Australian applying for top US / UK MBAs - Chances?
Lads, ladies
I’m an Australian, currently working in Sydney, who is looking to apply to top MBA’s in the US and UK in the coming year. As it is unusual for colleagues / friends of mine to apply to top overseas programs, I’m seeking your advice as to my chances of getting into a top MBA program.
About me:
University of Melbourne - Bachelor of Laws (Honours) / Bachelor of Commerce (Finance)(Honours)
Worked for a Magistrate, a Barrister and a small industrial relations law firm during uni, as well as interning at two large corporate law firms. Volunteer work at a community legal centre.
Upon graduation, I completed a graduate program at one of the ‘Big 4’ Australian commercial banks, rotating through project finance, institutional banking and debt capital markets.
I currently work as an associate (3.5 years of experience) in an institutional banking group (i.e. term debt, syndications, project finance, acquisition finance for large listed corporations) covering natural resources.
GMAT – a balanced 690.
Would this be a competitive resume for top MBA programs? Let me know your thoughts, as I’m unsure whether my background is sufficiently strong.
Cheers
Yes, absolutely. And MBA programs love diversity, including country of orgin - Australia is a rare one to come across. Just make sure you get a book or two on application strategy to make sure your essays, CV etc all flow and make a strong case. Also, you can totally network your way in a bit (I did). Use linkedin, call friends of friends etc to find contacts since you won't be able to attend to many prospective student events. Even cold call! If you can, try to find alums in the field in which you are planning to pitch your application and apply for internships as this will strengthen the whole package. And get those alums to write you unofficial recs, as in above and beyond the number required to apply. The schools claim officially they don't look at these but I am 100% sure some do and it certainly helps if you're not a clear yes (my school did).
Great, thanks for reply that's very useful, does anyone else have any further thoughts? How does my CV stack up?
Your story sounds like the story of Morgan Stanley's CEO.
Haha yeah, if only I turned out to be half as successful as him! I know its unusual in the States, but law/commerce undergraduate double degrees are the most common qualification you find with graduates at investment & commercial banks in Australia.
Anyone else have thoughts on my chances? Would I be competitive?
Just out of curiosity, do top students in Australia want to go to America for school/career?
Australians generally aren't as focused as they used to be on trying to work overseas and I think in the past there was way more of a focus on making it in London than there was ever making it to New York.
The country has a booming economy, a high standard of living (some could argue higher than the US) and is perceived by many as having less social problems (rightly or wrongly) than the US or Europe as well as a lifestyle that is hard to beat (weather, beaches). I was just in Sydney and it sort of made me think of what the US might have been like in the period post WW2; prosperous, industrious and happy.
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