안녕하세요 현 :
내게 메시지를 보내 주셔서 감사합니다. 나는 부분은 한국입니다, 그래서 오직 한국어 조금 알아요. 그래서 지금은 영어로 작성됩니다!
Your GMAT score and GPA are solid. If you choose to apply in one or two more years from now, I would suggest that you retake the GMAT and see if you can score 20 or 30 points higher. This is not a requirement, but as you know, any point differential helps and you do have some time in which to accomplish this.
This brings me to my next point, which is your age. I would not wait until next year or two years from now. I know that the international work experience in Korea could be compelling to admissions committee, but the reality is that incremental benefit of working in nationally will not outweigh the fact that you are getting older. You are at the prime application age right now. Another way to look at it is this – your extra year of Korean work experience would tell the admissions committee that you are more committed to whatever goal you state. However, you can tweak your existing goals and apply this year and sound just a certain.
The next issue that you should be aware of is your goals. I would not say that you want to enter the pearly gates of private equity. It raises a red flag for admissions committee's. Why? Because private equity is like a unicorn standing next to a pot of gold and at the end of a rainbow. There are very few people who are able to get these positions. You might be more qualified than others, but you are shoehorning yourself unnecessarily into a field that is hyper-competitive. With goals, you do not need to show differentiation. You need to play it safe, especially with the current jobs market in the finance world. Remember, the more personal essays are used show your differentiation from the rest of the finance applicants in the pool.
The one question that I have for you is - why do you want to go and work in Korea? Is it simply because that you are Korean? This could be compelling as a longer term goal because it could potentially be construed as personal and professional motivation. Remember, that all the different essays you will write need – for the most part – to be able to cover the ass of other essays. So if you state that you want to go work in Korea as a goal, you have to have some personal connection to it – preferably other than the simple fact that you are of Korean heritage and want to build a network. Clear as mud?
Anyway, if the position in Korea he represents a lateral move, I certainly do not suggests that you pursue this role – especially given your age. It would simply be treading water in a new pool, with little to show for it. But I have already beat this horse to death in an above paragraph.
Well, I hope my analysis helps your situation. I believe that I can help you and if you would like to set up a consultation, please e-mail me at
MBA@amerasiaconsulting.com.
Respectfully,
Paul Lanzillotti
dhyun3 wrote:
Hi all,
Thanks in advance!
First, below is my profile:
Age: 27 (Korean)
Major/GPA/School/Year: Finance Major(4.0) and overall(3.6) / top 10 state school / graduated in 09
Work exp: working at a valuation group at big 4 (2 year) and used to work for a small investment management com (1 year)
GMAT: 720
CFA: Need to take level 3
ECs: a board member at a non-profit organization that helps low-income individuals to jobs and a co-founder at a mentoring program for Korean high school students (been doing more than 2 years for both)
Post MBA goal: PE or F500 general management (would like to work in Korea once I graduate)
I think I have a unique background that most people don't have with which aligns with my current volunteering activities. Anyway, I'm targeting booth or wharton and fully understand that they both are the top programs and are very competitive.
As I mentioned, I would like to work in Korea and am thinking about going back to Korea this year and working another year or so and apply an MBA (possible around 2013 or 2014), instead of continuing to working at my current job. The main reason being is that I would like to experience what is like to be working in Korea before I apply an MBA program. Also, I would like to build some networks as well. Assuming a job will be somewhat equivalent to the one I currently have, do you guys think that will either increase or decrease my chances at those MBA programs?
I'm debating whether I should apply later this year before I move back to Korea.
Thanks!