arkadiyua wrote:
Would very much appreciate your kind opinion on the profile of a friend of mine:
Demographics: 25 yo Ukrainian female. Plans to apply next year.
GMAT: 620 (took 2 times 3 years ago)
Education: BA (2007) and MA (2009) in Sociology from the top-3 university in Ukraine. Undergrad GPA 3.5, graduate 3.2 (was simultaneously working full-time, see below). Also got a Master in Finance from IE in Spain (2011), GPA 3.5 but given Gauss grade distribution system finished 2nd in class of 35. Passed 2 levels of CFA.
Work experience: started working in her senior year at the university and though the masters program - did 1.5 years at the first Ukrainian alternative energy start-up and among other things (working with local authorities, financial modeling) found them an investor (large international conglomerate) who bought it for a couple dozen million dollars; interned at the European Parliament in Brussels (4 months) and at one of Europe's largest alternative energy companies in Madrid (4 months). After getting Master in Finance in 2011 has been working for a year now as an analyst at IB division of a bulge bracket bank in London.
Extracurriculars: worked as a key team member in the organisational committee of an international political forum in Ukraine that brings top politicians from all over the world (the likes of Bill Clinton and Gerhard Schroeder) and was one of the key organizers of the first meeting of the European Youth Parliament in Ukraine. A prize-winner in Ukrainian national ballroom dancing competitions (has been in the sport since 5 yo)
Post-MBA goals: to go into PE with a focus on alternative energy
Schools (in order of preference): Stanford, HBS, Wharton, INSEAD, Chicago, Dartmouth. Also considering a joint MBA / MPA degree (HBS / HKS?)
Additional question: considering low initial GMAT scores and the fact she took it twice which would make more sense - to retake GMAT or to go for GRE?
Thank you in advance!
The Helper
Considering the schools she is aiming for, her goal, and her GMAT score, she really must take either a GMAT or GRE. Applying with her current score has little chance of success.
I wouldn't go too much by her initial score. It was 3 years ago and she has earned an MiF since then. She has also worked in London. Presumably both her quant skills and her English are better than they were then. She may also have access to better GMAT prep today than she had then.
GMATor GRE is a difficult question to answer. Most schools say that as long as the percentile score is where they want it, they don't care which test is submitted. I would prepare for the test that she thinks she can get the highest percentile score on. She can take practice tests first and see how she does and then focus on the one where she does best. Obviously, she has to make sure that her target programs accept both scores if she wants to take the GRE.
Best,
Linda