Top 10 MBA profile
Hello monkeys,
This is a throwaway account but I would love to solicit some advice on my mba profile, from people who have applied to top 10 programs (or those who have attended). My motivation for going to a Top 10 MBA is to explore networking opportunities and career paths which might be in IBD/MBB.
Stats:
Top 50 Undergrad - 3.6 GPA (Business)
GMAT - 740 (49V, 49Q)
Work Experience - International consulting firm, small boutique that focuses on financial services. Have traveled to APAC, Europe for consulting projects. Currently based in NYC. For 2016 admit, I would have 3 years of work experience.
EC - Simple volunteering. (Needs to strengthen in the year preceeding application)
Given my profile, what would be the best course of action for me to address to best position for a Top 10 MBA?
Solid GPA and school (assuming top 50 is a good school), but I'll be the first to question your GMAT. How the heck did you get Q49 V49 and end up with a 740? That's got to be at least a 780, almost a perfect score. But I'll assume that was a mistake. GMAT is solid for any program. Hope your consulting firm is well known, that would definitely help.
If you can tie your work, volunteer, and general story to a feasible goal you are competitive at HSW and the rest. Make sure to find meaningful volunteer work that would mesh well with what you want to do. I think people totally overestimate stats and underestimate the application itself. Make yourself compelling with strong recommendations, and you will be competitive at any school.
Thanks for the reply TwoThrones.
My firm is not well-known in the US but very much so in Europe. We work with top BB/MM on broad spectrum of financial projects. I myself have worked on several projects at a BB and will be doing a stint in APAC for a few months, then to Europe for a few more months. I'm also getting sponsored for a CFA level 1 but I've read that it is a moot point.
I agree with your latter point of preparing for a strong application. This is the reason why I'm planning to work on my application well in advance for 2016 admit date. What would be a good EC/Volunteer work that I can dedicate myself into for the next year?
I have a preference for Columbia & NYU because of its location but no one says no to HSW.
p.s. the GMAT is 770.
Assuming that you can put together a coherent application with a logical story that is tailored to the schools you apply to signaling your genuine interest you have as good a chance as any at admission to a top 10 program.
H/S will be tough given your undergrad and non MBB consulting but it's worth a shot. 770 GMAT always helps. You should be in play at the rest of the top 10 with good execution though.
Just kill it at your job and try to have some solid accomplishments you can discuss there. You should probably also bulk up your ECs a bit.
What would qualify as solid accomplishments?
Also, what would be a good EC to pick up given the timeline that I have suggested?
Promotions, talking points on your resume, anything that can be quantified is helpful. There's really not a good answer to what ECs you should do. Just do something you're passionate about.
Thanks for your reply. I was just promoted this year and given my career track, my regional partner has mentioned that I will be getting promoted by the end of my 2nd year if I stay the course.
I was also approached my a Big 4 to work on financial services advisory, do you think it's worth the effort to make the career switch
In my opinion, from a b school perspective it would look better to get 2 promotions at the same place than to switch to a Big 4. Have people from your firm attended top schools in the past? Anyway, I would only switch to a Big 4 if the work is something you would much rather be doing, I don't see it adding much to your application vs. another promotion. Others may disagree with this, but in my opinion there is a lot of value to rapid promotions on your resume both for admissions and when you apply for other jobs in the future.
You've got great stats, won't need to convince them you're capable. I think it's all about coming up with your story - what is going to make you memorable from a stack of applications? How can you tie together specific interesting projects you've had, EC's, and goals for the future?
The goal will be to write an application that makes you more than just the bullet points on your resume.
I wonder if my actual profile (Asian male, international with GC) would actually hurt my sell for MBA. :(
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