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Manager
Joined: 24 Nov 2012
Posts: 58
Concentration: Finance
GMAT 1: 740 Q45 V47
GPA: 4
WE: Accounting (Accounting)
Followers: 0
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Profile Evaluation (740 GMAT) [#permalink]
 26 Nov 2012, 17:53
I am applying to MBA programs for 2013 admission. Here are the facts:
30 year old, white male
Undegraduate: BS in Accounting from small, unranked state school; 4.0 GPA
Graduate: University of Texas Master in Professional Accounting (#1 in the country); 3.76 GPA
GMAT: 740; 45Q (68%); 47V (99%) - taken in December 2009, before integrated reasoning section was added
Work experience: 17 months at local CPA firm as staff accountant before earning BS degree; 7 months post masters at Grant Thorton as tax associate (mid-market, international CPA firm); 15 months (upon matriculation) as a tax associate at small financial planning firm with clients in all 50 states
ECs: Beta Alpha Psi, Beta Gamma Simga (no leadership roles)
Uniqueness: BSA Eagle Scout; played violin at Carnegie Hall (high school)
Goals: Short-term - Financial Analyst; Long-term - VP Finance
Schools: Duke, UNC, UT, Notre Dame, IU
I don't think I will get into a Top 10 program (Duke is a reach school for me). I am going for the MBA degree because I want to get into Corporate Finance (not consulting or IB). I also want a degree that will help me move up within a company without having to go back to school later. I realize that the work experience and my age will hurt me, but I am looking to change careers because public accounting is not for me. Therefore, I don't know how much sense it makes to stick it out for 2 more years. I mean, if I am 2 years older and 2 years further into a career that I am not passionate about, it doesn't make a lot of sense to me.
Thoughts?
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Veritas Prep Admissions Consultant
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Re: Profile Evaluation (740 GMAT) [#permalink]
30 Nov 2012, 12:20
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You mention passion--make sure you are passionate about what you want to do lest you come across like you are going to b-school because you have been unhappy with your career so far. If you can paint a compelling picture of your future which leverages your past instead of discounts it, I would say you have a shot at the top 10 indeed and would actually encourage you to apply in the top 10. I myself was 31 when I went back to a top 5 school and while I was among the older in my class, I wasn't the oldest. Waiting gives you no advantage, but don't discount your value due to age.
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Bryant Michaels
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Manager
Joined: 24 Nov 2012
Posts: 58
Concentration: Finance
GMAT 1: 740 Q45 V47
GPA: 4
WE: Accounting (Accounting)
Followers: 0
Kudos [?]:
8
[0], given: 11
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Re: Profile Evaluation (740 GMAT) [#permalink]
30 Nov 2012, 17:21
bryantmichaels wrote: You mention passion--make sure you are passionate about what you want to do lest you come across like you are going to b-school because you have been unhappy with your career so far. If you can paint a compelling picture of your future which leverages your past instead of discounts it, I would say you have a shot at the top 10 indeed and would actually encourage you to apply in the top 10. I myself was 31 when I went back to a top 5 school and while I was among the older in my class, I wasn't the oldest. Waiting gives you no advantage, but don't discount your value due to age. What top program(s) would be a good fit for my profile and desired career goals? It seems like many of the top programs are focused on consulting and IB. I don't have any name brand employers to speak of, which seems to be a dealbreaker for top programs. I've heard the rhetoric of "quality" of experience, but the reality of so many is that the top programs really do care about the names on one's resume. Thank you for your time and advice.
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Veritas Prep Admissions Consultant
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Re: Profile Evaluation (740 GMAT) [#permalink]
02 Dec 2012, 08:41
Several thoughts: you work for Grant Thornton, which is a widely recognized accounting firm and should also play up the idea of having perspective on the smaller business as well from your work with the local firm. Also, you can offer up a unique perspective from having worked with (I am sure) a variety of clients. Accountants make valuable classmates in b-school, so don't underestimate your value especially with a high GMAT score. Additionally I notice you list your short term goal as financial analyst, which is typically a position held by post undergrads. You should make sure you are targeting the right job. Perhaps there are financial analyst jobs for MBA grads in certain firms, but through your due dilligence, you will find how the structure works at each recruiter. As for specific schools, your skillset and experience would work well at any top ten school, and with your credentials, I would target top 10 schools. Every business schools worth its salt will prepare its grads for consulting jobs only because consulting is a general application of all the disciplines you tackle in b-school. Certainly some consulting recruiters target certain schools year after yearm but this sometimes is as simple as the firm having a lot of that school's alumni in its ranks. If you are targeting the finance industry, you should look at schools where your targeted employers do their recruiting. Also picking schools known for finance is good (Chicago, Wharton, Virginia, Columbia, Duke, Cornell etc).
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Bryant Michaels
Veritas Prep | Admissions Consultant
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Manager
Joined: 24 Nov 2012
Posts: 58
Concentration: Finance
GMAT 1: 740 Q45 V47
GPA: 4
WE: Accounting (Accounting)
Followers: 0
Kudos [?]:
8
[0], given: 11
|
Re: Profile Evaluation (740 GMAT) [#permalink]
02 Dec 2012, 11:20
bryantmichaels wrote: Several thoughts: you work for Grant Thornton, which is a widely recognized accounting firm and should also play up the idea of having perspective on the smaller business as well from your work with the local firm. Also, you can offer up a unique perspective from having worked with (I am sure) a variety of clients. Accountants make valuable classmates in b-school, so don't underestimate your value especially with a high GMAT score. Additionally I notice you list your short term goal as financial analyst, which is typically a position held by post undergrads. You should make sure you are targeting the right job. Perhaps there are financial analyst jobs for MBA grads in certain firms, but through your due dilligence, you will find how the structure works at each recruiter. As for specific schools, your skillset and experience would work well at any top ten school, and with your credentials, I would target top 10 schools. Every business schools worth its salt will prepare its grads for consulting jobs only because consulting is a general application of all the disciplines you tackle in b-school. Certainly some consulting recruiters target certain schools year after yearm but this sometimes is as simple as the firm having a lot of that school's alumni in its ranks. If you are targeting the finance industry, you should look at schools where your targeted employers do their recruiting. Also picking schools known for finance is good (Chicago, Wharton, Virginia, Columbia, Duke, Cornell etc). Bryant, Thank you for the solid and insightful advice that you have provided. You have certainly gone above and beyond to evaluate my profile. I will keep you updated about the status of my applications. - Jon
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Veritas Prep Admissions Consultant
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Re: Profile Evaluation (740 GMAT) [#permalink]
03 Dec 2012, 11:43
Good luck to you, Jon!
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Bryant Michaels
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