mxh1 wrote:
Hello,
First of all, I would like to thank you for all the advice that you've given others. I have learned quite a bit from browsing messages to you and I'm hoping that I can get you to help me as you've helped others.
Anyway, I just got done taking the GMAT and I'm ready to tackle the application process. I have narrowed my school choices down to Penn State, Carnegie Mellon, Cornell, NYU, and Maryland.
My stats are as follows:
GPA: 3.28 at a small, but well respected liberal arts college
Major GPA: 3.55 in Business Administration
GMAT: 710 (48M/38V) most recently, 660 last year
Work Experience: 1 year now, 2 years when I attend school. I work as a consultant as Booz Allen Hamilton, a large consulting firm. I analyze contracts. I've also worked an internship at UBSPaineWebber in NYC.
Extracurriculars: Was a leader on a varsity intercollegiate rowing team (rowed for 4 years), and was a member of my schools finance committee (a member of 9 who allocated funds to the clubs of my school).
Professional Designations: Passed level 1 of the CFA exam in June. Will take level 2 next June.
Community Service: Unfortunately none to date.
My focus is to go into investment research/trading after receiving my MBA, preferably for a hedge fund on the East coast. This was my initial goal after college, but the options were limited since I live near D.C.. If all else fails, I will transition to a different job within Booz Allen that is more geared toward consulting/strategy.
Please evaluate my chances at my goal schools as well as the chances that I may have for financial aid. My ideal school is Penn State because of the location, but I would love to get at least partial financial aid to go there, whether it be in the form of a scholarship or an assistanship.
Also, any idea on how hedge fund/investment/consulting companies will view a degree from Penn State vs. one from the other schools on my list? Will it make that much of a difference?
Thank you so much in advance!
Businesses recruit at certain schools and not at other. check out if the hedge funds and investment banks recruit and hire from Penn St. I doubt that they hire in the same numbers that they hire from HBS, CBS, etc.
Frankly, I would like to see you aim a little higher if you really want to go to a hedge fund or investment bank. Recruiters like to same names almost like consumers like to see certain names. You have Booz Allen on your resume. You have a competitive GPA. You have leadership and teamwork. Your GPA is a tad low for the elite schools, but it isn't so low as to sink you automatically. I would like to see you add a school or two like HBS, CBS, or Chicago to your list. Alternatively, wait an additional year or two, acquire more experience and save some money so that you will be better qualified for some of the elite schools and better able to afford them.
Good luck!
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24 Aug 2005, 18:00
