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May 0507:00 PM EDT
-08:00 PM EDT
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.
May 0710:00 AM EDT
-10:30 AM EDT
Sia Admissions Founder Susan Berishaj is covering this live on YouTube, May 7: how admissions committees actually evaluate goals statements, who is in the room, and why the goals statement most applicants submit wouldn't survive that conversation.
23 Jan 2012, 08:29
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Stacy, thank you for your candid contributions to the board. I was wondering if you could assess my profile as well as advise on a few questions.
Undergrad: 3.9/4.0, Math/Econ from UPenn (not Wharton).
Grad: 3.9/4.0, Masters in Financial Engineering from NYU – obtained while working full time
GMAT: Expecting ~750
Age: will be 27 at matriculation (5 years of WE)
Experience: Quantitative risk analyst at a major investment bank - had one promotion but no managerial responsibilities.
Extracurriculars: At school I was involved in a lot of ECs: hip-hop dance (was president of the group), business fraternity (held a few officer positions), a cappella group. After graduation I haven’t really been involved too much especially given that I was going to school part time (the only activity now is that I volunteer as a mentor to urban high school students).
Race: Asian male.
Motivation for MBA: Want to go into management consulting.
Now onto my questions:
1) Do I have a realistic shot at H/S? I feel like I am just another cookie-cutter “quant” asian male on paper, but I have dynamic hobbies/interests (dancing, singing etc.). How can I differentiate myself?
2) Will adcoms cut me some slack regarding post-undergrad ECs, given that I was going to school part-time? My motivation for going my masters was that I thought I wanted to stay in quant finance, but realized I don’t find this line of work too meaningful/fulfilling.
3) How much will they care about a front-office position versus a middle-office position at a bank? Even though the work I am doing is quite challenging, it is technically middle office (risk management).
4) Given my stats/interest in consulting, which schools would be a “match” (I realize M7 schools would be reaches for anybody, but not sure what my matches would be).
Thanks!
Undergrad: 3.9/4.0, Math/Econ from UPenn (not Wharton).
Grad: 3.9/4.0, Masters in Financial Engineering from NYU – obtained while working full time
GMAT: Expecting ~750
Age: will be 27 at matriculation (5 years of WE)
Experience: Quantitative risk analyst at a major investment bank - had one promotion but no managerial responsibilities.
Extracurriculars: At school I was involved in a lot of ECs: hip-hop dance (was president of the group), business fraternity (held a few officer positions), a cappella group. After graduation I haven’t really been involved too much especially given that I was going to school part time (the only activity now is that I volunteer as a mentor to urban high school students).
Race: Asian male.
Motivation for MBA: Want to go into management consulting.
Now onto my questions:
1) Do I have a realistic shot at H/S? I feel like I am just another cookie-cutter “quant” asian male on paper, but I have dynamic hobbies/interests (dancing, singing etc.). How can I differentiate myself?
2) Will adcoms cut me some slack regarding post-undergrad ECs, given that I was going to school part-time? My motivation for going my masters was that I thought I wanted to stay in quant finance, but realized I don’t find this line of work too meaningful/fulfilling.
3) How much will they care about a front-office position versus a middle-office position at a bank? Even though the work I am doing is quite challenging, it is technically middle office (risk management).
4) Given my stats/interest in consulting, which schools would be a “match” (I realize M7 schools would be reaches for anybody, but not sure what my matches would be).
Thanks!
23 Jan 2012, 18:07
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Hi sobriquet,
Thanks for posting. Hope the following answers your questions:
Consider this profile of a business school applicant:
3.7 GPA from Duke
730 GMAT
3 years in investment banking at Goldman Sachs
On the surface, most would agree that this sounds like a great applicant. And she is a great applicant—solid essays, strong recommendations, a polished presentation in her interview. The only problem is that she is competing against all of her fellow all-star Goldman analysts, as well as analysts at other top banks.
Top schools are seeking diversity. No matter how excellent, they will not accept all candidates with similar profiles. If you are in this boat, one question weighing on your mind is probably how to set yourself apart from the rest of the talent in the applicant pool. Fortunately, because the essays play an important role in this process, the resume details featured above are just the beginning. In your essays you have a great opportunity to let your unique voice come through and demonstrate how you are different from your competition. It is these details that can truly make a difference for you.
You may have the same basic job description as many others, but what did you do with that job? Were you promoted? How did you find better ways to accomplish tasks? Did you act as a mentor? Were you a leader? Did you propose great ideas? How did you gain the respect of others?
Regarding your extra-curriculars, I recommend you read this case study: https://www.stacyblackman.com/2011/07/28 ... ctivities/
Regarding your 3rd question, the position you have will make an impact on your candidacy (this relates to the point made above).
Hope this was of help. If you would like, we provide free 30 minute phone consultations here:
https://www.stacyblackman.com/contact/
Cheers,
Conrad and the Stacy Blackman Team
Thanks for posting. Hope the following answers your questions:
Consider this profile of a business school applicant:
3.7 GPA from Duke
730 GMAT
3 years in investment banking at Goldman Sachs
On the surface, most would agree that this sounds like a great applicant. And she is a great applicant—solid essays, strong recommendations, a polished presentation in her interview. The only problem is that she is competing against all of her fellow all-star Goldman analysts, as well as analysts at other top banks.
Top schools are seeking diversity. No matter how excellent, they will not accept all candidates with similar profiles. If you are in this boat, one question weighing on your mind is probably how to set yourself apart from the rest of the talent in the applicant pool. Fortunately, because the essays play an important role in this process, the resume details featured above are just the beginning. In your essays you have a great opportunity to let your unique voice come through and demonstrate how you are different from your competition. It is these details that can truly make a difference for you.
You may have the same basic job description as many others, but what did you do with that job? Were you promoted? How did you find better ways to accomplish tasks? Did you act as a mentor? Were you a leader? Did you propose great ideas? How did you gain the respect of others?
Regarding your extra-curriculars, I recommend you read this case study: https://www.stacyblackman.com/2011/07/28 ... ctivities/
Regarding your 3rd question, the position you have will make an impact on your candidacy (this relates to the point made above).
Hope this was of help. If you would like, we provide free 30 minute phone consultations here:
https://www.stacyblackman.com/contact/
Cheers,
Conrad and the Stacy Blackman Team
23 Jan 2012, 19:49
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Bookmarks
Talk about an unhelpful, copied and pasted evaluation. Could have at least faked making an effort.
Obviously it's about execution, but your profile hits the marks top schools are looking for.
Obviously it's about execution, but your profile hits the marks top schools are looking for.
