MS in Management: Vandy/Duke VS LBS/LSE/Imperial
What's up everyone,
In a bit of a weird situation. Was going to start full time this summer in IB at a BB in NYC but some things came up in my personal life that I have to attend to until around fall/winter. HR is saying they will definitely not able to delay my start date to Jan 2021. As a result, I will need to recruit for FT again; but cannot in 2020. Figured it would be a good time to apply to some master's programs to add branding & more credibility on my resume. Debt free out of undergrad
Background:
-US citizen, born and raised. Considering not just uk schools but also esade/hec/insead/bocconi
-T15 US undergrad (3.0 GPA, liberal arts major.. fucked around a LOT freshman/sophomore year)
-730 gmat (48q 42v)
-FO work xp (2 summer internships in FO at brand name shops, last one led to return offer)
-non urm (asian but like filipino or malaysian, not chinese/japanese/indian)
Goals:
-Ideally will somehow network/spin my way back into final rounds with BB's for IB slots. I realize this is a reach given master's programs in the states are not really targeted so I will also be pursuing more realistic career paths like corp strat/rotationals/consulting/etc.
-Maybe end up in London FT? Not sure if this is advisable or even possible as a US citizen, could use some insight from you UK lads. I know comp is less but I really enjoy the city and wouldn't mind spending a few years there before an MBA or something to return in the states.
QUESTIONS
1. Do you guys think I'd be a fit/admit for any of these programs with my absurd GPA? Any advice on alternatives if this is a poor plan?
2. Let's say I got into Vandy/Duke (not eligible for shit like MIT/Princeton) and have to choose against one of LSE/LBS/HEC/Bocconi/etc; how would you advise? Will it really be that difficult recruiting in London as a US Citizen?
3. Am I an idiot
Pan European Monkey ALondonMonkey Linda Abraham
I can't really speak for the EU MSM programs, but I think you stand a good chance at Duke, Vandy, and I would also add UVA MS in Commerce, which is just as highly regarded as the other two. Also, Vandy is MSF, not MSM.
Looking at the class profiles, the middle 80% at Duke is 3.45GPA, 580-740 GMAT; UVA is 3.2-3.8 GPA, 580-720 GMAT; Vandy 3.7 GPA, 693 GMAT.
As you acknowledged, your GPA is low but you GMAT is at least 75th percentile. You'll be fine as long as you spend good time on your essays and take advantage of the optional essay (the one used to explain inconsistencies on your resume) to not only explain your low GPA, but also to turn it around and show how you got your act together and ended up growing from it.
Overall, I would say you have excellent chances at getting into the top US MSF/MSM programs, especially since you have brand name summer internships.
Remember, the most important aspect that these admission committees consider is the likelihood that you will place into brand name firms (BB and MBB), since then they get to advertise their successful placements. They are then able to attract more students paying more $$$ to these cash cow programs.
Hope someone more familiar with EU programs can help you.
You should be fine and good luck!
You’ve got a solid profile but sorry to say your GPA doesn’t meet the minimum entry requirements for LSE (3.5 GPA), you’d get dinged straight away.
You could apply to off-cycles in London, with 2 FO SA’s under your belt you’d have good a shot. However you would have to really give the banks a reason as to why you want to move to London
Cannot speak to the US but it looks like someone has done that already. When it comes to programs in Europe, some are more academic (LSE/Oxford) and some are more business focused (HEC/LBS). I’d argue that with your CV you’d be a much better fit at the latter.
Quite surprised HR could not convert you into an SA 2020 (unless you cannot attend it) so that you could re-convert it for 2021 FT.
Bur look if you get into a European target masters, firms will highly value your experience and when applying stress that you got a return offer (MAKE IT BOLD ON CV) and you’ll have no trouble getting a FT job in London.
You could even try to recruit for NYC, likely gonna happen in August so you may not be able to do that, but I’d guess that you would need the pull of alumni/connections you reached out to/made for your initial SA recruiting.
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