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