shatta wrote:
Hi there,
Appreciate you taking the time out of your busy to take a look. Just want to get some thoughts on my profile and chances of getting in.
Here are my statistics:
Personal Background: American born, 1st gen college student from an underrepresented SE Asian minority (Malaysian/Indonesian). Speak two foreign languages, albeit not fluently: Spanish and Indonesian. Grew up as only child and was home-schooled til 5th grade.
GPA: 3.26 cumulative (w/ upward trend. low frosh yr GPA due to rushing business fraternity) / 3.75 upper-div finance classes at USC (business major)
GMAT: 740 (50Q/41V) - taken 2nd time. 1st was 690
Age: 27 (28 at matriculation)
W/E:
Current: 2 yrs as an Investment Analyst at the private sector arm of the World Bank, executing and supervising infrastructure deals across the globe in developing markets. Moving to Dubai next month for a year as part of a developmental assignment where I will be tasked with developing junior talent as well as performing my current client-facing responsibilities.
Prior: Almost 3 yrs as an analyst at the M&A IBD practice at Deloitte. Was let go as part of the major downsizing Deloitte did due to recession in 2009. Have pretty good deal/project experience on resume.
E/C:
1) Most recently, 2 mentoring cycles with Streetwise Partners, a nonprofit organization that pairs up young professionals with low income individuals to help them improve their job search and career skills. Organized a World Bank fundraiser to raise money and awareness for the organization; also handpicked by director to direct volunteer recruitment efforts within my organization
2) Leadership role in a social enterprise nonprofit - I held the title of VP of Corporate Relations, in which I led corporate sponsorship efforts for a volunteer run event production company that would raise over $15k for different charities (although mostly from operations, not directly from my role)
3) Currently leading an initiative within current job to create a leadership organization for cohesion among young staff, with opportunities for networking and mentoring
4) Pro-bono consulting projects in the past to assist a well-known sustainable farming enterprise based in Africa obtain grant funding
5) In college, was VP of Alumni Affairs for business fraternity. Expanded alumni database and held alumni mixers and resume workshops.
I would highlight that a lot of my extracurricular activities revolve around connecting people, building a stronger community and creating opportunities for others. (Contrasts with my solitary upbringing and shy personality as a child, and ties into the development theme of my work exp and profile)
Goals:
Short-term: Strategy consulting with M/B/B to obtain strategy and operational skills to complement my finance background
Long-term: Emerging markets focused investing at growth stage with development impact. Preferably SE Asia focused, as it fits with my background and interests.
Schools:
1. Harvard (R1)
2. Stanford (R1)
3. MIT (R1)
4. Kellogg (R2)
5. Wharton (R2)
6. INSEAD (if necessary)
Thanks again!
What can I say? You have an interesting background, strong leadership experience, and an exciting current role. I advise working with a consultant so that you can apply to more schools in round 1 - I don't like the idea that you're so heavily invested in such competitive programs. Also, I always tell applicants to apply to some safer programs as well. Why not add a program like Duke, Ross, Darden, or UNC to the mix to improve your chances of acceptance? Apply to at least one of them in Round 1 and you can leave the rest for round 2 if you insist. However, do not wait to hear from your round 1 programs before beginning on the round 2 applications. Assume the worst and keep moving forward to write passionate applications (if you receive interview invitations from your first round programs first, you may lose that voice of ambition and end up with no birds in hand!).