreams and aspirations?

The fragile glass beaker shattered on the ground, and hydrogen peroxide, flowing furiously like lava, began to conquer the floor with every inch the flammable puddle expanded. This was my solace. As an assistant teacher for a middle school STEM class on the weekends, mistakes were common, especially those that made me mentally pinpoint where we kept the fire extinguishers. However, these mishaps reminded me exactly why I loved this job (besides the obvious luxury of cleaning up spills): every failure was a chance to learn in the purest form. As we conducted chemical experiments or explored electronics kits, I was comforted by the kids’ genuine enthusiasm for exploration—a sentiment often lost in the grade-obsessed world of high school. Accordingly, I tried to help my students recognize that mistakes are often the most productive way to grow and learn. I encouraged my students to persist when faced with failure, especially those who might not have been encouraged in their everyday lives. I was there for students like Nathan, a child on the autism spectrum who reminded me of my older brother with autism. I was there for the two girls in a class of 17, reminding me of my own journey navigating the male-dominated world of STEM. I wanted to encourage them into a lifelong journey of pursuing knowledge and embracing mistakes. I may have been their mentor, but these lessons also serve as a crucial reminder to me that mistakes are not representative of one’s overall worth.

Essay by Sarah J.

cs @ stanford!! lover of STEM, taylor swift, and dogs!

.css-310tx6{display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;-webkit-align-items:center;-webkit-box-align:center;-ms-flex-align:center;align-items:center;-webkit-box-pack:center;-ms-flex-pack:center;-webkit-justify-content:center;justify-content:center;text-align:center;gap:var(--chakra-space-4);} Find an essay from your twin at MIT .css-1dkm51f{border-radius:var(--chakra-radii-full);border:1px solid black;} .css-1wp7s2d{margin:var(--chakra-space-3);position:relative;width:1em;height:1em;} .css-cfkose{display:inline;width:1em;height:1em;}

Someone with the same interests, stats, and background as you