maverick2011's Profile and School Selection

Brief profile: I grew up in a small rural town in the South, attended community college for a year, and transferred to a large public in-state school where I graduated summa cum laude with a BS in Mechanical Engineering. Since graduating, I have worked at 2 different companies within the power industry as a mechanical engineer. I plan to pursue an MBA in order to change careers to Investment Banking. My short-term goal is to work for a bulge-bracket investment bank, ideally covering the power/energy sector. Long-term, after 3-5 years at an I-Bank (VP level), I would like reenter industry and work for a power/energy company, helping them to expand into “green” businesses. I will be applying to 4 to 6 programs this fall for admittance in fall 2009. The number of schools really depends on the willingness of my recommenders since I plan to only have 2.

Program: MBA-FT
Area of interest in MBA: Finance
GMAT: 700 (92%ile), Q: 48 (85%ile), V: 38 (84%ile), AWA: 5.5 (83%ile)
GPA: 3.88 overall (3.85 when 44 hours of community college transfer credit are factored in)
UG: BS in Mechanical Engineering from a top-tier engineering school. It’s a relatively well-known state school in the US News Top 100.

Work experience:
- 4.5 years as a mechanical engineer in the power industry at matriculation.
- First company - 2.5 years experience as an engineer, very well-known and respected Fortune 500 company. I was employed in the power division of this company. Although I was never in a managerial role, I led several high-profile projects. Also, no one directly reported to me, but I was responsible for coordinating several people in order to successfully complete the projects. Most of my stories will come from this job experience. I left to pursue a different opportunity within the same industry.
- Second company – 2 years experience as an engineer, relatively young Fortune 500 company also within the power industry. I had similar responsibilities as the first job, but not quite as much leadership. I received one promotion, which was on schedule for a typical engineering career path.
- I plan to get a solid recommendation from a supervisor at each company.

Nationality: US (Caucasian)
Age: 26 (27 at matriculation)
Gender: Male
Extra-curricular/community:
- In college, my main EC activity was intramural sports (flag football, basketball, and softball). I was also a member of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (no positions held).
- While at the first company, I participated in the company’s volunteer organization where I helped organize fund raising events (no positions held). I also played on the company softball team.
- While at the second company, I became involved in a local volunteer organization where I tutor GED students. I have since taken a project leadership role within this organization where I am responsible for the tutoring program. I am also a member of the Volunteer Council Board, which makes decisions on the direction of the organization. I plan to stay active in this until I matriculate. I also participate in Alumni Association events, but I hold no positions in that organization.
- Non-community activities – I stay pretty active: mountain and road biking, golfing, amateur auto racing (not currently active)

Schools I am currently planning to apply to:
1. Wharton R1 – reach
2. Chicago R1 – reach/target
3. Kellogg R1 – reach/target
4. Darden R1/R2 – target/safety
5. Fuqua R2 – target/safety
6. NYU R2 – reach/target (only apply if able to apply to 6 schools)

What do you guys think of my chances at those schools? Any other suggestions on school selection? Also, I am not 100% that is my final list. Other considerations:

1. Drop Kellogg for R1 and replace with Columbia ED.
2. Replace Fuqua with UCLA or Cornell.

Thanks in advance.