I graduated in 2011 with a 3.2 gpa....non-target but still a major university....interviewing everywhere but can't get a job...i used to what IB, now I think I want Equity Research or Management Consulting.....assuming research is my goal however, what programs should I look into?
I'm confident I would score a 700 or so on the GMAT.....also, how if i start prepping now, when is the earliest I should aim to take the GMAT?
now?
Are you aiming for Fall '13 enrollment? You should probably take the GMAT this summer.
What did you major in? Just curious as some MSF programs are very quantitative.
And if you're taking the GMAT this summer you should probably start studying as soon as you can.
Start now http://www.wallstreetoasis.com/veritas-gmat-prep-discount
Check out http://www.msfhq.com
i majored in finance....have taken statistics courses though I'm pretty good at math...is MSF not a good fit for an Equity Research professional?
and am I screwed timing wise? have all MSF program admission deadline passed? Fall '13 is over a year away thats the soonest I could enter a program?
This is a good thread for ANT to jump on. Check his site out though.
MSF's are regional. You really want to make sure that the MSF you choose will lead you to the city you want to live in.
This is a good thread for ANT to jump on. Check his site out though.
MSF's are regional. You really want to make sure that the MSF you choose will lead you to the city you want to live in.
This might be long. Heads up.
Your biggest issue is not having your GMAT in your hand. Being confident is good, but if you haven't even started prepping I don't know how you can say you can do 700. I'll take your word for it though.
Hypothetically, lets say you start prepping tonight. Write GMAT 1 month from now (if you work hard enough and your math is "pretty good" then a 700 is definitely possible). There would be a few round 5 deadlines left after late-april (do your search on the schools). I think you would have had a good shot earlier rounds but round 5 can go either: a) they are desperate to fill up the class so they'll take anyone who can breath (not the case at top programs obviously) b) they have a couple of spots left and they just wanna get a couple of last rockstars in (for example, MIT's 3rd round)
Since you're not thinking IB then not a big deal if you don't get into top programs. That said, consulting is no easier than IB to get into so you'd need a top program again.
At this point, write the GMAT and then see where you are. >700: long shot at top schools and decent for 2nd tier
considering i wouldnt be able to enroll until next year....would i be better off taking the CFA exams?
Get your GMAT done and then we can figure this out. Assuming you get a 700 you will be competitive at most programs. Claremont and MIT might be out of reach.
That being said, being confident you can get a 700 and pulling it off are two different things. Check out my site, prep for your GMAT and then we can discuss. You have a while since I think you missed most program cut offs. You might be able to apply still for some, but you better get that GMAT done ASAP.
Reiterating ANT's point: write the GMAT as soon as you can. Especially before the new generation of GMAT kicks in (June 5th). I would say even if you plan to apply next year, write the GMAT before June. Who knows how the new portion will affect the score but I sure wouldn't want to wait and find out.
Why would he take his GMAT ASAP? He's stated that he doesn't want to matriculate into a program until the fall of '13, that's a whole year away. He should take as much time as he needs to prep and be ready to apply in R1's to all his schools w/ solid essays etc. OP, take your time with your GMAT, you don't want to have to take it more than once ... the whole testing experience blows and is stupid. Plan on 3-4 months to lock-in a 700+ score and R1's don't start till Oct/Nov so you have plenty of time.
In the OP he said he wants to apply this year. Anyhow. I still think do it before the new portion is added in June. That gives you 2 months of study time. I personally did 2 months and I got what I wanted.
I don't think the OP is referring to the upcoming admissions deadlines, but FYI you will be applying in Vandy/Duke's/CMC's final rounds I think May 9-18ish for those schools. From what I've been told it's a challenge to get in during these rounds with a less than stellar CV; however, it's definitely possible [I know a someone Melo from our school that made it through in R5 for Duke, but his CV was packed]. WUSTL's rounds are over at that point and it moves to rolling admissions only [no guaranteed spots] and Villanova's will be over since their program literally starts the next week, May 23ish if I remember, ANT probably knows.
As an aside, the GMAT's new 'Integrated Reasoning' portion will not count towards your composite score [what everyone reports ex. 700, 710, 680 w/e]. I think everybody was getting bent shape because they didn't really know what it was and how it would impact the GMAT scoring and rightfully so, I wouldn't want to have to take a new version of a test. However, the Integrated Reasoning section of the GMAT replaces one of the essays, which are pretty much irrelevant anyways; you have to basically write a 3 paragraph position that has a thesis and provide topic sentences and conclusions to support the essay [basic 8th grade writing]. Furthermore, the Integrated Reasoning is NOT adaptive and the score will be reported separately as the essays are and again do not impact the commonly reported Quant and Verbal split and composite score. Therefore, I wouldn't stress about trying to pack in all of your studying in the next month and a half. If you are ready though, I see nothing wrong with what EngBanker said. Just remember that you want to put the best 'package' you can forward and if that means waiting one year then I'd do that.
I had to deal w/ the issue of delaying vs. applying in R5's because I fucked up my GMAT so not only was my little plan derailed, but I am stupid and have to take my GMAT again. So I'd just caution you against trying to time this perfectly.
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