Kangaroo85 wrote:
Hi there,
I'm hoping to get some guidance on which schools I should legitimately be aiming for. I am of course hoping to be in the running for top schools (H, S, W, etc.)
Background: Australian (naturalised citizen) Ethnicity: Indian; Age 28 (will be 29 at matriculation)
Academics:
760 GMAT (50Q, 42V, 6 AWA, 8 IR)
Strong GPA (top 5% / equivalent of 3.7/4.0) in Bachelor Commerce / Bachelor of Laws at leading Australian University - included a bunch of major academic prizes (graduated in 2008)
Work:
Since 2013: Vice President, Private Equity at one of Australia's largest/most respected institutional investors (FUM >US$50bn, am the youngest VP level person across our 4 global offices). In this role - am leading transaction workstreams and am on the Board of a few portfolio companies... have already played a key role in a merger of equals that will double the size of one of our portfolio companies.
Before this: was doing inv banking for 4 years at Australia's #1 IB franchise (unfortunately not GS)
Leadership: Managed analysts within my organisation, and also co-ordinated external advisers (bankers, lawyers, accountants) in order to get deals done. Day to day working relationships with c-level executives in private and (large) public organisations
Extra curric:
Co-founded an Entrepreneurs Society at university;
Have been on Board of a major US charity's Australia office since 2012 - helped lead a major community initiative last year, continuing to expand on this initiative this year;
Taught at an NGO school in India - leading a class of 30 kids for 2 months (in late 2012)
Goal: To use the scholarship my current employer is willing to provide to attend a top MBA program and come back with a view to help leading our US expansion efforts - i.e. doing US PE deals (medium term) and eventually to become senior management/global CEO of my firm in 10-15 years (at which point it should be of sufficient scale & sophistication to genuinely compete with more established buyout houses such as KKR, Blackstone, etc).
However, key differentiating factor is that my firm is focussed on socially responsible investing (i.e. environmentally friendly, positive impact on wages/employment, etc.) - which is something I intend to focus on as a leader in my firm.
Recommenders: I report directly to a Harvard MBA alumnus - he'd happily recommend me. No other MBA's in my current or old team (in inv banking) though.
Dude,
Looking goooood! What a GMAT! Congrats on that. And overall, your profile is quite strong. I wouldn't settle for anything less than a top 10 school.
Your pluses:
- Your industry
- Leadership
- Law degree
- Being the youngest VP
- Being on the board of a charity
- Being sponsored by your employer (be sure you write this fact EXPLICITLY in every single application you make)
and I don't see any real major weaknesses.
Things look real good for you, and with a great application the sky is the limit,
Have a lovely day,
JF