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Looking for guidance and advice from the Club

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Manager
Manager
User avatar
Joined: 30 Mar 2012
Posts: 117
Location: United States (TX)
Concentration: Strategy, Entrepreneurship
GMAT Date: 07-27-2013
GPA: 2.64
WE: General Management (Computer Hardware)
Followers: 1

Kudos [?]: 30 [0], given: 9

GMAT Tests User
Looking for guidance and advice from the Club [#permalink] New post 08 Apr 2012, 01:47
Hello friends,

I am currently looking to change my professional career path and am looking for a way to get back into finance (worked at a popular equities trading firm in Austin, TX for 18 months). Since then I've jumped into an entry level sales job at a reputable tech company and have progressed my way into several promotions. I currently am on management right now ($35k to $65k in two years) and while the experience has been very helpful and rewarding, it hasn't stimulated and challenged me as much as my time spent at a financial-related firm.

Here are some potential stats I'll have at the moment of possible enrollment:
27-28 (Asian-American male) at moment of possible enrollment
690 (41/41)
2.64 economics gpa from UT-Austin
~50-60 months of experience depending when I apply
Extracurriculars: National President of my Fraternity, Marketing Coordinator for Texas Exes (Alumni group), Seasonal Basketball Coach for i9 Sports group


I know there are some holes in my profile and can handle the criticism. I am definitely excited though to get everyone's opinion on which top 50 programs I can look at or what I can do in the next two years to become more competitive? I am currently researching UT Austin, Texas A&M, and UT Dallas in-state and NYU and Harvard up north.
_________________

Stats by August 2014
28, Asian-American, Born and raised in lower-income Bronx, NY.
2.64 (downward trend) Economics degree from UT-Austin in Dec. 2009
GMAT Goal: 710+, exam scheduled for July 27, 2013 at 12PM CST
WE: Sales Team Manager at Apple - business development and strategies for the Apple Online Store
Past WE: Financial Services advising at Northwestern Mutual Financial, Equities Trading at Kershner Trading Group
EC: 3 years of National Council on Fraternity (VP, President), Current Chairman of Texas Exes, Asian Alumni Network (2012-2013)
Target: (1) NYU, (2) Duke, (3) Michigan, (4) Texas, (5) UCLA, (6) Rice
Giving this 110%. I appreciate all advice and encouragement. Thank you, everyone.

Current Student
User avatar
Joined: 12 Sep 2011
Posts: 901
Concentration: Finance, Finance
GMAT 1: 710 Q48 V40
Followers: 93

Kudos [?]: 467 [0], given: 114

GMAT Tests User
Re: Looking for guidance and advice from the Club [#permalink] New post 08 Apr 2012, 12:34
There are a couple of things you should consider doing to help improve your profile.

1) Create an alternative transcript:
Your GPA is quite low, and is going to raise red flags for every top 50 school. My advice is to consider taking some classes at a local college or online with a top school to help off set your GPA. Classes you should consider taking are statistics, calculus, economics, accounting, finance, or even one of these classes that you did poorly in when in college. Make sure to get an A- or better or it will not look good...
2) Consider retaking the GMAT
A 690 is good, but you have a low GPA to overcome, and your Quant 41 is not very good. Your V41 is good b/c that is the 92nd percentile, but if you could bring the Q over 45ish then you would be more competative. Business schools are more concerned with your quant abilities, and a 41 in quant will hurt, even with a 690. This would also bring your score up over 700 which will help at any school. Only retake if you know that you can improve your quant while improving your overall score by atleast 20-30 points.
3) Start building your profile a little towards finance
This could include having your Texas Execs change your title to finance chair, or something like that. You can take finance classes. You can start meeting with finance profiessionals. You can join a finance related Extra curricular, etc... You want the business school to see that you are making that effort to change your career, and not expecting the school to do everything. If you start making that transition, then it might help you out getting into school, and help you land that job after school.

Depending on how much you can strengthen these other areas, you can definitely be competative at Top 50 schools. Still not as competative at Top 25 b/c of GPA and career progress.. Good luck!
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Manager
Manager
User avatar
Joined: 30 Mar 2012
Posts: 117
Location: United States (TX)
Concentration: Strategy, Entrepreneurship
GMAT Date: 07-27-2013
GPA: 2.64
WE: General Management (Computer Hardware)
Followers: 1

Kudos [?]: 30 [0], given: 9

GMAT Tests User
Re: Looking for guidance and advice from the Club [#permalink] New post 08 Apr 2012, 13:53
Thank you for your advice.

It's pretty much on par with what I've been researching. I know it's a tough road but I just took your first few pointers into motion.

Taking the GMAT on June 1st before they add in the IR. Goal is to raise Q to 45 and break 700.

I was only an accounting course and two finance courses away from my business certificate from UT McCombs so I'm going to start this summer with Finance 1 (my company will pay for it do I'm going to do it online w UT instead of local community) and take both accounting and Finance 2 in the Fall. I'll add in a Calculus course in January 2013.

Finally, I'm not sure of what Finance clubs and organizations are in Austin but I'll continue to look. I also plan on starting an equities portfolio and tracking my performance so I can at least prove my continuing passion for the field and also my competency.

If there's any other advice please let me know. Thanks again for your feedback. I'll continue to update this thread and myrofile changes. Hope I can bring good news come June.
_________________

Stats by August 2014
28, Asian-American, Born and raised in lower-income Bronx, NY.
2.64 (downward trend) Economics degree from UT-Austin in Dec. 2009
GMAT Goal: 710+, exam scheduled for July 27, 2013 at 12PM CST
WE: Sales Team Manager at Apple - business development and strategies for the Apple Online Store
Past WE: Financial Services advising at Northwestern Mutual Financial, Equities Trading at Kershner Trading Group
EC: 3 years of National Council on Fraternity (VP, President), Current Chairman of Texas Exes, Asian Alumni Network (2012-2013)
Target: (1) NYU, (2) Duke, (3) Michigan, (4) Texas, (5) UCLA, (6) Rice
Giving this 110%. I appreciate all advice and encouragement. Thank you, everyone.

Director
Director
User avatar
Status: Go Blue!
Joined: 03 Jun 2010
Posts: 683
Location: United States (MO)
Concentration: Nonprofit, General Management
Schools: Michigan (Ross) - Class of 2015
GMAT 1: 740 Q47 V45
GRE 1: 336 Q169 V167
GPA: 3.22
WE: Information Technology (Manufacturing)
Followers: 14

Kudos [?]: 142 [0], given: 249

GMAT Tests User
Re: Looking for guidance and advice from the Club [#permalink] New post 09 Apr 2012, 06:27
As usual, great advice from GMATLA. I would say that the portfolio is a good idea, but it can be cheated with fake money, or even real I suppose. Anyone can start up 10+ different portfolios, and only show a recruiter the ones that are great. Perhaps more impressive will be researching and crafting investing frameworks and philosophies.
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Re: Looking for guidance and advice from the Club   [#permalink] 09 Apr 2012, 06:27
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