FifthEmu wrote:
Hi there,
1) Brief description of your full-time work experience.
- 1y in Armed Forces (rank: Sergeant, leading a small group and responsible for the technical and tactical training). As ususal my country, I remain a member of the Armed Forces for 6-10 years and am attending annual repetition courses (3.5weeks each) during which I have the function of an instructor or lead a group in exercices.
- 3 months internship at 2nd tier global Mgmt consulting company
- Business Management position for 2y at bulge bracket bank in Europe (providing analytical, administrational and other support for senior Mgmt). Great management exposure, early promotion. Whole thing was in the client facing unit for private clients from some emerging markets.
After things were pretty much done at the bank (I had joined after a significant restructuring),
- I joined microfinance startup NGO in Ghana in Sep 2012 to help building it, pro bono work, committed for at least six months. Had always dreamed of the challenge to work in developing country.
2) Your GMAT.
I scored a 680 (85%; V:83%, Q:71%). (Re-taking is not an option)
3) College info: The name of the college, your GPA or grade average, your major, year of graduation.
Undergrad in Business Administration from a leading European institution (St. Gallen, HEC, RSM, Bocconi). Very solid, but not stellar, GPA. Graduation in 2010.
4) Significant college and post-college extra-curricular activities or community service, especially leadership experience.
- Voluntary member for 9 months (full time) in a selective and prestigious student initiative (incl. management of 60 students for a 2w period), otherwise mainly relationship management with business leaders.
- Co-founded a successful online gaming team in my pre-college years (incl. management of corporate sponsors and 20 staff members). Grew to a considerable size during college.
5) Important certifications like CFA, CPA, FSA, or CA.
None
6) Your target programs.
I narrowed it down to a couple of schools of interest, but am struggling to put them in the "stretch, match, probable"-baskets, being not fully aware of how they would weigh my marginal stats against my experience: HBS, Wharton, Booth, Kellogg, Columbia, Yale, LBS, INSEAD, NYU.
Can consider other leading schools but ruled them out after my initial research for different reasons.
7) Your post-MBA goal.
Very fascinated with emerging and developing countries, hope to join and lead (or maybe build, at a later stage) a company that either consults companies that enter these markets or finances local companies (e.g. through PE). To put it more visionary: Helping to transform underdeveloped economies by enabling businesses.
Other.
Have quite adventurous personality: Do a lot of outdoor-sports (kayaking, mountaineering etc.) and backpacked through some special destinations (e.g. Somalia, Mali, Burkina Faso, Ethiopia etc.).
Would extremely appreciate your insightful feedback!
Interesting profile.
Before I respond, could you please tell me where you're from and where you reside now?
Thanks,
Linda
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16 Oct 2012, 02:26
Your experience is simply excellent. Highly competitive. Your academics are a little weak, especially your GMAT quant score. However, I think that your European and African experience, sense of adventure, initiative, distinctive (but still plausible given your experience) goal, and accomplishments will carry the day at several of your target programs. Here is how I would break down your target schools.
