baldelementary wrote:
Dear Team,
Am reapplying for an MBA this year (aim to apply in round 1). Applied last year, but was kind of gung-ho about it – got a semi decent GMAT score of 710 and thought I should apply in the later rounds (hastily written essays etc). Anyway, here’s my profile. Please be brutally honest!
Background:
Work Experience: Based out of Pakistan. Initial work experience in technology then moved to finance. Progression has been as follows.
1. 2.5 years in IT at a USAID project (project management roles, implemented SAP)
2. 0.5 years in IT project management at Big Tobacco (contractual role)
3. 2.5 years at a boutique investment bank (primarily debt restructuring and consulting/advisory work) – this one of a handful of firms of its kind in the country
4. 1.0 years at the largest bank in Pakistan in corporate and investment banking as a corporate relationship manager
Extra-curricular: Have mentored underprivileged kids on staying in school and also fund their schooling
Undergrad School/Major: BSc. Computer Science from local top-tier university. Here’s the problem – low graduating GPA (2.6), but there is some progression in grades over the course of the degree. Separated from the program for a year for low academic performance. Got readmitted and then placed on academic probation for my time there due to low grades (total course-work was 4 years but graduated in 5 years because of the gap year). Didn’t want to do Computer Science but university didn’t let me change my major – had to continue with it. Also explored all kinds of courses in the beginning and didn’t really think grades could be this big an issue. My undergrad experience is my Achilles’ heel.
The higher your GMAT, the more likely you will find a school willing to accept this academic record. Certainly one other thing to do regardless of where you apply is to write something brief on it in optional essay along the lines that you realize this is not ideal, that you can and will do better going forward. Offer no excuses but if there is any context that might help the school understand why this happened -- and why it won't happen now-- share that.
Other education/coursework:
1. Certified application associate for the SAP ERM Human Resources Management module – although not relevant anymore since in finance
2. Cleared all three levels of the CFA program (cleared all exams in first attempts and in the shortest time period possible) that's great!
Race/Nationality: Pakistani
Sex: Male
Stats:
GMAT Score: 710 (Q49, V38)
Undergrad GPA: 2.6
MBA Info:
Goal of MBA: Getting into full-time investment banking or advisory roles
Target schools: Goizueta, Stern (reach), Columbia (reach), INSEAD – am open to suggestions
I might retry Rotman, if you get your GMAT even higher you may find UNC Kenan-Flagler willing to overlook the gpa, perhaps Vanderbilt, Georgetown or Olin might also be willing to give you a good look.
Tried last year, applied in the later rounds and got rejected from the following: Columbia, Stern, Fuqua, Tuck, Goizueta, Rotman.
Please let me know whether I stand a realistic chance in the target schools mentioned above. Also please suggest schools which are somewhat forgiving about my low undergrad GPA.
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Appreciate the feedback guys. Thanks!