About the ProgramOur Financial Engineering students form a very talented, select, and diverse group. This year, 55 were admitted from approximately 460 applicants. They come from all around the globe and have varying backgrounds such as engineering, mathematics, computer science, economics, statistics, finance, business administration, and accounting. When they are accepted into the program, each has different areas of strength. For example, engineers don't know finance and finance students don't know engineering.
First-year Financial Engineering Program students gather on campus during the 2008 summer intensive boot camp program for all entering students.
Because of their diverse backgrounds, when they enroll in the program, they bring widely different educational backgrounds, perspectives, experiences, and ways of expressing themselves. In order to help them get off to the best possible start, three years ago we established a required six-week intensive summer "boot camp" program for all entering students. The roster of courses covers all prerequisites in a very intense and condensed form so that all incoming students are equally prepared when they begin their core classes.
The boot camp experience also ensures that the students get to know each other. Eight hours a day, six days a week, they are in the classroom together, eat lunch together, socialize together. They also attend lectures on soft skills such as presentation skills, resume writing, leadership, and team building. They learn how to navigate different groups and how to connect without offending, which will stand them in good stead in the global environment.