30yo intl student chances at M7 program
Hi there, I would like to hear some advice on my chances to apply to a M7 program as an international student. I'm applying in this year's second round.
Age & Work Experience
30 years old at the start of the program
6.5yr work experience in 3rd world country
• 2.5yr credit risk at mutual organization
• 2.5yr FP&A manager at small service firm - staff of 15 – reported to CEO (retired military man – case study material)
• 1.5yr project management/consulting at small credit card company – report to COO (HBS MBA graduate)
Education
• Engineering degree (industrial engineer)
• Master in finance degree (corporate finance)
• Passed CFA level 1
• International baccalaureate (ib diploma)
Tests
• GMAT: 600 without prep, taking prep course right now
• Toefl: not taken yet
• Toeic: 970
• GPA: nonconvertible, +-75 percentile?
EC
• Mountaineering (summited Aconcagua), guitar (had band), bjj, tennis, licensed sailor (participated in j24 and soling regattas).
• Duke of Edinburgh international award: gold standard (volunteering, etc)
• Teacher assistant: project appraisal course, undergraduate engineering program
• Languages: Spanish, English, Portuguese
MBA objective:
Plan A) Career switch to PE turnaround shops in developing countries or VC
Plan to use corporate knowledge + financial skills to work on deals and finding turnaround opportunities (optimization, process improvement, etc). The firms I’ve worked all had financial issues mainly because of a misuse of resources, poor C-level management and a lack of a capable and strong HR team (which leads to hiring the wrong person or assigning them to the wrong position).
Plan B) Management Consulting
I’ve worked on sales projects (cross selling), process modeling/simulation, cost reduction programs, analyzed m&a synergies, etc. It seems a more “natural” transition for me.
I would want to avoid going through the IB step to get to PE. I know it’s a very long shot but worth a try given my age and experience.
Any help would be much appreciated






you're indian, so you don't
you're indian, so you don't qualify for URM status. i'd place your chances at under 5%.
melvvvar: you're indian, How
you're indian,
How do you know this? This guy speaks Spanish + Portuguese and no Indian languages, but you concluded that he is?
melvvvar: you're indian, so
you're indian, so you don't qualify for URM status. i'd place your chances at under 5%.
Why would you think he's indian? From what he wrote I would guess he is from a South American country that is poorer than Brasil. So one of Colombia, Suriname, Bolivia, Guyana, Ecuador, Paraguay, or Peru.
Yeah just apply, American
Yeah just apply, American schools don't usually get a lot of applicants from South America (or Europe if you are from Portugal) and I'm sure they want more diversification from applicants who has genuine good experience. Nobody knows your chances better than you.
Get a higher GMAT
Get a higher GMAT
relinquis... Killing the GMAT this December; Over/Under set at: 725 GMATs.
melvvvar: you're indian, so
you're indian, so you don't qualify for URM status. i'd place your chances at under 5%.
you're wrong
Relinquis: Get a higher
Get a higher GMAT
i'm planning on retaking with proper preparation
ajb: melvvvar: you're
you're indian, so you don't qualify for URM status. i'd place your chances at under 5%.
you're wrong
wrong about him being indian or the fact that indians get screwed under affirmative action?
melvvvar: ajb: melvvvar:
you're indian, so you don't qualify for URM status. i'd place your chances at under 5%.
you're wrong
wrong about him being indian or the fact that indians get screwed under affirmative action?
about me being indian
Hi AJB, If you are trying to
Hi AJB,
If you are trying to get into a competitive school I have to agree with Relinquis -- your GMAT is a non-starter. You'll have to get over 700 and 80% on the quantitative, so please study and get those scores!
Your grades in undergraduate will matter too -- I am reluctant to come up with a broad GPA requirement because the trend and the courses you took do matter. But anything below a 3.2 is hard to justify.
This is a case where you will first have to get it over the net, and then all your (very cool, admittedly) international work experience and language skills will come into play.
Betsy
Betsy Massar
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