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03 Oct 2013, 01:10
Kudos
Bookmarks
Hi guys!
I've a question regarding the amount of work experience required to successfully apply to top7 business schools.
A few words about my background:
I live in Russia and work as an analyst for an early-stage (Round A) venture capital fund. It's a great place to work, and I've managed to learn a lot during 1.3 years I've been working here so far. By the time I'm thinking to try applying to business schools, I will be working for 2 years, so 3 years by the start of the program if I get admitted.
I've 2 concerns about this plan, though. The first one is that I've just recently graduated from the university. I received a Masters in Mathematics from probably the most prestigious Russian university with no so high GPA - 4.02/5.0. It's a very rigorous program, and my GPA can't be considered bad by the standards of the program, but it definitely won't look spectacular on the application. Also, it's actually an equivalent of Masters (in Russia some universities still use the older system, where there is a program called Specialist degree, which is a single degree and takes 5 years to earn), so I don't have separate GPA for Bachelor degree (as I don't have one). As far as I understand, more high-quality work experience can constitute for the lower GPA, so maybe it's better to wait for at least one more year before applying, if GPA can be a problem in this situation. Regarding GMAT - though I've not passed it yet, I'm pretty sure I will be able to score at 700+ level with much problems (maybe it'll be helpful too).
The second concern is that the first year of my experience has been gained during the last year of my studies at the university. It wasn't an internship - I joined the fund on the summer after the 4th year for 3-month internship, and then was promoted to analyst in the autumn. I worked full-time (50-60 workweeks usually) - it was possible due to some specifics of my university (if you can pass the exams on time, you're not obliged to attend all classes), but I am not sure how such situation will be viewed by admission team.
So, to sum it up, on the one hand I'll have high-quality and very rare work experience - there are very few venture capital funds in Russia, as the whole VC scene has been developing only for a few years, and there are probably only 1-2 analysts my age at these funds in the whole country, so most likely I'll be the only one with such background applying from Russia. I am pretty sure I'll also have high GMAT score. On the other hand, my GPA isn't spectacular, and the amount of work experience will be on the lower end (is it really critical?). My target schools will be most likely Stanford, Harvard, MIT and Berkeley, as I hope to continue working in VC or tech business development after MBA.
Of course, I can wait and apply in 2015 (instead of 2014). But the problem is I'll have 3 years of experience by the time I'll apply, and, as far as I understand, at this stage most analysts at VC firms move to MBA or some other place, as direct promotions to associates are very rare (it may be still possible in Russia, but then the desire to leave in less than a year after promotion may be harder to justify).
Which will be the best thing to do in such situation - try to apply in 2014 or wait for one more year?
Thank for any responses and advise!
I've a question regarding the amount of work experience required to successfully apply to top7 business schools.
A few words about my background:
I live in Russia and work as an analyst for an early-stage (Round A) venture capital fund. It's a great place to work, and I've managed to learn a lot during 1.3 years I've been working here so far. By the time I'm thinking to try applying to business schools, I will be working for 2 years, so 3 years by the start of the program if I get admitted.
I've 2 concerns about this plan, though. The first one is that I've just recently graduated from the university. I received a Masters in Mathematics from probably the most prestigious Russian university with no so high GPA - 4.02/5.0. It's a very rigorous program, and my GPA can't be considered bad by the standards of the program, but it definitely won't look spectacular on the application. Also, it's actually an equivalent of Masters (in Russia some universities still use the older system, where there is a program called Specialist degree, which is a single degree and takes 5 years to earn), so I don't have separate GPA for Bachelor degree (as I don't have one). As far as I understand, more high-quality work experience can constitute for the lower GPA, so maybe it's better to wait for at least one more year before applying, if GPA can be a problem in this situation. Regarding GMAT - though I've not passed it yet, I'm pretty sure I will be able to score at 700+ level with much problems (maybe it'll be helpful too).
The second concern is that the first year of my experience has been gained during the last year of my studies at the university. It wasn't an internship - I joined the fund on the summer after the 4th year for 3-month internship, and then was promoted to analyst in the autumn. I worked full-time (50-60 workweeks usually) - it was possible due to some specifics of my university (if you can pass the exams on time, you're not obliged to attend all classes), but I am not sure how such situation will be viewed by admission team.
So, to sum it up, on the one hand I'll have high-quality and very rare work experience - there are very few venture capital funds in Russia, as the whole VC scene has been developing only for a few years, and there are probably only 1-2 analysts my age at these funds in the whole country, so most likely I'll be the only one with such background applying from Russia. I am pretty sure I'll also have high GMAT score. On the other hand, my GPA isn't spectacular, and the amount of work experience will be on the lower end (is it really critical?). My target schools will be most likely Stanford, Harvard, MIT and Berkeley, as I hope to continue working in VC or tech business development after MBA.
Of course, I can wait and apply in 2015 (instead of 2014). But the problem is I'll have 3 years of experience by the time I'll apply, and, as far as I understand, at this stage most analysts at VC firms move to MBA or some other place, as direct promotions to associates are very rare (it may be still possible in Russia, but then the desire to leave in less than a year after promotion may be harder to justify).
Which will be the best thing to do in such situation - try to apply in 2014 or wait for one more year?
Thank for any responses and advise!
03 Oct 2013, 05:15
Kudos
Bookmarks
I'm sure not how it translates into US scale but a masters in math is tough and I think admissions will recognise that (FYI I was a math grad from UK and I know your pain about a rigorous course). I think with a 700+ GMAT you would be fine applying next year.
Regarding rare work experience, make sure you highlight this! It will really help
Posted from my mobile device
Regarding rare work experience, make sure you highlight this! It will really help
Posted from my mobile device
04 Oct 2013, 10:11
Kudos
Bookmarks
Thank you very much for your input!
Regarding conversion scale to U.S. GPA - it's hard to estimate it. In Russia we have four-stage scale (5 - excellent, 4 - good, 3 - satisfactory, 2 - failed), but weighted marks aren't used, and failed marks don't appear at transcript. Sometime ago I've seen somewhere (if I am not mistaken, it was at Columbia GSB, but I can't find it now) a list of conversion scales for foreign countries. For Russia, they've suggested using 4.0 for 5 mark, 3.3 for 4 mark and 2.3 for 3 mark. I think it's more or less adequate way to convert GPA, so the equivalent of mine will be about 3.3.
Regarding conversion scale to U.S. GPA - it's hard to estimate it. In Russia we have four-stage scale (5 - excellent, 4 - good, 3 - satisfactory, 2 - failed), but weighted marks aren't used, and failed marks don't appear at transcript. Sometime ago I've seen somewhere (if I am not mistaken, it was at Columbia GSB, but I can't find it now) a list of conversion scales for foreign countries. For Russia, they've suggested using 4.0 for 5 mark, 3.3 for 4 mark and 2.3 for 3 mark. I think it's more or less adequate way to convert GPA, so the equivalent of mine will be about 3.3.
