Alumni Perspectives

Challenging math problems and supportive classmates

In addition to computer science and engineering, you need a lot of math. The pre-class work before the semester started filled in a lot of gaps. 

The Quantitative Method in Finance class was by far the hardest class. We had so many hard problems—especially partial differential equations! —to solve.

My classmates helped me get through it. Helpful, generous and brilliant classmates are a real advantage in the Berkeley Haas MFE program. 

Internship advantages

Preparation and recruitment for internships moves really fast. I was interviewing within a month of starting the program. 

Having our internships in the winter is an advantage. That is the off-season, so we do not have to compete with people from other programs. That takes off a lot of pressure.

Berkeley Haas has super- strong resources, including many alumni, at every level up to the most senior level, at the major investment banks. 

The fascination of fixed income

People who think fixed income isn’t interesting are mistaken. While the income may be fixed, there are lots of uncertainties to account for: credit, liquidity, interest rates.

Our Mortgage-Backed Securities class, taught by Professor Nancy Wallace, leveraged her industry knowledge to show how the theories work in the real world. 

Professor Wallace is giving my Applied Finance Project Team useful guidance. We are looking at whether there could be a market for loans to homeowners specifically to mitigate wildfire risk. This might influence insurance companies to remain in the market; it could save lives and homes; and be good for the environment.

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