Hi,
I was wondering if you could critique my profile now applying for a top 25 MBA program. I'm debating to apply this fall or wait a year for some more experience.
Work experience: Just under 4 years PWM experience, both in client-facing and analyst roles, but looking to transition this year to corporate finance or equity research (associate level)
Educational background: 3.0 Economics, public target (UVA, UNC, etc.)
Outside activities: CFA Level 3 Candidate, intern for Wikistrat
I took the GMAT back in 2009 without really studying and got a 630. I'm pretty sure with some concentrated effort I could get 700+.
Aspirational school would be Stanford. Still highly acceptable would be UNC, UCLA, University of Texas - Austin, or similar.
I realize the biggest potential negative for me is GPA, but I'm hoping to develop a strong enough resume to compensate. Any candid thoughts would be most appreciated.
A lot of stories on here of people getting in with low ~3 GPAs from schools similar to yours. You can look around for my profile, but I got into multiple M7s with a ~3.2 from a school ranked near yours (liberal arts though). It will definitely be important for you to get above a 700, since you do need to prove ability to handle the curriculum. The CFA should definitely help with that as well. Assuming you do, especially around a 720, I think your sweet spot schools will be right in the middle of the ones you listed.
No reason why you couldn't pull off an M7 or two with solid execution. You may need to pick up your extras though. Wikistrat is cool, but depending on your experience, doesn't sound like it's enough of a leadership role to really make an impact. Especially coming from PWM, where my impression is that team leadership is probably limited, you want to get something that shows you can lead into your application. Just remember that coming in with a low GPA, you really cannot afford to be anything but strong anywhere else, so even if things are okay/average, try to make them strengths.
Did either of you take any courses to try and build an alternative transcript? I've started asking around because everyone says to take Accounting, Finance and Econ courses but after studying Acct and FIN in school I feel like I have already taken most of those classes.
A GPA that low will get you removed from consideration early in the process at most desirable schools. I applied with a 3.1 from UVa and was told by an admissions officer at Darden that my low GPA was the reason they dinged me. I ended up accepting a scholarship to a lower ranked program and this summer beat out a kid from Darden for a full-time offer.
@mdk6c There is a huge difference for the main reason for being dinged being your GPA and being automatically removed from the process early because of your GPA. A 3.1 is simply a weakness, and will likely knock you out from H/S, barring some other sort of other advantage that is easily identifiable (e.g. URM or 2.8 GPA but started your own business that was bought by Google...).
As for Darden, I can personally attest to a good friend who got in with a
know someone who got into booth with a sub 3 gpa. it can be done if you have a good story.
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