Hello everyone!
I am an international student dreaming of pursuing my MBA in the US. I work in real estate development and management, and I am passionate about this field. I would like to continue working in real estate particularly in the finance/private equity side or move into consulting or any area of IB
What are the best schools to apply to that are relevant in real estate? I saw that Wharton and MIT have a great program, but I am worried about the cost.
I am o terrified of taking out student loans in dollars, especially if I don’t find a job in the US and must return to my home country with a weak currency. To minimize this risk, I am hoping to secure scholarships (I know they are hard to get). Are there any of these schools known for being particularly generous with scholarships, especially for international students? What do you guys recommed to get a full ride?
Here is my profile:
Education:
Graduated in Civil Engineering from UFMG (a top 5 school in Brazil)
Completed an exchange program at Montana State University with a federal full-ride scholarship
Postgraduate degree (a mix of a certificate + a professional master's, but not exactly - 1.5 years of study) from Fundação Dom Cabral, one of the best business schools in Brazil
Work Experience:
2.5 years at one of the largest publicly listed construction/real estate companies
Currently in a management position for almost 5 years at a smaller but locally leading real estate development company
Certifications and Volunteer Work:
PMP certification
Extensive volunteer work (English teacher, Excel teacher, PMI volunteer, etc.)
Academic Performance:
GPA at UFMG (Brazilian undergrad): 3.34 (estimated, as it is graded out of 100)
GPA at MSU (exchange student for spring, summer, and fall): 3.67
GPA at FDC (postgraduate business school): 3.64
GMAT:
Just started studying but aiming for a score of 720-750 to have any hope of scholarships...
Just FYI, I am from Brazil.
What do you guys think? Besides a strong SOP, essays, and recommendation letters, how can I improve my profile? Should I apply for any M7 schools or just be realistic at T15/25
Thank you for any advice or suggestions!
Thank you!