Alumni Perspectives

A preference-and a talent-for numbers

I prefer the immediate, tangible rewards that come from calculations and mathematics. Shifting from consulting internships to studying markets—with all of their data—was what I needed to do.

My undergrad education was very academic and theoretical. I really appreciated the practical bent at Berkeley Haas. Every class addressed how to apply our new knowledge. We actually got to build a portfolio, not just learn the principles. 

 As an econ major, I wrote a lot of essays. I would much rather do calculations. 

A cohort of teachers, friends, and colleagues

The MFE program calendar, starting in the spring, worked very well for me. I was able to spend time improving my coding skills before classes began. I also was able to travel and relax—something that was hard to do during the program. Later on, having winter internships is a real advantage. 

The pedigree of Berkeley Haas students is unparalleled. They came from all over the world and had done such amazing things in their careers already. I learned so much from my classmates. I could ask anyone what their previous jobs—trader, researcher, data scientist—had been like. This helped me understand which path would be best for me. 

It humbled me to see how successful my classmates had been, but they were humble about their successes. They set me a good example. 

An abundance of internships

I did an extra summer internship with Geneva Trading, where I will be returning as a full-time employee. It introduced me to trading, and I found it exciting. I loved working with so much data in a fast-paced environment. The results are tangible and immediate, and if you do it right, profitable. 

I found the Geneva Trading internships through the extensive job postings at Berkeley Haas. The program’s contacts and networks are extensive. The program takes care of you at every step of the recruitment process so you can put the best of yourself forward in interviews. 

My CV was, frankly, messy. I thought more was better and listed too many experiences. The MFE Career Management Team helped me look at my CV through the lens of relevancy and develop a theme. It was painful to strike off some items, but ultimately the right decision.  

Browse All Student Perspectives