Hello,
First of all, thank you for taking the time to read through my post. Can you please evaluate my profile and let me know if my target schools are reasonable and what I'll need to do to improve my application? My short term goal upon graduation is to land a job at a top investment bank, specifically specializing in the alternative energy sector.
GMAT: 690 (Q46,V38)
Education:
- CFA Level 3 Candidate
- Bachelors in Electrical Engineering at a good Canadian university.
- Six-Sigma Management Methodology - Green Belt Associate Certification
- Awarded a scholarship for the CFA Level 1 exam
Undergraduate grades: I have an average of about 70% (engineering is extremely intense at my university and a 70% is considered pretty decent. I guess i could elaborate this point further in an optional essay on my applications?)
Demographic: 27/M/Canadian of East Indian origin living and working in Bahrain.
Professional Experience:
1)Big 4
- Assistant manager, Transaction Advisory Department (Valuations sub-service line) in Bahrain (2 years)
- Associate, Audit and Assurance Services Department in Bahrain (2 years)
- Total of 3 promotions in 4 years
- Top rated employee in department of 30 people (2013)
- Have worked on projects based in Bahrain, Dubai, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Malaysia and Indonesia.
2) General Electric
- Electrical engineering intern in Canada (16 months)
Extra curricular (nothing too out of the ordinary to be honest):
- Captain of local football team
- Free math tutoring for underprivileged high school students
- Assisted a local community club to organize one of Asia's largest badminton tournaments on behalf of the Badminton Asia Confederation
- Food drives for poor South Asian migrant workers
- Marathon participant
- Silver medal at chess competition
- Member of social committee at work - organize social and sports events
I understand my GMAT and undergrad grades may not cut if for the top schools. I plan on explaining my quantitative abilities to the admissions committee through my essays. I could elaborate on the following:
1) Passing two levels of the CFA while working for 70 hours a week
2) Challenging undergraduate degree (Bachelors of Electrical Engineering)
3) Received a scholarship for CFA exam based on a quantitative assessment exam
4) Succeeded at an intellectually demanding job (3 promotions in 4 years)
In addition, I am hopeful that the recommendation letters from my supervisors should be pretty solid.
I've been working on my R2 applications (already done with Johnson). Would really appreciate any comments/suggestions on any areas of my application I should focus on in my essays and any strategies that would help increase my chances of getting in. Would also appreciate if you could help me narrow down my choice of business schools.
Plan to apply to 6 of the 9 schools below:
- Johnson(Applied)
- Richard Ivey(Canada)
- Rotman(Canada)
- Fuqua
- Booth
- Stern
- Sloan
- Ross
- Tuck
Much appreciated. Thanks a ton!
Rahul