What are my chances for getting in? Can you help? (On old one but a good one) Thanks!

Age: 27 @ Application Time

Undergrad: Michigan - Ross, 3.7 GPA, Focus in Finance

Career: FP&A roles at Target, eBay, LinkedIn (in the order). I am from MN and started at Target but had a passion for Tech and moved to Silicon Valley. At eBay was on their Global FP&A team supporting IR and external reporting, many special projects providing direct interaction w/ C level execs. LNKD is more of a (boring) typical FP&A role supporting a G&A business unit, mostly HC/Expense management, close cycles...nothing special. Not a step up in title but a massive leap up in pay and company quality, always fast-tracked/promoted at each job.

Extras: VP of Econ club in Undergrad (large club of 500 members), history of community service. Currently participating in program to help poor/under-privileged in San Jose get jobs by helping them write resumes etc (goes along w/ current company, and fighting the income gap that is so profound in Silicon Valley).

GMAT: 710 (projected) - I am not worried about getting this score to where it needs to be.

Still deciding on what to do after school. I want to stop being so focused on the micro level and step back to the macro level (studying global trade while at eBay was fascinating). I am thinking IB or consulting with the intent of getting into PE or VC after...or possibly something involving trading (as I enjoy researching companies). This is something I need to work on.

I get that Harvard and Stanford only look for "special" students, but what do you, the community think are my chances?

What about UPenn, Chicago, Northwestern?

The rest of MBA business schools">M7/Top 10?

Does an FP&A background instead of IB/Consulting hold me back? Also, do you have suggestions for other schools I am not considering? Any tips for me on my quest to figure out what I want to do?

Thanks everyone!

 
Best Response

Great GPA, Great undergrad, Marquee names all over the resume, decent career progression...get that GMAT up to par and your story straight and you're competitive for M7- top 10, though H and S are probably out of the question.

 

Agreed. I think you have a great shot at M7/top10, but that H/S will likely be a stretch. Stay away from saying you want to do trading as a goal as that is not something business school prepares you well for (read: you will worry the career department). Pick either banking or consulting as your short-term goal, come up with a reasonable but ambitious long-term goal, and execute and you will be fine.

 

Thanks Grind, really appreciate the review. Understood the chances at H/S are slim because I am not out there changing the world. I have a few connects at HBS so I may still give it a run. I definitely need to nail down "story"...agreed.

I think Chicago/Wharton are probably my top 2 at the moment considering the route I am at least considering.

 

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