Hey @toooldformba,
Thanks for sharing your profile.
To begin with, your profile looks good on the surface. A GMAT score of 750 is excellent and will certainly enhance your chances of admission. It demonstrates your academic ability and aptitude for the program. Your undergraduate GPA is on the lower side. Your extensive international exchange experience in Korea, the UK, and Sweden demonstrates your global exposure and adaptability.
Speaking about your work experience, your seven years of work experience, including notable positions at a well-known French investment bank and one of the largest private banks in the world, showcase your expertise in equity derivatives and structured products. Your achievements at the APAC level and the reputation of your current team further strengthen your application.
While your extracurricular involvement may not be extensive, your mentorship activities and participation in badminton at a semi-competitive level show that you are well-rounded and have interests beyond academics and work.
Your career goal of working as an investment strategist or structured products salesperson at top private banks in the US or UK aligns well with the Columbia MBA program's focus on finance and business. Clearly articulating your goals and how the MBA will help you achieve them will be crucial in your application.
Considering your overall profile, Columbia is certainly a viable target school. However, applying to a range of schools is always advisable to maximize your chances of admission. Here are a few additional suggestions for target schools:
1. Harvard Business School
2. Stanford Graduate School of Business
3. Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania
4. London Business School
5. INSEAD
While your GPA may be considered on the lower side, it's not necessarily a deal breaker, especially given your strong GMAT score, work experience, and other accomplishments. Admissions committees consider the entire application holistically, so be sure to emphasize your strengths, such as your professional achievements, international experience, and language skills, in your essays and interviews.
To further enhance your chances, you may also consider engaging in activities that showcase your leadership skills, such as taking up leadership roles in student clubs or volunteering in your community.
Overall, with your impressive background, a well-crafted application highlighting your strengths and aspirations, and strong recommendations, you have a good chance of securing admission to Columbia MBA or other top business schools.
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Neha Hadke
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neha@mbaandbeyond.comMBA and Beyondtoooldformba? wrote:
I am assessing my chance for a place in Columbia MBA, and would appreciate any advice
GMAT 750
Chinese born and raised in Hong Kong
Male
29 years old
3+ years studying /working overseas
Currently in Hong Kong
FRM & CFA Charterholder
First gen college graduate
Language Spoken: Cantonese, Mandarin, English and some Japanese
Work Experience:
-close to 7 years of working experience in total
-Spent 4 years in a well-known French investment bank working as Equity Derivatives Structurer and Equity Derivative Sales, and was publicly recognized for achievements at APAC level.
-Currently working as a Structured Products Specialist at one of the largest Private Bank in the world, the team is very well-regarded both in terms of media coverage and internal evaluation, spent almost 3 years here and not planning to leave for now
Education:
- Bachelor of Economics at a top local university in Hong Kong (QS ranking no 34 in 2022)
- a low 2:1 (~3.0-3.1/4.0)
-overseas exchange experience in Korea, the UK , and Sweden
Extracurricular:
-Some mentorship to aspiring university students
- Badminton player at semi-competitive level
-Joined student club as committee but didn’t take up leadership roles
Career goal post MBA:
-To further my career and work as an investment strategist or structured products sales at top private banks in US / UK
Please provide your insights on my target schools and any other suggestions!
Do you think my low GPA is a deal breaker? (I have no excuse for it, I took too many part time jobs and internships, purely time management issues)
Thank you so much for taking the time.