Admissions

• The Jacobs MSQF program is designed for students wanting careers in asset management firms, hedge funds, mutual funds, pension funds, endowments, family offices, sovereign wealth funds, and related quantitative asset management areas.
• Applicants must be current Penn undergraduates in their third year (or transfer students in their second year at Penn) across Penn’s various schools, including Wharton, with a strong interest in quantitative finance and demonstrated solid quantitative training.
• Successful candidates will have a strong proficiency at coding and coursework in math, statistics, and economics.
• The timeline for applying to the MSQF program overlaps with the timeline for applying to summer internships in quantitative finance. We encourage you to leverage Penn Career Services’ Handshake platform to pursue quantitative finance internships or related roles. Gaining relevant professional experience through internships after your junior and senior years will make you a more competitive candidate and better position you for success in future full-time recruiting.

NOTE:
» For single-degree students, the undergraduate degree must be completed in no more than eight semesters or the student will not be eligible to continue with the Jacobs MSQF degree.
» Uncoordinated dual-degree students are encouraged to speak with their Advisors before applying.
» Fourth-year Penn students are welcome to apply, but admitted seniors may be asked to take a gap year.

Interviews for the Jacobs MSQF program are offered by invitation only. Applicants invited to interview will participate in an in-person group discussion.

Purpose of the Group Discussion

The group discussion is designed to reflect the collaborative learning environment of the Jacobs MSQF program and the teamwork required in many quantitative asset management roles. It gives the Admissions Committee an opportunity to learn more about qualities such as your curiosity, communication style, ability to engage with different perspectives, and approach to working with others.

This is an evaluative part of the admissions process, but it is not intended to test who speaks the most or demonstrates the greatest technical expertise. It is an opportunity to show who you are both as an individual and as a member of a collaborative group.

The discussion is one component of a holistic admissions process. Considered alongside your written application, it helps the Admissions Committee develop a fuller understanding of your interests, experiences, and potential fit with the Jacobs MSQF community. We also hope the experience gives you a firsthand sense of the teamwork and learning dynamic that is central to the program.

Format

The group discussion lasts about 35 minutes and is held in person. You will participate with approximately 5-6 other applicants in a conference-room setting. The discussion will begin with several broad prompts that give participants opportunities to share and build upon their interests in finance, quantitative asset management, and the Jacobs MSQF program. An admissions representative will introduce the prompts and observe the conversation, while allowing the group to determine much of the direction of the discussion.

Groups are assigned randomly. It is possible for every participant in a group to be admitted. You are therefore not competing against the other applicants in the room. Instead, you should approach the experience as an opportunity to explore ideas together and contribute to a productive conversation.

How to Prepare

Wharton Graduate Admissions will provide the logistical details for your group discussion in advance of your scheduled interview. No specialized technical preparation is required, and you will not receive the discussion prompts in advance. Before the interview, you should be prepared to reflect on:

• What interests you about finance and quantitative asset management
• What you hope to gain from the Jacobs MSQF program
• The experiences and perspectives you would bring to the program
• What you might learn from classmates with different academic and personal backgrounds

The discussion will begin with several questions related to the field or the program. From there, participants will be encouraged to respond to one another, ask thoughtful questions, and develop the conversation as a group.

Things to Keep in Mind

Be yourself. Although the interview takes place in a group, you are not being graded against the other participants. Focus on communicating your genuine interests while engaging thoughtfully with the perspectives of others.

Contribute, but do not compete for airtime. We are interested in both what you say and how you help create a productive discussion. Listening, asking questions, building upon another person’s point, and making space for others are all meaningful forms of participation.

Be curious and humble. You should be comfortable discussing your interests in finance and quantitative asset management, but you are not expected to have all the answers. Demonstrating openness to new ideas and an ability to learn from your peers is an important part of the experience.

Relax. An invitation to interview means that the Admissions Committee already sees you as a potential fit for the program. Be proud of what you have accomplished and try to enjoy the opportunity to meet other applicants and learn through the discussion.

All admitted students are considered for fellowship support based on their admission application. Criteria for fellowship selection include unique personal qualities and background, academic achievement, and community involvement.

• Fellowships are one-year awards, split equally over two semesters (fall and spring terms) for a typical Jacobs MSQF student (exceptions below).
• The Fellowship Committee does not offer reconsideration of fellowship support.
• Fellowships can only be leveraged toward the cost of tuition and fees unless otherwise stated.
• Sponsorships and other external fellowships that exceed the cost of tuition and fees may reduce Wharton merit-based fellowships.