rhyme wrote:
Kellogg and Chicago GSB are on my list for a part time application. If that fails, plan is to expand the "net" to include non chicago schools with full time apps. I have not made my list yet, but it would likely include a few unlikely stretches like Harvard or Columbia, and some more feasible options like Tepper or Virginia.
Also seriously considering INSEAD or IMD.
About me:
Education: Northwestern University, Economics, 3.0 GPA. Mitigated by a marked improvement over freshman year, ended up on deans list my senior year. Some coursework at CMU. British A-Level schooling prior to University (if its even remotely relevant at this point). I'm considering signing up for Chicago's graduate courses at large (basically take a class without being a full time or part time student) - maybe a stats course or something to boost the application somewhat.
Age: 26
Work experience: 2 years with a strategy consulting firm, 2.5 years as a business analyst in the secondary mortgage market, 8 months back at a strategic sourcing consulting firm. Decided I liked banking more and am moving to a major mortgage bank in a week as a Senior Business Analyst. Concern: A little bit of jumping around, consulting to banking to consulting back to banking. This will need to be well explained. Total experience ~ 5.5 years.
Highlights of some of the work experience:
Acted as a subject matter expert in mortgage loan processing, lead a team of six individuals in an assesment of appropriate loan acceptance criteria. Repsonsible for tasking vendor team of 10. Also worked as a project manager responsible for the initial phase of a cost management effort at a major global airline with lease expenses in excess of $660M. Implemented $24M in annual savings across 80 airports in 5 countries, and identified an additional $32M in future savings.
Volunteer Work: 3 months in Roatan, Honduras helping build homes.
GMAT: 640 (Retaking April 19th)
Recommendations: From either Kellogg Alumni or Chicago Alumni. They will be strong. Also possible from a Kellogg professor and a Harvard B school professor, but sems a bit over the top to go that route.
Odds and ends: Italian, not a US citizen, but applying from the US.
So the question is this:
Do I have a chance at KGSM part time?
If not, what full time programs do I stand a chance in?
rhyme,
Yes, I think you have a slight chance at KGSM, mostly because of the distinctive elements in your application (Italian, international expeience in UK, international project work, and leadership) and to a lesser extent your NU background, which perhaps helps you show that you have some personal exposure to Kellogg's culture (work on developing a strong Kellogg network before you apply to substantiate this). Your weaknesses are your GMAT (try to bring it up to 680 or more) and your modest community involvement history. Kellogg, as you know, is big on community involvement, team activities, activism. So if you could land a substantial leadership role in a community organization and give it some intensive involvement until you apply, I recommend it. Showing a stronger GMAT is more important for Chicago's part-time program.
As for full-time program (assuming your current GMAT), you didn't mention goals, which is crucial, but assuming that you want to continue your recent move into banking with a strong finance program, consider UNC, Rochester, and Cornell.
Good luck!
close
06 Apr 2006, 22:52
