Your GMAT/GRE score and the alignment of your pre-MBA career with post-MBA goals will be key. Do network with IB professionals in the US who are alums of your shortlisted schools to find meaningful insights.

Hey, I'm just getting started with the GMAT and application process. May I pry and ask what 67% means in your GPA section? Moreover, I think you have a shot. Good luck!

Thanks for sharing your profile @laborumautem ! You can be a credible candidate for top schools: senior leadership in controls/analytics at global banks, rigorous professional accounting credentials (CIMA + CPA), and a master’s in the field. Those are good signals of technical credibility and career intent for strategic finance. Your main challenges are (A) a mid-range undergraduate percentage (67%), (B) the need to show a clear, realistic pathway into U.S. investment banking (IB) / strategic finance from your current controls/analytics background, and (C) ensuring your test score and networking plan match your school ambitions. With a high GMAT/GRE, tight essays, 2-3 strong LORs, and a focused IB-transition plan, you can be competitive for Columbia and Kellogg and remain in the running at HBS (a reach for nearly everyone).

How AdComs will read your profile (strengths):
8 years with promotions up to Sr. Manager, shows leadership and increasing responsibility (good for a 2-yr MBA cohort). Big-name experience & controls/analytics expertise: JP Morgan, CIBC, Scotiabank, employers whose brand carries weight with adcoms and recruiters. Professional credentials: CIMA + CPA (high CPA scores), which signals advanced technical mastery and differentiates you from peers. Professional licenses are seen positively by AdComs and employers. Master’s in Accountancy & Finance + analytics role → reliable academic & functional signals for finance recruiting.

Risks / what adcoms will probe:
Undergrad score (67%)- Adcoms will notice this; they’ll want evidence of academic capability since many admitted applicants have higher UG scores. Switch to front-office IB/strategy: moving from governance/controls/analytics to IB is achievable but requires a clear plan (internships, alumni network, demonstrable deal/transaction experience, or modeling skills). Geography/work authorization for the U.S.: You live in Canada and want to move to the U.S. post-MBA. That will affect employer willingness to sponsor and your ability to convert internships into offers; you’ll need to show you’ve considered visa logistics and have a strategy. You said limited extracurriculars; schools like HBS look for leadership outside work, too. You’ll need to show impact (mentoring, volunteering, internal programs, like leadership in ERGs, coaching, or pro-bono projects, etc).

Target: GMAT FE 685+, ~730+ (classic) or GRE equivalent. Explain your 67% (context: rigorous program, work-study load, mature upward trend if applicable). You can pair it with recently graded, high-quality coursework (like online graded courses: corporate finance, accounting, modelling) that include certificates or transcript-style proof.

Build a credible IB/strategic finance transition plan with good examples like an internship during MBA (Columbia/Kellogg career centres run internship pipelines), targeted alumni outreach to IB groups, short modeling projects/deal experience (pro-bono modeling for a small M&A or project finance transaction), and recruitment networking in NYC / US banks. Show you understand the recruiting calendar and will use school resources to secure a summer internship that converts to an offer.

Leverage CPA/CIMA in essays and recommenders. These credentials are differentiators; ask recommenders to note how your CPA-grade performance demonstrates technical prowess and trainability for IB/strategy roles. Mention CPA results briefly in essays as “evidence” of quantitative preparedness.

Network with alumni, focusing on recruiting pathways into IB/strategy.

We would love to learn more about your academic background, extracurricular activities, professional experiences, and personal journey so we can offer a more tailored assessment of your profile and evaluate your chances at your target schools more accurately. If you'd like, feel free to book a profile evaluation session.

You can register for our Upcoming Coffee Sessions on “Mastering Essay Questions”. CLICK HERE FOR MORE DETAILS

Cheers!
Shantanu Sharma
Founder and Admissions Consultant, MBA and Beyond

Hi @laborumautem,

You bring a very strong professional background with global experience across top firms (HP, J.P. Morgan, CIBC, Scotiabank) and highly respected qualifications (CIMA, CPA). Your clear career progression and recent promotion highlight strong leadership and analytical skills, which are attractive for MBA admissions. The main concerns are your relatively modest GPA and limited extracurriculars, but these can be offset through strong test scores (GMAT/GRE), well-crafted essays, and leveraging your professional leadership impact as a substitute for community engagement.

GMAT - you should aim for a 685+ score to strengthen your application and stay competitive. Strengthen your narrative by framing your cross-market experience (India to Canada) and positioning yourself as someone who bridges global finance practices.
Feel free to book a free call with our MBA experts for a more detailed discussion. You can also contact us directly at team.mba@theredpen.com or +91-7780769732.

Hi
Priyanka here from ARINGO. Speaking about your profile, I see a super strong finance/control background with blue-chip names and now sitting in a Sr. Manager role, that’s a solid upward trajectory. Add to that CPA + CIMA + Masters in Finance/Accountancy and your technical/academic credibility is airtight. Where you’ll face challenges: your GPA (67%) is on the lower side for HBS/Kellogg/Columbia, and your extracurriculars are light, which adcoms notice at this level. You’ll need to lean hard on your career progression, your CPA scores and your unique cross-continental experience to show resilience and global perspective.

Your post-MBA goal of pivoting to IB/strategic finance is realistic given your skill set, though you’ll want to craft a clear narrative on why MBA now at age 30 and what piece is missing that an MBA specifically provides. This article talks about applicants who want to pursue an MBA over 30. This article talks about applicants who want to pursue an MBA over 30. Overall, your profile has strong professional/academic credentials, clear finance pivot story.

I’d be happy to offer you a free profile review for your target MBA programs to see where you stand and how to boost your chances, happy to help!
No pressure, no strings - just helpful insights on where you stand and how you can strengthen your chances.

Feel free to connect- Click here
You can also email me your CV at: priyankak@aringo.com
Good Luck!