sairams88 wrote:
Hi John,
I would like to understand the programs I can target in addition to the ones I have listed as well as if I am suited for the ones that I have identified. Thanks in advance for this.
Name: Sairam Srinivas
Age: 26
Nationality: Indian
Work Experience: 5 Years with Ernst & Young
Countries worked in: India and UAE
GMAT Score: 700 (haven't received the AWA and IR scores although I think I pretty much bombed the IR)
Qualification: MBA (Finance)- 2010 CGPA 4.33/5, Bcom (Hons)- 2008 CGPA 4.5/5 Candidate for the Level 2 CFA exams
Area of Interest- Corporate Finance, M&A
Target sectors post MBA: Private Equity, Investment Banking
Target Programs: Columbia MBA, Ross School of Business, Rotman (I have just started building my list)
Intake year: 2016
Would appreciate your inputs based on the information above.
Thanks
Regards
Sairam
Hey there Sairam,
Thanks for writing!
Now let me answer you as best I can, but my caveat is that I didn't get sooo much info from you, so things may be a bit rough in my evaluation.
First of all, your school list that you are beginning may be a biiiiit over-challenging. Top 10 schools like Columbia get enough applications from Indians with 740s who are graduates from IITs with a similar background as yourself, and so far from what you haven't written I don't know what yet you might have that will make you stand out (which means one thing to do is look for it!) Rotman should be a school at which you will be competitive.
Other than that, I can advise that you consider changing your goals - everyone wants to go into PE and IB for the simple reason that these jobs offer the highest salaries. You might instead, consider goals in which you will continue to advance in corporate finance, as you have this experience under the belt, and these goals will likely make more sense to the adcom.
Other than that, feel free to write back with more info, and I'll gladly get back to you,
Best,
JF