Current Student
Joined: 20 Jun 2009
Posts: 149
Schools:Yale SOM Class of 2013
Profile Evaluation - is now the time?
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25 Jun 2009, 01:20
Personal Background
Undergraduate GPA: 3.85 / 4.0 from a top-15 US University (Duke/Rice/Emory). My degree is in a non-economics social science discipline, though I received As in a few quantitative courses.
Graduate School: 2-year Masters Degree from a top European university (Cambridge/Oxford). Again, the subject was a non-economics social science discipline, but my thesis involved a heavy quantitative element and I received an award for my work in statistics.
GMAT: No score to report. I'm in the process of studying now, but need to be realistic about my potential score range. Having not studied basic math since high school, I would be happy with a score in the 660-700 range.
Work Experience: I spent one year as a Strategy Analyst in a large management consultancy and am currently entering my second year as an Analyst at a bulge-bracket investment bank. I have received top marks in all performance reviews and am confident that I will be able to secure strong recommendation letters as evidence of my achievements. All of my work experience has been abroad.
Motivation: I am seeking to do an MBA as a means of transitioning into the PE/VC space. Though my current job involves working with PE fund managers, I am not in a "traditional" M&A / Corporate Finance role and thus may not be viewed as having the requisite skills to land a job in a PE house. Also - as my previous degrees were not in an economics/finance/business discipline - I genuinely view an MBA as a great way to brush up on the fundamentals, meet fascinating, like-minded people and send a clear signal that I am a serious candidate despite my non-traditional academic background.
Two questions:
1) Based on the above, do I stand a chance of getting into any of the following programs: Harvard, MIT, Yale, Dartmouth, Wharton, NYU or Columbia? As my desired career is in an extremely competitive industry (and consdiering the cost of attedning B-school), I have decided that I will only enroll if I am granted admission to one of these programs. (Note that I need to be in New England for personal reasons).
2) Is now the right time for me to apply? By the time I enroll, I will only have 3 years of work experience (though I will be in my late 20s and have differentited experience - i.e., studying and working abroad for five years). I am also aware that this is the most competitive admissions environment in some time, especially for those applying from financial services. The timing makes sense for personal reasons, but I am concerned that my chances will be diminished by the myriad newly-unemployed IBD Analysts with stellar credentials who will undoubtedly be applying this year.
Thanks in advance for your advice!