Hello! Thanks for reaching out. See below for my notes within your profile, and let us know if we can help with any other questions!
-Kate
LakersFanCali wrote:
Hello,
I would appreciate it if you could evaluate my profile and provide feedback. Thank you!
Currently, 26yr old Asian American Male. 27 at Matriculation.
College- 2 yrs at community college (3.8 GPA), then 2 years at UC Riverside (3.15 GPA). Combined GPA ~3.5. GPA fell at UCR due to familial obligations of taking care of a sick relative. Will use optional essay to discuss this. Definitely use the optional essay, keep it brief. Your combined GPA is still pretty strong, though this could present a challenge for the very top schools on your list (MIT and Columbia especially).
GMAT: GMAT Prep Test Score of 740 (49Q 41V) Let's assume I will score between 720-740 on the real test. Great starting point! This should be your main priority. I hope you can reach a 730, or higher. Again, the very top schools might still be a bit challenging, but a score like that will put you in range.
Work Exp
1.5 yrs- Wealth Advisor at Guardian Life. My team and I specialized in working with business clients on insurance and investment programs, corporate tax planning, and business succession planning. I took this role out of college to really strengthen my soft skills (boardroom presentations, relationship building, communication, etc..). I am a huge believer in working on my professional skills and at the time, my soft skills were lacking in my opinion. I like that you were purposeful in building skills you needed. And those skills are valued by b-schools too. I also like that you got client and board exposure, definitely emphasize that.
What will be ~3.5 yrs (at matriculation) as a analyst in Product Management at a Top 15 P&C Insurance Company (~$4B in revenue). I love the work I do. This role marries two interests of mine- data analytics and leading cross functional executive level projects within the company. I have plenty of quantitatively-backed examples of the impact I have had. The P&C insurance industry is going through a transformation and it will be heavily disrupted within the next 10-15 years by autonomous vehicles. I aspire to be a leader of a top 5 insurer in the long run and guide the industry through the changing landscape. Sounds great and very interesting! Not the most typical pre-MBA path but this will help you stand out. Make sure your passion comes through in your essays!
Extracurriculars: Vice Chair of a Young Entrepreneurs non-profit organization for 4 years. I was brought in to grow the membership base, and I was able to grow it from ~300 to now over 2,400 members. We provide entrepreneur education and community to grow and collaborate. I also started a volunteer program within this organization and we have volunteered over 3,000 hours at local food banks, beach clean ups, Easter egg hunts, soup kitchens, local libraries, etc.. This is wonderful! Great leadership, long track record.
Organized a basketball team through work. We play in a local men's league. I will somehow incorporate the importance sports (and basketball, specifically) has had in my personal and professional development over the past 18 years. Sounds good -- just make sure sports is not too much the focus of your essays, as the topic can be a little overdone. Definitely bring it in to more lighthearted essays, or use your development through sports in combination with other examples of how you've developed professionally.
United Way Rep for 2017. Organized fundraisers and food drives at work. Launched our first Annual Silent Auction which raised more money than any other event.
Short-Term Goal: To work in strategy consulting (MBB, Deloitte, ATK, etc..) This surprised me a little give what you said about the insurance industry above. But consulting is a popular post-MBA industry and could be used to transition back to insurance. Just make sure you can articulate clear reasons for why consulting makes sense for you, and pick specific target firms that do work in the fields you want to pursue.
Target Schools: Columbia, MIT, Kellogg, Ross, Fuqua, Darden, Cornell, NYU, UCLA. I will shorten this list but those are the schools I have an interest in.
Yes, 9 is a lot. But you've got a good range here. I worry most about MIT -- very competitive, small class. Columbia is up there too, but perhaps if you apply early (since they have rolling admissions) that could help your chances there. But you're definitely in play at the other schools on your list.
_________________
Kate Richardson
mbaMission Senior Admissions Consultant
Chicago Booth Alum, 60 5-star reviews on GMAT Club
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23 May 2018, 17:46
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