beehagit wrote:
Profile: 25 year old white male (but don't plan on applying for a couple years)
Education: 3.28 GPA from UCLA (major in Biology, minor in Accounting). Note that I graduated in five years due to the addition of my minor and I did receive one F early in my career because I chose to pursue a job that conflicted with the timing of my class. I subsequently retook this class and got a B+.
GMAT: 770 (Q50, V45) - took one time in June 2011 and am hoping this will help counter the below average GPA.
Work Experience: Finishing up my second year at one of the Big Four accounting firms in Audit. I plan on having between four and five years of total experience at the firm upon matriculation and will have my CPA license. I was recently promoted to Senior Associate and will have plenty of experience running engagements (responsible for managing my staff, the client, and the managers/partner) when applying.
Extracurriculars:
- I was recently nominated for and granted a spot on our Senior Leadership Council. This is a group of about 12 senior associates from the firm's Pacific Southwest offices that is responsible for engaging our peers to gauge what their complaints are and then working with management to resolve these issues (with the goal of decreasing turnover).
- Involved with the United Way (dedicated to fighting poverty in LA)
- VP of Homeowner's Association (good experience negotiating with/persuading people much older than myself)
Basically I am most interested in attending a top school and am leaning towards Wharton, CBS, Kellogg, Booth, Ross, Stern, Anderson. I was wondering if you think it is reasonable that I only apply to these schools (without any real safety school). I don't know if I'd be interested in attending a lower ranked school just for the sake of going back to school.
I haven't yet made up my mind what kind of career I'd like to pursue out of b-school but I'm contemplating going into General Management or the usual suspects (mid-market IB or MC). I'm thinking I could try to leverage the rotation I've done within my firm's Structured Finance (Advisory) group for an IB position.
I'd really appreciate any advice you can offer with regards to school selection or steps that I can take in the next couple years to improve my chances. I'm pretty sure that I will be using a consultant down the line to maximize my odds.
Many thanks!
Yes, the GMAT does overcome your GPA. You may want to also do a small calculation for the admissions committee in your application form demonstrating what your GPA would be without that one F.
The biggest issue I see in your profile so far is that your role in auditing is going to be viewed as risk averse. To succeed in the top programs you are aiming for, you will need to demonstrate a pattern of pursuing risks, leading initiatives, and making an impact in a way that auditing just doesn't allow. The Leadership Council may help you demonstrate that so enjoy that role and dive into it! You may also be able to lead peer volunteers and perhaps the organization at the United Way, so look for ways to do that and not just to volunteer in a way that many, many other people could have (dishing out food in a soup kitchen, tutoring, etc. are all very entry-level ways that people can contribute. They are worthwhile and important, but they will not help your MBA application since they will not demonstrate your ability to initiate and lead large scale projects).
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29 Jul 2011, 14:47
