Jim01234567890 wrote:
Hi everyone, I'm planning to apply to UMD-Smith and NYU-Stern (weekend program for NYU)... If accepted to NYU, I'm planning to travel to NYC for the weekend program and keep working in Baltimore if possible. My essays will indicate that relocation for NYU is an option if they accept me for the evenings instead. Career goals are getting into CFO or other management positions in asset management, private equity, or hedge fund industries (I work in this field as an external auditor). Would want to work with overall management, operations, compliance, financial reporting for portfolio companies, funds/investor relations, etc.
I'd really apprecaite some help/input on my background for these programs, with NYU as my top choice (my profile should be plenty for UMD but NYU is my desired program). My quick stats are below and I'm interested in the Spring 2012 start dates.
-29 yrs old, white male
-Certified public accountant-external auditor (hedge funds, private equity portfolio companies, technology clients), manage approx $1m in client business, 5k staff hours annually, 7+ years of public accounting experience, 2.5 with Big4/international firm, rest as manager with regional, 3 years internships in accounting firms in college
-Certified fraud examiner
-undergrad GPA 3.74 in accounting (3k student Baltimore private school), honor's program graduate, several honor societies and local awards, concentrations in economics and spanish language
-undergrad study abroad for 4 weeks in Mexico, spanish language and literature
-GMAT 660 total-82%, 41Q-58%, 40V-89%, 6.0 AWA (optional essay will focus on quant ability as CPA)
-undergrad NCAA division 3 soccer player 2 years, played amateur regional/national tournaments 2 yrs out of school, national runner up in Dallas TX and Detroit MI in two tournaments
-undergrad president accounting association, developed job fair with 40+ accounting firms and local grad schools
-founded non-profit for used soccer clothing/equipment for Maryland and Mexico re-distribution (2008-present)
-board member of local educational/economic advocacy group in Baltimore
-board member undergrad alumni association
Was really frustrated with GMAT score, stuck on some problems early on Quant which hurt that section. Did better on most practice tests I took so if I had to retake the test, I think my getting to 700 is reasonable with ~80% for quant if I must retake. I know it will make me much more competitive for NYU if above their average for part-time of 670. Assume I'm close enough to that average and have my CPA to cover the potential quant concern.
Any help would be awesome, I can retake the GMAT if needed or pursue another professional certification (which I'll probably do before the program starts anyway). I'd definitely appreciate your thoughts if those things will help. I'm comfortable with UMD-Smith as my 2nd tier if NYU doesn't work out.
thanks in advance!
Since many recruiters ask for your GMAT score as part of the reviewing process, I do think it is worth retaking the GMAT once or twice to pull it up closer to 700. Finance recruiting is competitive and you don't want one score to become an obstacle in the process. Even if you are accepted to NYU and/or UMD without improving the score, I do recommend that you try to boost it before recruiting/job searching begins for that reason.