majo0110 wrote:
Thanks a lot in advance for just reading this! I am not your typical MBA candidate, which I do not know if is good or bad yet:
Female, Peruvian, just turned 27, I am aiming to apply for the jan or sept 2015 rounds though so 28 by then.
Tests:
GMAT 740 (Q48/V42)
Toefl 119
Education:
Bachelor in Laws at PUCP, Peru's top ranked uni (both generally and in law - top 23 in Latin America). Graduated 2010, top 10 in class of 140. We don't have GPAs but according to conversion websites mine would be around 3.95. Presented cases and became an official lawyer in 2012, cum laude.
During my last year I was a "Rodrigo Mazuré" scholar, which exempted me from all tuition and graduation fees, this scholarship is given by Peru's largest law firm to 5 students out of 1800+.
Extracurriculars:
- Editor in chief and member of the management committee for Peru's oldest and most widely known law review. Had 5 people directly under my supervision in the editing committee, and 35 under my supervision undirectly as part of the management commitee (we did all of our fund-raising, accounting, strategy building, etc). 3 years during law school.
- Translator for various articles (from english to spanish), and a full published book as well as collaborator on various corporate law published articles.
- Corporate volunteering - last year / pro-bono work for small non-profit startups (3 companies in the last two years)/ Christmas fundraising for gifts and dinners for street children (30+) as well as their delivery during Christmas day for the last 10 years.
- Selected as student representative in high school for a conference in Geneva (one of two world IB representatives) by IBO and Swiss Government.
- Exchange student in France during the summer between high school and college (2 months). My french is decent.
Work Experience:
Three and a half years of full time work experience.
- Worked three years as an associate at a top ranked financial law firm in Peru. Because I had interned there for a year, and had worked directly with the main partner since I started, when a senior associate left (a year after I graduated) I was made responsible for all of her work, dealing directly with big-shot international clients and becoming in charge of the insurance, private pension funds and investment fund division, in charge of three interns and a recent graduate. During my last year I worked directly alongside the main partner in three main deals all of which involved direct international exposure: a loan to one of Peru's biggest economic group by an important Brazilian Bank, a note offering by Peru's top microfinance institution, and all of the legal proceedings for the incorporation of a Chilean financial institution in Peru, in all cases dealing with other law firm's partners or senior associates much older than me as counterparts.
- For the last year, I've worked at one of Peru's top 3 largest companies, and biggest mining company (2nd in the world for production) as the lawyer in charge of all contracts related to their operation and projects, following them from the beginning stages to their negotiation, helping with presentations before the general management and elaboration of al documents. I work directly under the supervision of the legal VP and superintendent and am in charge of an intern and a junior lawyer, the position was intended for someone with min. 5 years of professional experience but after my previous experience I got considered with only two and a half. I also am in charge of all contracts related to the social division, covering social projects and donations for our influence area working directly with the field community relations officers, and have therefore been part of a committee for the reorganization of the social division.
Main Goals:
I have always had a strong interest in social needs, considering my country though rapidly developing economically still has such economic and development inequalities. During my time as a financial lawyer I could see directly the different ways that financing can be structured for different projects and, thanks to my experience with Peru's largest microfinance institution, I was able to be a part of different social project financing scheme. Later, at my current job I have had a first-hand experience of watching large amounts of money offered as donations related to corporate responsability be misused in projects that did not answer expectations or needs in poor communities. That is why my long term goal is starting a consulting firm specializing in making links between well structured social projects and financing, both from corporate responsability schemes and from financing entities.
Short term: I am lawyer, I have a good grasp of financial and management concepts and I do not really work on hard law but rather apply diverse sills in my work however, I have had no formal education nor formal experience in these subjects. That is why I think an MBA and then an industry and role change to a social consulting firm, specially if its overseas will really help me achieve my long-term goal.
Target Schools
I would love a european school, INSEAD and LBS are my top two, however I have also considered other options such as HEC.
Thanks so much!
Hello there Majo,
Thanks for dropping by!
So first of all you have a FANTASTIC profile! You are definitely not a typical MBA candidate, as you mentioned, but all of your unique points are great. You have an awesome GMAT, a stellar TOEFL, and an amazing GPA as a great foundation. what works even better is that you are female and come from a country from which Bschools don't really see aaaaaall that many candidates, so they will be really happy and interested to consider your application. Plus your scholarship, editor in chief of law review and truly phenomenal work experience. You are a very strong candidate, and with excellent essays you could get into any school in the world, including, if you so desire, HBS or Stanford (I know you mentioned Europe in your post, but I thought I might mention this), If you prefer INSEAD and LBS then great, you should have a good shot at those schools too with a strong application.
I truly love your profile, and love the way you write about it. The one thing that I see that needs to still be worked out a bit is your goals and how they fit, and why they make sense, and why they are your passion. But that is something you will come to with a lot of thought and work during your essay-writing.
Sooo, I hope this helps!!!