Give it to me straight...
Quick stats:
3.3 gpa from non target public uni in finance/accounting. GMAT: aiming for 720 (let's keep this a variable). 20 months at a fortune 5 oil company in their finance rotational program; I've been moved to jobs with greater responsibility 2 times in these 20 months. I intend to begin business school in the fall of 2014 (will have 3.5-4 yrs of experience by then).
I have just started working with a refugee organization in Houston that does teenage mentoring for a few hours per week. I am also very close to joining a non-profit organization that specializes in consulting Houston area small business on how to run an efficient and profitable business.
I have started an alternative transcript at UCLA Extention...I have taken one class, corporate finance, got an A+ in it...I will be taking Calculus and maybe Statistics next year to prove that I can do my math. Also, I am sitting for the CFA level 2 in June...I definitely have a tight schedule for the next 1-2 years.
I am really trying to bust my ass to make it into Columbia/NYU. The reason I am choosing these schools is not only because of their academic rankings but also because they are in NYC....2 years in the City would be pretty badass.
If I can't get into these schools then my next choice would be to go to Rice in Houston. I am not interested in going out west or any other area besides NYC..
My post-MBA goals are to get into Energy IB. I am working as a finance/performance analyst on the trade floor of this oil company, i am learning the business well...i think I can transfer this technical knowledge to an Energy IB firm...that's my angle.
Any advice is appreciated..
3.3 is low. I don't think Columbia is reachable.
2 years out of the 4 I was working 2 part time jobs (40 hours total). I did 2 semester internships the last two years along with a few part time jobs. I worked quite a bit to make ends meet during college. That's my explanation for the low gpa...
I would think Rice or UT > Columbia or NYU, in terms of Energy IB recruiting.
That maybe true but as I stated I want to live in NYC for a few years which is why I am asking about Columbia and NYU. If I can't make it into either of those schools then Rice and maybe even UT will be my back up.
Any feedback on my chances? Thanks.
jjjj
^^ Agree with this. I would think if you could get your target GMAT Score, you should be o.k.
You would think that the adcom would appreciate someone with your backround (energy from super-major). Just try and get connected with someone at the volunteer org. and create a relationship / take a leadership role so they are a solid reference when the time comes around.
I am in a similar situtation (Big 4 though, Texas, 3.4 GPA) and am hoping to use my 5th year (masters) GPA as my 'alt. transcript'. Haven't thought about the CFA though, seems like more of a hassle than anything else. Do you really feel like that is going to set you apart?
I am not going for the CFA solely for MBA admission purposes. I really haven't decided on what I want to do post MBA, all I know is that I want to work in finance. I had initially started the CFA thinking that it would help me land a buy side gig (perhaps post-MBA). Realistically I know that it will be hard for me to land this buy side job right after MBA that is why I want to go in with the Energy IB angle....after I do my IB stint I want to move into an HF so I think having a CFA by that time can only help me.
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