Aiming high or just right?
[#permalink]
03 Oct 2005, 13:36
Hi-
Was wondering if you guys could guage my chances before I waste a lot of money on applications for schools I don't have a dream of getting into.
Here's my stats:
1. 3.1 GPA from a top 30 Undergrad (had a REALLY bad junior year in some classes in my major- business....Got a D in Quant 1 but a B in Quant 2 and have more than proven I have sufficient Quant skills- keep reading!) School is known for the opposite of grade inflation, often making classes more difficult in order to improve overall school rep.
2. First job out of undergrad was crappy- only stayed 18 months. Left to take on a highly quantitative role at large Investment Bank (not i-banking position though)
3. 2.5 years at that bank and then switched to similar role at even more prestigous investment bank
4. Passed Global Association of Risk Professionals Financial Risk Management exam (Quant heavy exam similar to CFA but only 1 annual exam instead of 3 - had under 50% passage rate globally I believe).
5. Am white female, been working 5 years, have decent recs from 1 manager at each of the banks, well-written essays, self-financed my education with loans and grants and many jobs as my father passed away when I was 9, brother is kind of a convict - I wrote another thread about this already, looking to go into international economic development in hopefully the non-profit sector.
6. Gmat is not strong right now but I am retaking and hope to land around 680.
7. Big Sister volunteer, former girl scout leader, volunteered at other charities over time.
Am I kidding myself to hope for these schools:
-Stanford
-Columbia
-U. Michigan
-Tuck
-Duke
-Berkeley
thanks so much guys!!!