TOEFL & GRE Waivers

Q: Can the GRE requirement be waived because I have a PhD.

A: The GRE is required.  If you submit your application without GRE scores, you may delay the admissions decision. If you seek a waiver for this requirement, explain why you should be considered without recent scores in your personal statement. 

Q: Can the TOEFL requirement be waived?

A: The TOEFL is a university requirement.  Follow the link at our website to see if you must take the test. 

Application Focus

Q: To what background will the admission committee pay more attention in the process of reviewing application?

A: As indicated below (link), there is no single element that is considered to be most important for all applications.

Enrollment Demographics

Q: How many students do we expect to start each Fall?

A: We expect to enroll about 20 students each Fall. Total Enrollment is expected to be between 40 and 45, with about 70% of the students from outside the United States.

Spring Start Date

Starting the MFM Program in Spring or Summer is rare, but could be useful for some students. For example, students that did not major in Mathematics or Statistics might benefit from taking courses such as ST 371/372, MA 401, MA 405, etc.

To take classes at NCSU you must either be admitted to a degree program, or you must register as a non-degree student (NDS). Taking classes at NCSU will not automatically qualify you for admission to the program.

If you seek a start date other than Fall then you should explain the purpose of the alternate start date in your application. The only way to apply to the program is via the web through Apply Yourself.

General questions about the program.

Q 1.How many students in this program? And what the percentage of the students come from other countries rather than U.S?

A: There are about 40 students in the program -- we expect about 20 students to start each Fall semester0. Visit the website to view a list of currently enrolled students.

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Q 3.Is there any possibility for students finishing their gradute study in this major in one year and a half?

A: Yes, many students complete an internship/project the first summer, and finish at the end of their second Fall semester.

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Q 4.If I finish the letter in the attachment does it mean I have to refuse all other schools I applied to? If so, is there a deadline for accepting your offer?

A: We hope that your acceptance of our offer is genuine; however, it is not a contract, and we cannot impose any conditions on offers from other schools. There is no firm deadline for a decision. Accepting the offer to attend NCSU and paying your deposit starts the visa process, and you should allow plenty of time for this.

Application: Personal Statement

Use the Personal Statement to provide information that would result in a more favorable review of your application. Make your application easy to read and understand. Some sample topics you can include in your Personal Statement are listed below. You are not required to include this information, but it could be helpful.

• Provide a statement that explains your interest in (and dedication to) financial mathematics. Shorter statements are preferred. Longer statements only help if many words are required to explain your interests and motivations.
• If your marks are not all A's and B's (80-100%), but your school rarely gives A's and B's, providean explanation of the grading scales in your Personal Statement.
• Provide your class rank (if you rank high at your school).
• If coverage of the topics we require for admission to the program (link) isn't obvious, provide an explanation of which course coverred which topic. For example, courses with titles like "Advanced Mathematics" and "Applied Mathematics I" do not help us understand whether or not you have the background for our program.
• Provide information about your letter-writers, especially if they have a prestigous position at your school, or if they are a high-level manager in a company.
• If you submit extra material, such as certificates or awards, provide the context and significance of the awards.

You can submit a revised Personal Statement via email to Financial_Mathematics@ncsu.edu.

Letters in support of your application.

Applications are considered as a whole package, so there are no limits on GPA or GRE scores. A weakness in one part of your application can be balanced by a strength in another part of your application.

Recommendation letters should address your work ethic, your academic ability, and your determination to succeed. Choose letter-writers that will address these issues. At least one letter should address your quantitative (math) abilities.

We may not be familiar with the people writing you letters, so use your personal statement to inform us of the background of the people who write you letters.