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Apr 3009:00 PM IST
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Thinking about PE/VC? Most consultants are. Few actually make it. Learn how to position your profile, build the right skills, and break into Private Equity & Venture Capital.
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Get the inside scoop on what makes Emory’s Goizueta Business School great, learn how you can present a strong MBA application, and connect with an Admissions Director to get your questions answered.- May 01
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Get the inside scoop on what makes Emory’s Goizueta Business School great and how you can present a strong MBA application. Explore the difference between our One-Year MBA and Two-Year MBA programs, talk to our admissions team, and meet students. 
Apr 3010:00 AM EDT
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Applying to business school from a finance background? Personal MBA Coach is here to help with this quick tips video on how to set yourself apart during the MBA application process!
Apr 3010:00 AM EDT
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Sia Admissions Founder Susan Berishaj will walk through why reach/target/safety produces the wrong list for many specific profiles, how admissions committees at different programs read the same background differently, and more...
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Starting at $975 and offering up to $545 of savings, our new Amplify Hourly Packages offer structure and support in certain high-value areas (story development, resume, essays, interviewing) to help get your applications across the finish line.
May 0108:00 PM PDT
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May 0507:00 PM EDT
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In this live 60-minute masterclass, How to Get Ahead of MBA Recruiting Now, we’ll walk through the four biggest mistakes incoming MBAs make and how to avoid them so you’re not scrambling to catch up once recruiting begins.
02 Aug 2013, 13:28
Kudos
Bookmarks
Overall:
• Political Science major with a 3.50 undergraduate GPA, Class of 2011
o I graduated having never taken an accounting or finance course before but realized towards the end of college that my interests lied in a more quantitative field than anything I could directly use my Political Science degree for (I had legitimate reasons that went beyond “there is money in finance” but I will try and keep this short)
• I interned for 1.5 years at small, no-name shops where I tried to gain any experience I could while filling in the finance/business gaps that I had accumulated as an undergrad
• Passed Level I (June 2012) and Level II (June 2013) of the CFA exam and will be taking Level III in June 2014
• In December, I began working as an analyst at a Fund of Funds at a boutique investment firm in NYC (roughly $1 billion AUM, 10 employees)
• I am going to start volunteering with Make-A-Wish in the fall
I look at the MBA process as a goal to work backwards from. As a result, I wanted to start this thread now and begin laying the groundwork for entrance in, say, 2016 at age 27. By then I anticipate:
• Having passed Level III of the CFA
• Remaining at my current company with an eye towards promotions and additional responsibility
• Continuing to learn everything I can about value investing and the industry as a whole
• Volunteering with Make-A-Wish the entire time
• Putting the 600+ hours I put into CFA Level II towards the GMAT and maxing out my score (my brother got a 760, I expect/hope to be in the 720 range)
I would only consider top business schools (Columbia, NYU, etc) if I am able to accomplish the above bullet points otherwise I don’t think it would be worth the investment. That said, I am extremely willing to listen to advice (maybe to a fault at times) and fully intend on doing significantly more research before making any decisions.
My question is, what suggestions do you have over the next three years when it comes to maxing out my candidacy attractiveness? I know I need more work experience and am nowhere near applying for an MBA but I figured this site would be the perfect place to help lay the groundwork for preparation. Thanks in advance, I truly appreciate it!
Mark
• Political Science major with a 3.50 undergraduate GPA, Class of 2011
o I graduated having never taken an accounting or finance course before but realized towards the end of college that my interests lied in a more quantitative field than anything I could directly use my Political Science degree for (I had legitimate reasons that went beyond “there is money in finance” but I will try and keep this short)
• I interned for 1.5 years at small, no-name shops where I tried to gain any experience I could while filling in the finance/business gaps that I had accumulated as an undergrad
• Passed Level I (June 2012) and Level II (June 2013) of the CFA exam and will be taking Level III in June 2014
• In December, I began working as an analyst at a Fund of Funds at a boutique investment firm in NYC (roughly $1 billion AUM, 10 employees)
• I am going to start volunteering with Make-A-Wish in the fall
I look at the MBA process as a goal to work backwards from. As a result, I wanted to start this thread now and begin laying the groundwork for entrance in, say, 2016 at age 27. By then I anticipate:
• Having passed Level III of the CFA
• Remaining at my current company with an eye towards promotions and additional responsibility
• Continuing to learn everything I can about value investing and the industry as a whole
• Volunteering with Make-A-Wish the entire time
• Putting the 600+ hours I put into CFA Level II towards the GMAT and maxing out my score (my brother got a 760, I expect/hope to be in the 720 range)
I would only consider top business schools (Columbia, NYU, etc) if I am able to accomplish the above bullet points otherwise I don’t think it would be worth the investment. That said, I am extremely willing to listen to advice (maybe to a fault at times) and fully intend on doing significantly more research before making any decisions.
My question is, what suggestions do you have over the next three years when it comes to maxing out my candidacy attractiveness? I know I need more work experience and am nowhere near applying for an MBA but I figured this site would be the perfect place to help lay the groundwork for preparation. Thanks in advance, I truly appreciate it!
Mark
06 Aug 2013, 18:22
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Bookmarks
Mark you may be ready sooner than you think. The hedge fund world is a unique niche within finance, and bringing 2-3 years of experience to the table would put you in the running if you can pull off a GMAT score like you are expecting. Schools will also respect the heck out of your having the CFA prior to b-school. In short, you are brining a lot to the table even by applying one year from now, so I would get involved in your community and seek out mentors at work who supervise you and would write good recos. Another thing to consider is your potential to simply kick butt in your current field with the CFA designation (note people put CFA on their business cards but not MBA degree!) In other words, you might consider just skipping the MBA and cranking out two years of hedge fund work instead. You might surprise yourself at how much farther along you would be in the long run. Hedge funds don't hire freshly minted MBAs. You have a great job in the fund of funds world and could stay in the HF space and do well. If you are bent on an MBA, you are well on your way, and I would seriously consider applying next year. Most high finance shops send their analyst off to b-school at the 2 year mark, so you will be in good company.
09 Aug 2013, 08:51
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bryantmichaels
Hi Bryant,
Thank you for the response, I truly appreciate it. My only hesitation in applying next year is the time aspect. I'm not sure if I will have enough of it to properly study for Level III and the GMAT (I plan on starting my Level III preparation in mid-September). That said, it is certainly something I will consider. I'm going to reach out to a networking contact (Wharton grad) that has a prominent role with Make-a-Wish and see if I can get in there as an unpaid volunteer. Thanks again!
