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HqLife
Joined: 04 Sep 2019
Last visit: 12 Dec 2024
Posts: 213
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 19
Location: United States (MD)
Concentration: Strategy, General Management
Schools: HBS '27 (D) MIT '27 (WL) Booth '27 (WL) Stanford '27 (D) Columbia '27 (D) Tuck '27 (A$$) Yale '27 (A) Darden '27 (A) Fuqua '27 (WL) Johnson '27 (A$) Ross '27 (A$$)
GMAT Focus 1: 615 Q80 V80 DI81 
GMAT Focus 2: 675 Q90 V83 DI77
GPA: 3.16
Schools: HBS '27 (D) MIT '27 (WL) Booth '27 (WL) Stanford '27 (D) Columbia '27 (D) Tuck '27 (A$$) Yale '27 (A) Darden '27 (A) Fuqua '27 (WL) Johnson '27 (A$) Ross '27 (A$$)
GMAT Focus 2: 675 Q90 V83 DI77
Posts: 213
Kudos:
82
Hello!!! I am new to this forum (first post) - so please excuse me if this goes in a particular section and not in Off-Topic.
My Background:
I am 22 years old.
Graduated with a BSc in Finance from a very small non-target school with a GPA of 3.15 at the age of 20. My GPA is extremely low due to having unrealistic goals.
1) Graduating at the age of 20 by taking on 7-8 classes a semester (wonder how I got the approval from my advisor).
2) Financial struggles - Had to work full-time to help with loans and my family. I took on huge amount of school work and full-time job and did terribly in college (Avg 5-6 hours sleep due to the work load).
I am also enlisted in the Army National Guard.
During college I interned at a top 3 BB (GS/JPM/MS) in Ops, Finance at a top 5 hospital, Ops at a top 5 Asset Management Firm.
I pursued FT at the top 3 BB for 1 1/2 years. Currently at a government contractor in Finance (Been 3 months).
Future goals: I want to pursue an MBA (concentration in finance) at a top 10 B-School (globally) to expand my knowledge and also my current network.
Why top 10? It has always been my dream, plus the access to amazing faculty, alumni, peers and the career services.
Clearly I am not getting admitted to a top 10 MBA with just a 3.15 GPA from a small school.
My Plans to over come the low GPA:
I have taken practice GMAT multiple times and have been scoring 720-730. Yet to take a final.
Increasing my work-experience by 3-4 more years at my current firm.
Sitting for the CFA L1 in December.
I am also admitted to a top 15 global university (US News ranking) in the Msc in Applied Economics.
Questions:
Given I achieve my GMAT in my target range, are my goals of attending a top 10 B-School with my above plans reasonable?
Am I doing too much? CFA and Msc in Applied Econ.
Am I doing too little? What else can I do.
Am I taking on too much work again with full-time job/Msc/CFA.
How would you over come my situation with a low GPA and the background provided?
Thanks!!!
*Sorry if this belong in a different section, or if the question doesn't flow well.
My Background:
I am 22 years old.
Graduated with a BSc in Finance from a very small non-target school with a GPA of 3.15 at the age of 20. My GPA is extremely low due to having unrealistic goals.
1) Graduating at the age of 20 by taking on 7-8 classes a semester (wonder how I got the approval from my advisor).
2) Financial struggles - Had to work full-time to help with loans and my family. I took on huge amount of school work and full-time job and did terribly in college (Avg 5-6 hours sleep due to the work load).
I am also enlisted in the Army National Guard.
During college I interned at a top 3 BB (GS/JPM/MS) in Ops, Finance at a top 5 hospital, Ops at a top 5 Asset Management Firm.
I pursued FT at the top 3 BB for 1 1/2 years. Currently at a government contractor in Finance (Been 3 months).
Future goals: I want to pursue an MBA (concentration in finance) at a top 10 B-School (globally) to expand my knowledge and also my current network.
Why top 10? It has always been my dream, plus the access to amazing faculty, alumni, peers and the career services.
Clearly I am not getting admitted to a top 10 MBA with just a 3.15 GPA from a small school.
My Plans to over come the low GPA:
I have taken practice GMAT multiple times and have been scoring 720-730. Yet to take a final.
Increasing my work-experience by 3-4 more years at my current firm.
Sitting for the CFA L1 in December.
I am also admitted to a top 15 global university (US News ranking) in the Msc in Applied Economics.
Questions:
Given I achieve my GMAT in my target range, are my goals of attending a top 10 B-School with my above plans reasonable?
Am I doing too much? CFA and Msc in Applied Econ.
Am I doing too little? What else can I do.
Am I taking on too much work again with full-time job/Msc/CFA.
How would you over come my situation with a low GPA and the background provided?
Thanks!!!
*Sorry if this belong in a different section, or if the question doesn't flow well.
04 Sep 2019, 07:51
Kudos
Bookmarks
Hi and welcome to GMAT Club!
You never can do enough for a top 10 program but you can do too much, esp if things are a bit chaotic. You can explain your GPA in the optional essay and I think it will be considered by the AdCom; however, having a small school as your undergrad with that GPA will have an impact and detriment. You would ideally show professional growth in your career- good career trajectory.
I could not get a sense from your WE how it worked out esp if you are a gov contractor at the moment. I don't know enough about your field but that's something to watch.
CFA - that helps with showing that you are serous about your Financial focus and your plans. Hopefully that also helps with your professional career track. It is probably not worth it just for admissions. Lots of people have CFA and it does not really make a difference unless it fits a story.
MS Econ - not sure where that came from. Why? Just to cover your undergrad GPA? How does it fit int your picture?
Your age - you are quite young, just 22. It sounds like you are pretty mature but I would guess most Adcom members would either need to see a very strong career track or would want you to get a bit more full time post college experience, closer to 4 years would be ideal.
GMAT - since you have a low GPA, you may want to consider shooting for a high score and setting your sights on 760. It won't impress anyone in the Top 10 but it will demonstrate your academic abilities and help cover up the GPA a bit. You are still young, should be much easier for you to get there than for us old folks
Also, it may give you a choice of a Top 20 with a scholarship vs. Top 10 without.
You never can do enough for a top 10 program but you can do too much, esp if things are a bit chaotic. You can explain your GPA in the optional essay and I think it will be considered by the AdCom; however, having a small school as your undergrad with that GPA will have an impact and detriment. You would ideally show professional growth in your career- good career trajectory.
I could not get a sense from your WE how it worked out esp if you are a gov contractor at the moment. I don't know enough about your field but that's something to watch.
CFA - that helps with showing that you are serous about your Financial focus and your plans. Hopefully that also helps with your professional career track. It is probably not worth it just for admissions. Lots of people have CFA and it does not really make a difference unless it fits a story.
MS Econ - not sure where that came from. Why? Just to cover your undergrad GPA? How does it fit int your picture?
Your age - you are quite young, just 22. It sounds like you are pretty mature but I would guess most Adcom members would either need to see a very strong career track or would want you to get a bit more full time post college experience, closer to 4 years would be ideal.
GMAT - since you have a low GPA, you may want to consider shooting for a high score and setting your sights on 760. It won't impress anyone in the Top 10 but it will demonstrate your academic abilities and help cover up the GPA a bit. You are still young, should be much easier for you to get there than for us old folks
Also, it may give you a choice of a Top 20 with a scholarship vs. Top 10 without.
HqLife
Joined: 04 Sep 2019
Last visit: 12 Dec 2024
Posts: 213
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 19
Location: United States (MD)
Concentration: Strategy, General Management
Schools: HBS '27 (D) MIT '27 (WL) Booth '27 (WL) Stanford '27 (D) Columbia '27 (D) Tuck '27 (A$$) Yale '27 (A) Darden '27 (A) Fuqua '27 (WL) Johnson '27 (A$) Ross '27 (A$$)
GMAT Focus 1: 615 Q80 V80 DI81
GMAT Focus 2: 675 Q90 V83 DI77
GPA: 3.16
Schools: HBS '27 (D) MIT '27 (WL) Booth '27 (WL) Stanford '27 (D) Columbia '27 (D) Tuck '27 (A$$) Yale '27 (A) Darden '27 (A) Fuqua '27 (WL) Johnson '27 (A$) Ross '27 (A$$)
GMAT Focus 2: 675 Q90 V83 DI77
Posts: 213
Kudos:
82
04 Sep 2019, 08:25
Kudos
Bookmarks
Hello bb, thanks for responding!
Why Applied Econ? I am from the DC area and this would largely help me understand how practical theories and solutions can be added to solve issues in any industry. It is basically additional knowledge that will tie with my current finance background to make decisions at my job now, in MBA, or post-MBA position.
I only have 2 years experience, and I am aiming for at least 4 more. If everything works out as planned (let's hope), I would be looking at CFA L3, Msc in AE, with 5 years WE before applying to MBA.
Also your post on Brand vs. Scholarship has definitely given me an idea on what I should look forward to and what to choose if that situation arises.
bb
I could not get a sense from your WE how it worked out esp if you are a gov contractor at the moment. I don't know enough about your field but that's something to watch.
I was in Ops at GS/JPM/MS for 1 1/2 year and did not really enjoy my work, especially with terrible management. I am now at Lockheed/Northrop/Raytheon (one of the three in Finance. Ops followed a basic career path 3 years Analyst, Associate, Director. My current employment does not follow the traditional path, as you come in as a Analyst and be at a higher level compared to a director (known as band levels). This also fits as I am part of the military and have the DoD background. bb
CFA - that helps with showing that you are serous about your Financial focus and your plans. Hopefully that also helps with your professional career track. It is probably not worth it just for admissions. Lots of people have CFA and it does not really make a difference unless it fits a story.
I pursued CFA for two reasons. 1) Being in Ops at the time when I signed up, I believed it would be a way for me to enter in the AM/IM division to advance my career. 2) I had planned on doing MBA in the future and thought CFA would help over look the GPA and my strengthen my background in Finance. bb
MS Econ - not sure where that came from. Why? Just to cover your undergrad GPA? How does it fit int your picture?
I believe that I could've done better in my UG and my GPA of 3.15 does not reflect it, and so I decided to pursue an Msc to cover for it. Why Applied Econ? I am from the DC area and this would largely help me understand how practical theories and solutions can be added to solve issues in any industry. It is basically additional knowledge that will tie with my current finance background to make decisions at my job now, in MBA, or post-MBA position.
bb
Your age - you are quite young, just 22. It sounds like you are pretty mature but I would guess most Adcom members would either need to see a very strong career track or would want you to get a bit more full time post college experience, closer to 4 years would be ideal.
I only have 2 years experience, and I am aiming for at least 4 more. If everything works out as planned (let's hope), I would be looking at CFA L3, Msc in AE, with 5 years WE before applying to MBA.
bb
GMAT - since you have a low GPA, you may want to consider shooting for a high score and setting your sights on 760. It won't impress anyone in the Top 10 but it will demonstrate your academic abilities and help cover up the GPA a bit. You are still young, should be much easier for you to get there than for us old folks Also, it may give you a choice of a Top 20 with a scholarship vs. Top 10 without.
Currently I am hitting the 720 mark with practice, I am definitely working hard to up the score as much as possible. Also, it may give you a choice of a Top 20 with a scholarship vs. Top 10 without.Also your post on Brand vs. Scholarship has definitely given me an idea on what I should look forward to and what to choose if that situation arises.
