Hi Admission Consultants!
I'd appreciate some advice on which schools to target. Also do all of the Admission Consultants on gmatclub offer a free phone consultation? I'm halfway considering working with a consultant but not sure how much money I want to drop.
My stats:
female
white
US citizen living in Colorado
CPA (passed all four parts on the first try-might only be impressive to other CPAs)
undergrad GPA: 3.8 (magna cum laude)
undergrad school: National University (basically unranked, private, not for profit, see explanation)
age: 32 (I know, see explanation)
work experience: 6 years, four in renewables, consistent promotions, supervisory experience in the past
GMAT: 760; Q48, V47, IR7 (just took it today-little bummed cause my top CAT was a 780 with a V51)
extracurricular: decent-treasurer for a 550 unit HOA for the last three years; elected official for my precinct, serving a two year term; part of team that organized a 300+ person rally for a current presidential candidate
I've been working in renewable energy for the last four years. My short term goal is to be a VP of Finance or a Controller at a developer with a lot of renewable projects (or just a straight up renewable developer). Long term goal is a CFO at the same.
Explanation for advanced age and crappy school: my husband was active duty Marine Corps. It's really hard to finish school when you're moving around every couple years (I am sooo not looking forward to getting transcripts for five different schools forwarded during the application process). The base where I was finally able to finish was in the middle of nowhere, California. National University has a satellite program on the base. However, I think (hope) I can spin this into a fairly convincing optional essay on the skills I was able to acquire because of our lifestyle. For instance, he was called up early to Afghanistan during his last deployment because the team he was was replacing was half taken out by a rogue Afghan police officer. We had just found out I was pregnant. He came back a week before our daughter's first birthday. I worked the entire time while solo parenting a newborn. That was also when I passed all my CPA exams. I learned a) some serious time management skills and b) some great techniques to cope with stress. Also how to function on very little sleep!
My target schools:
I really like Darden and Tuck (they both have cool energy programs, but Tuck more so. Actually started by a client of my current employer. And very family friendly). I would also really like to attend LBS but there is NO WAY I can go there without a scholarship. From stalking the forums, I've learned (whether true or not) that schools are more likely to give you a scholarship if you are both competitive and applying to other comparative schools. So I was initially thinking of Wharton as well, but now that I didn't get a 780 I'm not sure if that's reasonable (if it ever was?). Kelley is my backup since it has an online program, it's a decent school, and I don't have to move my family or take out significant new loans-a serious consideration.
So. Are Darden, Tuck, LBS and Wharton realistic, with Kelley as a safety? Any other schools I should consider? I prefer East Coast but not NYC.
Thanks for any advice you can offer, sorry if I was wordy. Let me know if you need any more information. I think I've included everything you consultants normally ask for (see? Stalker).