Recent USC Grad Seeking Business Master Program to Change Career
Hi Fellow Monkeys!!!
Brief version of my story:
I recently graduated from USC in 2010. I majored in psychology and minored in mathematical finance with a 2.55 overall GPA. (Got high grades on Math/Econ/Finance courses, low grades on liberal arts courses)
After a couple of months job hunting after graduation, I started working at a small real estate firm in LA as a valuation analyst. It's been almost a year now. In the mean time, I interviewed with many IB/PE/asset management firms and rarely got second rounds. They didn't say it explicitly but I knew they probably didn't like the GPA.
Lucky enough, I landed a boutique IB unpaid internship a couple of months ago and got my hands on some live deals, including an private equity LBO (working nights and weekends on the side). The company only started 2 years ago so obviously this isn't turning into a full-time anytime soon.
So that's the whole reason why I'm applying to master program in business.
I want to redeem the low GPA in college with a high GPA in grad school.
So that I can tap into a new network and utilize the new recruiting resources.
I hope to learn from business school the leadership skills and communication skills that I need to improve on.
I want to keep my options open to both IB/Consulting. My end-goal is to be a entrepreneur or business owner, but I think experience in VC/PE would better equip me before I actually do it on my own.
Here's a list of the programs that I'm considering:
Duke Fuqua MMS Rochester Simon M.S. General Management Wake Forest M.A. Management Brandeis M.A. IEF Thunderbird M.S. Global Management Pepperdine M.S. Global Business Tufts M.A. International Business
I'm open to work in any major cities in the U.S. as long as I can work in IB/Consulting. I prefer consulting, because given my internship experience I know I do not perform very well when I'm sleep deprived.
I passed the CFA Level I, my GMAT is probably around 700, but I still have some time to improve it.
Do you guys think going to a master in business program make sense? If so, which program has the best shot, considering relocation, reputation, target/non target and everything?
Are there any of my rationale and assumptions wrong? Perhaps there's other ways to break into consulting/IB and that I'm just not working hard enough?
I sincerely welcome any comments and suggestions.
Thanks!!!
Work for a few more years, seriously improve your GMAT (750+), do plenty of extras, then go to a target B-school. When you're really able and about to do something on your own, you can think about this again.
Yeah, but then these "few more years" I'd still be doing exactly the same thing. There's no advancement opportunity at my firm and there's nothing to learn any more. Then my chances of getting in a top MBA program is still very low.
Well, you aren't breaking into any of the name brand IB/ Consulting shops with that GPA. It doesn't matter what you do. As for preferring consulting because you don't operate well when sleep deprived - you may not be working 110 hours a week, but you're easily working 80 hours, plus travel. You may want to reevaluate your goals. I think they might be unrealistic.
Thanks for the advice, djf. I agree with you that the GPA isn't getting me into any of the brand name. But do you think I have a chance for the smaller boutiques? What kind of goals would you suggest are realistic if my end goal is to be in PE/VC?
Low GPA is only one small piece of the puzzle. Passing L1 of the CFA and having a relevant finance internship is great. If your GMAT is in the high 600's to love 700's it will forgive your GPA to a large degree. Since you minored in mathematical finance, why not add some MSF programs to that list?
Depending on where your GMAT shakes out, you could be a decent candidate for many of the main programs.
My advice:
1) Get a great GMAT score. 2) Keep interning and networking 3) Get into a solid masters program and get a great GPA (this will nullify to a large extent your UG GPA).
Thanks ANT!
Considering relocation might be tougher for job hunting, Do you think I should go to local schools like Pepperdine/Thunderbird instead of going to Brandeis, or Wake Forest? It might be easier to find internships while going to school with my USC degree. I heard the west coast, people aren't familiar with USC.
As for MSF, I looked over the curriculum at most programs, they require "econometrics, fixed-income, derivatives" courses. I neither have the interests or the confidence that I'll do well in these classes. Then the whole point of getting a better GPA might be ruined. Also, I don't want to limit my chances of getting into consulting by going to a finance-focused program.
Hi connortrojan,
You might need to prove to the admission committee that your GPA won’t be an issue and you are a strong candidate. If you can tell in your application about any extra classes or courses in the subjects that you didn’t do well and highlight your zeal to learn and improve it could also improve your low GPA situation. Make sure you follow the ‘show rather than tell’ principle so that the admissions committee could really understand your strengths and differentiating factors.” Make sure you make rest of your profile strong enough- academics, beyond academics and your work experience.
Feel free for any further query :)
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