Intern
Joined: 17 Jun 2011
Posts: 3
Concentration: Finance, Statistics
GPA: 2.2
Profile Eval - Honest Assessment
[#permalink]
17 Jun 2011, 18:05
Hello, I'm seeking out a reality check on my potential vs my plans.
Work Experience:
The last year I have spent at Officer Candidate School/Infantry Officer Leadership Course and Ranger School (the army's premier troop leadership school) for the Army Reserves. As I explain in my essays the Army Reserves isn't exactly jumping from career to career it is actually an "in addition to" thing that was a life long dream that came down to now or never. The previous 3 years were spent as an analyst on a Private Wealth Mgmt team at a national wire house. In addition, thru college I spent 6 years as the general manager of a small biz and was instrumental in growing it from 5-50+ employees and increased revenue exponentially.
GMAT 1: 690 (Q43/V41 - Q65%/V92%)
GMAT 2: 740 (Q48/V42 - Q82%/V95%)
CFA Level III candidate
GPA: 2.65 Biology/Physics minor
State School
I have taken Math for Finance and Biz Calculus through UCLA Extension (A's in both) to try to mitigate the abysmal undergraduate showing. (Hoping that the GMAT, CFA and UCLA classes show I can hack quant subjects at a graduate level.) I also used the essays to highlight the solid leadership experience of running small biz during college was gained at the expense of my gpa.
Pretty good track record of community involvement over the past years by consistently volunteering with the Red Cross, Habitat for Humanity, a local homeless shelter (foot wound care and washing the feet of the homeless) as well as a political campaign.
Solid essays and should get solid recommendations.
I actually took a road trip to get the first hand experience at some of the top schools and here is my application list in order of preference (asterisk denotes visited):
Tuck*
CBS*
Yale SOM*
NYU*
Duke
Darden
Emory*
I also visited HBS and Wharton but I won't be applying; I have a mental stumbling block telling me that there is no way my GPA would be acceptable. (Still holding hope for CBS and especially Tuck, as I absolutely fell in love with Tuck on my visit.)
Thanks so much in advance