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gonewiththewind123
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Mention or not to mention? 16 Jan 2013, 07:18
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Hello everyone,

This is my first post on the gmat forum.

My main interest is equity investment management and I have 3 years of experience (during UG) in the same. I am a prospective student for a Masters in Finance program in USA. I had applied to 10 colleges out of which I have got 7 rejects (probably because of my CGPA - 5.9/10).

Obviously, I had to reconsider my strategy. Now, most college applications have a supplemental essay section where you can explain low academic performance/unexplained gaps in work. I made full use of this supplement explaining how I have a learning disability (dyslexia) and how it was difficult for me during the first 2 years to cope in a large class where individual attention wasn't possible. However, as I progressed I learned to adapt and my grades increased in an upward slope.

But, after the 7 rejects, I am seriously wondering if this has been held against me? Should I stop mentioning this in future applications? I would appreciate your thoughts.

The programs I applied to are:
Duke - Masters in Management Studies : Rejected
MIT - MFin : Interviewed but Rejected
Tulane - Masters in Finance : Rejected
UIUC - Masters in Finance : Rejected
University of Maryland - Masters in Finance : Rejected
Vanderbilt - Masters Finance : Rejected
Washington St. Louis - Masters Finance : Rejected

Purdue - Masters Finance : Interviewed and Pending
Rochester Simon - Masters Finance : Pending
UT Austin - Masters Finance : Pending

Some of the programs I am going to be applying to are:
University of Texas at Dallas - MS Finance
University of Virginia - MS Commerce Financial Services Track
Boston College - MS Finance Cohort
Northeastern - MS Finance (not sure about this, in regards to if its worth the money)

I would appreciate if you guys could also suggest other finance programs I can apply to that meet my criteria (I eventually want to work in asset management) and will be worth my while.

Kind of in a bad position right now and any help will be greatly appreciated.
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midofnowhere
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Mention or not to mention? 16 Jan 2013, 08:09
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Have you thought of University of Houston? It's also a good school and it has MS Finance.
By the way, what is your GMAT score?
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gonewiththewind123
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Mention or not to mention? 16 Jan 2013, 09:11
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@midofnowhere
No I hadn't. But, thanks for mentioning it. I will look into it.
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wjf9838
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Mention or not to mention? 16 Jan 2013, 10:46
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@gonewiththewind:

What was your GMAT score? What is your nationality? How does your GPA compare to the American (4.0) based system?

The reason I ask is because I have applied to quite a few of the same programs as you and giving me your details will allow be to tell is your supplemental essay is hurting you (i.e. if we have similar stats and you got denied but I got admitted)
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gonewiththewind123
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wjf9838
@gonewiththewind:

What was your GMAT score? What is your nationality? How does your GPA compare to the American (4.0) based system?

The reason I ask is because I have applied to quite a few of the same programs as you and giving me your details will allow be to tell is your supplemental essay is hurting you (i.e. if we have similar stats and you got denied but I got admitted)
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Oh yes, sorry. I will mention my profile here. I haven't given the GMAT. I had given the GRE.

Quant: 163 (88th Percentile)
Verbal: 162 (89th Percentile)
AWA: 5.5 (96th Percentile)

GPA: 5.9/10 (Didn't have to covert during submission, but my GPA is quite low)

Internship Exp:
1. Internship as hardware & software engg. at one of largest chemical manufacturing companies for 1.5 months.
2. Internship at one of largest debt market operator in India for 1.5 months as financial analyst.

Portfolio Mgmt Exp:
Managed a personal portfolio for the past 3 years (during UG this is not work ex) and beat the market by 27%.

This is it, in a nutshell.

Could you mention your profile and admit/rejects too?

Thanks.
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wjf9838
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Your scores look pretty solid, however, I am not that familiar with the GRE. This is just my opinion, but business schools seem to like the GMAT more in making their assessment about you. Why? Because all/most of their MBA applicants take the GMAT and almost all the MSF applicants take the GMAT, so it is much easier to make a comparison between students. Also, I have heard that the percentiles are harder for them to gauge. Why? Because many of the people taking the GRE are pursuing programs totally unrelated to business (I know a girl who took the GRE for a masters in early childhood education), while everyone taking the GMAT is pursuing an education in business. So, your GRE percentiles mix you in with teaching, psychology, and ecology students, thus making you harder to gauge.

As for me, I am a white American male. I was an undergraduate business student, majoring in real estate, with a GPA of 3.71. My GMAT was 710 (Q49/V38). I have one year work experience in a real estate law firm reviewing and negotiating financing contracts. The programs I have applied to:

Tulane: Accept w/ small scholarship and asstianship
Univ. of Denver: Accepted with large scholarship
Texas (Austin): Accepted
Villanova: Accepted with Fellowship
Purdue: Interviewed still waiting for response
MIT: just submitted application Jan. 4th, waiting to hear back
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ManhattanReview
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Mention or not to mention? 16 Jan 2013, 18:09
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Yes you should mention your learning disability as it is a valid reason why your grades might not have been great during your first two years of school. However, it does sound like you might have gone into a bit too much detail about the disability -- when in reality all admissions really needs to know is that you have it and that is really impacted your performance during your first two years of school.

Do not give up though -- there are plenty of programs that will appreciate what you have accomplished and want somebody like you in their class.

Kimberly Plaga
Senior Admissions Consultant
Manhattan Review
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gonewiththewind123
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Mention or not to mention? 16 Jan 2013, 20:31
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wjf9838
Your scores look pretty solid, however, I am not that familiar with the GRE. This is just my opinion, but business schools seem to like the GMAT more in making their assessment about you. Why? Because all/most of their MBA applicants take the GMAT and almost all the MSF applicants take the GMAT, so it is much easier to make a comparison between students. Also, I have heard that the percentiles are harder for them to gauge. Why? Because many of the people taking the GRE are pursuing programs totally unrelated to business (I know a girl who took the GRE for a masters in early childhood education), while everyone taking the GMAT is pursuing an education in business. So, your GRE percentiles mix you in with teaching, psychology, and ecology students, thus making you harder to gauge.

As for me, I am a white American male. I was an undergraduate business student, majoring in real estate, with a GPA of 3.71. My GMAT was 710 (Q49/V38). I have one year work experience in a real estate law firm reviewing and negotiating financing contracts. The programs I have applied to:

Tulane: Accept w/ small scholarship and asstianship
Univ. of Denver: Accepted with large scholarship
Texas (Austin): Accepted
Villanova: Accepted with Fellowship
Purdue: Interviewed still waiting for response
MIT: just submitted application Jan. 4th, waiting to hear back
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Did you apply for Texas Austin MSF (1st Round)? Did they interview you? I have applied to UT Austin too but haven't yet heard back. I guess that means a reject. Even I interviewed for Purdue. Hope that's positive.

ManhattanReview
Yes you should mention your learning disability as it is a valid reason why your grades might not have been great during your first two years of school. However, it does sound like you might have gone into a bit too much detail about the disability -- when in reality all admissions really needs to know is that you have it and that is really impacted your performance during your first two years of school.

Do not give up though -- there are plenty of programs that will appreciate what you have accomplished and want somebody like you in their class.

Kimberly Plaga
Senior Admissions Consultant
Manhattan Review
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Thanks, that gives me hope. I shall definitely review my essays and resume etc.
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gonewiththewind123
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Mention or not to mention? 16 Jan 2013, 22:59
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Quick question regarding Europe Applications: Many of the European schools have 3 rounds. In most US schools the 2nd round is the final round for which international students are eligible. No such deadline for international students seems to be mentioned for international students. Does this mean I am eligible to apply for round 3 (march)?