jd04 wrote:
Simple question (series of questions): Do I stand a chance at:
Yale/Michigan/Darden/Fuqua?
Male 26yrs
BA Economics; BBA (Finance) from private university in Pacific NW
3.65 GPA
Varsity baseball + other extracurriculars that contribute to a reasonably well-rounded profile
660 GMAT (86%ile)
46Q, 35V
I am retaking the exam this Saturday. I believe I can raise my score to upper 600s.
CFA Charter Pending (passed all three exams on first attempt..waiting for the letter from CFAI telling me I can use the charter)
3+ years of work experience as an analyst in the investment research group of a well-known multi-manager investment firm. Lots to talk about in terms of experience although I haven't actually had any direct reports. My job has been extremely fascinating and has afforded me significant intellectual latitude. My firm has rewarded and encouraged my curiousity about learning new ways to analyze investment decision making and the various forms that risk can take. I could go on about how much I've learned from the people at my firm (both in terms of investment management and corporate politics), but I will save it for the essays.
Volunteer stuff:
Various events at work with Junior Achievement
Tutoring high school math
Member of the Events Committee of Non-Profit (led fundraising drive in Tacoma)
What makes me unique:
From the Pacific Northwest, Lutheran upbringing, small liberal arts university, college athlete, work in an analytical capacity at an investment management firm (ie not i-banking or consulting)
Personal/spiritual and educational background that has prepared me for a life of service, balancing my family and my career goals with a focus on benevolence and contributing positively to my community.
Sorry for the flood of info, but this is my application package in a nutshell. I have interviews at Fuqua & Darden in early October, and I plan to do first round at all four.
At this point, I have no interest in any school outside the top 15, so Cornell, Carnegie Mellon, USC, Texas and Wisconsin are not options.
Thanks in advance for your input
jd04,
I see nothing in your profile that would prevent you from getting admitted to those 4 schools, assuming you raise the GMAT closer to 700. Your "negative" is that your profile is not terribly unusual, so you will have to get in on the merits. Like everyone, you should how leadership permeates everything you do. My specific advice to you is that you go beyond the call of duty in convincing these schools that you don't want to go anywhere else. This means more than just showing great knowledge of how their programs fit your goals. It means building as large a network (student, alums, etc.) at these schools as you can and then talking about these networks in your essays.
Good luck,