Chances at NYU/Columbia?

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..

8 Comments
 
Best Response

^^ 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?

 
MistaBooks^^ 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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