MiM vs MiF/MSc Finance at LSE, HEC, ESSEC, etc.
Hi,
Looking for advice based on my profile:
I’m an Indian 22M, currently a data analyst at S&P Global working with data research in M&A deals. I’ve got a little over a year of work experience (~15 months) at my current role.
I’ve got a couple of awards within my team for leadership, performance, as well as for side projects where I built AI tools for my team to increase efficiencies by 80-90%. I plan to use this in my SOP to help the professional case.
I’m aiming for a career in M&A advisory at a European desk with the future goal of transitioning into corp development in the automotive/mobility sector. I’m looking at HEC’s MiF and LSE’s MSc Finance as the target programmes for me with both schools’ MiMs with finance specializations as backups. I’m also considering ESSEC, ESCP, and WHU.
However what I’m concerned with is that my undergrad GPA (BA Economics Honours at a university considered tier 1 by almost every big name business school) was hurt pretty bad with some serious family troubles at home throughout my second year. Though i was able to make a bit of a recovery in my last semester it wasn’t enough. I’ve only got a 6.3/10 with a First Class division during my undergrad.
I’ve tried to make up for that with a GMAT FE score of 695 (Q87, V85, D82). I’ve also got an 8.5 band on the IELTS (equivalent to a C2 English certification).
3 months at a business analyst internship at a Fortune 500 international property management MNC conducting competitive mapping and research exercises.
23 months leading the largest independent student news media organization in the country during my undergraduate.
Also ranked 3rd from 800 teams across the country in a management consultancy case study competition during my undergrad.
If it matters, I had a 95% grade in 12th, with a 99% in math.
Obviously the MiF/MSc Finance would be the ideal programme given my career goals. I am however, concerned about the GPA problem. Would the GMAT, an academic and professional reference (latter being a strong point i think in my application), and a good personal statement be enough to balance out the GPA?
Should I switch my primary focus to the MiM? Is that more attainable for my profile?
Thanks for your advice!
