babum10 wrote:
Hi there - I've listed my profile below but what I'd specifically like is your insights into the following:
Am I competitive at these schools? Any other schools I should target instead of the ones here?
This is my story and can't really change it but is it compelling? Any other aspects of my background / experience worth emphasizing?
Any thoughts / guidance would be valuable. Thanks in advance!!!
Profile
Full-time work experience
61 months of WE at matriculation. Managing a strategic initiatives team within the Risk function of a large international bank. Promoted to VP within 2 years. Youngest VP across all of the Risk function. Build a Technology Risk program for the bank from scratch. Liaised with regulators and senior leadership on a regular basis. Worked in consulting for a year before that.
Community Leadership Experience
Board member for the past 3 years at a Chicago area non-profit focused on assisting refugees with their careers. Responsible for raising funds, event planning and volunteer engagement
Formerly VP of Marketing for a Professional organization for Technology Risk practitioners. Ran marketing campaigns and put together speaker events (operated very much like a b-school professional club)
Other interesting things about me
Third culture kid: Indian born & raised in Dubai and moved to the US for school
Lost 70 pounds in 6 months while at Purdue after being obese all my life (in a community where childhood obesity was very rare)
Performed at the House of Blues in Chicago
GMAT 710 (Q47 V40) AWA 5.5
College
Undergraduate: Purdue University, Double Major - Mathematics & Computer Science (Minor in Psychology)
GPA: 3.09 (I'm worried about this - but there is an upward trend)
Semester Honors in 3 out of my last 4 semesters
Graudate:Purdue University, MS in Information Security, GPA: 3.55
Worked as an academic researcher for 1 year after completion of coursework
Certfications: CISM (Certified Information Security Manager)
Post-MBA goal
My work as a board member at the non-profit gave me some insight into needs in adult education. I want to use this insight and my management and tech background to become an impact investor / venture capitalist focused on technology businesses that make education more accessible and affordable. I see business school followed by corporate M&A / strategy experience in such businesses as a stepping stone to becoming a successful investor
Target Schools
I'm looking specifically at schools with the following: (1) strucutured vc / entrepreneurship programs that will give me hands on deal valuation or early stage startup experience while at school; (2) strong ties to the VC/PE / Entrepreneur community; (3) an energetic cohort and lots of school pride - which turns into a passionate alumni network later on
Here are the schools I'm applying to so far:
R1:
Texas (McCombs)
Duke (Fuqua)
R2:
Michigan (Ross)
Northwestern (Kellogg)
Stanford / HBS - haven't decided yet
Berkeley (Haas) / UCLA - haven't decided yet
It sounds to me like you did essential work for the bank, but I'm worried that it doesn't involve you making business decisions as much as building a tool for others to use to make decisions. The strong extracurriculars will help your case, but I'm not seeing Harvard/Stanford/Haas in this profile. Your chances should be better at the other programs you listed.