ca_gold wrote:
Hi Paul
I was hoping you could give me an idea of where i stand
undergrad, business degree from the university of western ontario..my gpa when i convert comes to about 3.0, which isnt the greatest, but i was working two jobs during school .
work experience, started as a corporate accountant, in the finance department of an international retailer, here in toronto. have been promoted twice, am now assisiting the project management of sox projects and erp upgrades. i.e, i am leading teams through the various stages of the projects, though they do not directly report to me. i have also finished my cma designation. (Certified Management Accountant). im looking to apply for sept 2009, so at that time i will have four years of experience, and will be 25.
i love the project managment aspect of my job, and do not want to limit my self to only financial issues. hence a career in strategy consulting seems most interesting. of course i would aim for one of the big companies (bain, mckinsey, bcg) etc but I would even consider smaller shops.
in terms of extra curriculars. i have tons. i lived in the middle east when i was young, i taught english there. i can also speak two other languages fluently. went to boarding school in canada, then to uni. at university i was active in the residences. i tutotred at an adult literacy centre, i taught english to esl students at the university, and was a homework helper at a near by public school. i was the vice president of the cricket club based in london, bringing in corporate sponsors. active squash player as well, but not at the varsity level.
in my working career, im an active volunteer at high schools around the city where i devote days to teach students about being ceo's of companies, and how to make business decisions. i also volunteer with a heart and stroke foundation. at work i am part of the social committee that helps out needy families during christmas.
the schools im targeting: london business school, nyu, darden, western ontario, cornell, duke.
im averaging about 650-670 on my gmat. with this range, and my gpa would you think i am competetive at these schools? also being a canadian, am i at an advantage or disadvantage in terms of the numbers the adcom selects from various regions?
i appreciate your time and effort. thanks
ca_gold,
You appear to have a strong profile with the exception of the GMAT score. If you had a 700 GMAT I would say that you would competitive at all these schools with London of course being the toughest, followed by NYU. Your GMAT score makes all these schools except perhaps Western Ontario iffy. Being Canadian is more unusual than being India or American but the benefit is marginal. Interestingly, for several years now, Harvard has admitted almost exactly the same number of Indians and Canadians (35-38), and the numbers have been so consistent that one senses there's an unspoken quota or upper limit there. So at least for HBS (which may be indicative of other top schools) your chances *as a Canadian* are no better (and no worse) than those for an Indian.
Hope this helps,
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27 Nov 2007, 19:33
