CFA Level 1 as a primer for MBA?

Ok ladies and gents,

So the two-year program I am likely to select to do my MBA at (offer is on the table, just waiting to hear from another school first) is setup such that all the “core” courses are completed during your first year. Then it’s all electives/specialization for the second year.

I have until next August to save money and get prepared. I am leaning towards consulting but realize it’s competitive so I have, broadly-speaking, finance/banking as my back-up.

I’m thinking I’ll enroll in the CFA level one program not only because it will help the finance path (should I choose to take it) but also it appears, from the curriculum, to have significant overlap in the what the “core” courses will cover in the first year of my MBA (stats, financial analysis, financial stmt analysis, economics, capital markets, etc). It’ll be a great primer and should help me shoulder the workload and excel in the in my classes – as I plan to, for the first time in my life, be on the honor-roll.

My question is, for the consulting route – how can I prepare myself in a way similar to the CFA/Finance route? Are there designations or courses I can pursue? Something I can do and get credit for (ie. Can put on my resume) would be awesome. I heard consultants are excel-fiends so I thought about taking an accredited course in excel and becoming a jedi in it. I know they also do lots of presenting, so should I take some courses on public speaking or join an improv class or something to get better at presenting infront of large groups?

Any other thoughts or ideas? Any ideas on pre-MBA warm-ups and/or primers in general?

Thanks.

-TheSituation

I sat the CFA Level 1 in December - I found it to be a GREAT intro to finance. It's almost like doing an entire Bachelor of Finance in a very short period of time. I would rate passing CFA Level 1 as MUCH MORE difficult than getting 700 in the GMAT - but then again, I had ZERO finance background (I'm an Engineer by qualification).

With the CFA though - unless you complete all 3 levels, and do the work experience required to get the charter - you won't really get recognized for anything.

AlexMBAApply said something that really hit home to me the other week (profile-evaluation-aussie-applicant-106856.html#p843282) - "There are like 2 billion Chinese and Indians taking the CFA these days..." - that makes it slightly harder to stand out in a crowd.

I am also giving CFA level one in Dec and GMAT in July. Additionally I am also giving AGRE Maths in November to strengthen my profile for Mathematical Finance.
I am to get CFA level 2, GMAT 700+, AGRE 80 percentile, one year degree in Finance. I think these will be good enough to get me in MS financial engineering at a good place.
Kindly guide me on the aspects of the application.
shivgan3@yahoo.com

@TheSituation

You should surely go ahead with CFA L1,...its a primer in almost all areas of Finance ( including Economics)...n will help you big time in MBA

Please feel free to ask any question on it

I am CFA L-3 pass and expecting charter next year (subject to meeting requisite work ex criterion)

Will it be ok to show failed attempt in CFA level 1 exam in MBA application?

I'd say if you're looking to go the finance route than taking the CFA L1 can't hurt.