Marvin,
Yes, you should definitely aim for R1 given your profile. Your Analyst job title should not be a major issue as long as you (or your recommenders) explain the unusually long tenure issue and provide examples of you surpassing expectations and taking on additional responsibilities. You can also use your leadership outside of work to show that your Analyst title does not define you. To give yourself the best odds, I would focus on Top 10 schools such as Chicago, Columbia, Wharton, and Tuck. Historically, their selectivity and 'applicants-per-seat' numbers have not been as daunting as other Top 10 schools. Also, CBS and Tuck (and Duke as well if you consider it Top 10) offer early admission options that can also boost your odds. I'd be glad to give you feedback on your resume:
paul@admitify.com--Paul Bodine, Great Applications for Business School,
www.admitify.comMarvinMBA437
Hi all:
I will be applying for a US MBA program later this year for the fall 2018 class and would like to seek your insights on what my chances are for getting into one of the top MBA programs. All your comments and advice will be greatly appreciated!
My profile:
Age: 26 Chinese male
GMAT: 730 (96th percentile, exam took in late 2014 and may retake this year to get 750+)
Undergrad business degree (honors) with a 3.77 GPA
Undergrad college: Indiana (Kelley)
Work experience: ~5 years by summer 2018 (one year at Deloitte Consulting in the US, one year at a boutique IB in China, and 2.5 years at JPM China in an IB-related role)
Leadership experience including serving as the president for a local alumni chapter, hosting one of JPM China's annual dinners, and serving as a leadership team member of a volunteering group at JPM, teaching underprivileged children economics in the US etc.
My biggest concern is that since the position I have at JPM is an offshore program(JPM has no investment banking license in mainland China) and has an unusually long analyst tenure (2 yrs junior analyst+3 yrs analyst), I will probably still be an analyst by the time of my application.
With that said, I wonder which US MBA programs I should focus on to optimize my chances (I'm particularly interested in the top ten programs). And would it be more advantageous for me to apply in the first round given my traditional finance background?
Thanks in advance!