Newbie question

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Hi Everyone,

I just joined the board today AND of course I have a few questions. I want to wish everyone the best of luck throughout the entire 2009 application process.

Here's a bit of some background on my situation. 
Age: 25
GMAT: 680
Work Exp: 1 year operations at major I-bank / currently working as an Analyst on the Buyside with a FoHF (a bit more than 2 years)
Other: Currently awaiting my CFA Level II results (read sweating bullets)

Problem: Getting laid off soon

Question: Is 680 too low for top 20 schools? And am I screwed being unemployed?

My # 1 choice is NYU, followed by Yale, Duke, Columbia (definitely not in their range)

Thanks guys!

sudden · Answer

A 680 will be enough if you execute well and have some luck (this is going to be a bad year to apply). I don't know about your GPA, but your work ex seems fine for top 20. Besides getting laid off, what is your reason for pursuing an MBA? I think a key to your success will be your ability to positively spin your FofHF experience since that is a bit unusual for b-school. Do you want to get into a HF? Think this over clearly.

I don't think they will hold unemployment against you -- everyone knows the industry is brutal right now and that lots of good people are being shown the door.

Good luck on your CFA results... sweating bullets is right.

I don't think they will hold unemployment against you -- everyone knows the industry is brutal right now and that lots of good people are being shown the door.

Good luck on your CFA results... sweating bullets is right.

jallenmorris · Answer

680 is not too low, but you might also consider the pool of applicants you will be applying with. You will be with a number of other recently laid off I-Bankers, and others that may have not been laid off, but are being sent back to school by their firm for promotion within the firm. How do you compare against those individuals? Depending on how much you studied for the 680, if you can score that, you can score in the 700s. I suggest that you take it again and SOON! You don't have much time. You will also want to concentrate on your Extra Curricular activities because those can set you apart. I won't comment on specific schools because I'm applying too and am in the research stage of my applications/essay writing so I really have very little knowledge in that area to base advice upon.

What is your goal post-MBA? Do you want to go back into I-Banking?

ValueAddict · Answer

Thanks guys.

To answer a few questions:

My GPA is not a problem. I graduated with an overall GPA of 3.6 and graduated with the highest GPA in my major (Finance Major / Econ Minor). Went to a slightly better than the typical middle of the road college. Think average SAT's 1300.

I have been planning to apply for MBA Admission for quiet some time. My initial vision was to work through the current bonus season and leave in February to concentrate on hopefully my final level of my CFA studies. Obviously this has accelerated my "exit strategy." I am still employed but had talks about a 9/30 or 12/31 exit. I am trying to hold out with management as long as I can until they drag me away from my desk.

I intend on using an MBA to position myself for a role on the buyside as a securities analyst (versus a FoHF analyst). I am very passionate about investing (Value investing to get specific). And I can articulate this very well in an essay as to the "how, why, and what's so interesting about" a career as a analyst/PM.

I-banking is not my choice to career post-mba although I realize that most MBA's that concentrate in Finance view it as the holy grail.

pelihu · Answer

If you can last until 12/31, you probably do not have to indicate that you are unemployed; I don't think anybody asks if you plan to be employed through the start of school. I think it's legitimate to just list your dates of employment if you are still employed. If you apply in R1, even a 9/30 exit might work out alright.

Your grades and academic background are right in line for those schools. Your GMAT is definitely on the low side with averages moving higher at most of the top schools. 710 or 720 will probably be average for next fall with a middle 80% range starting at 670 or 680. If you can get another 30 points and hold your job through the end of the year, I'd say your chances are good at the schools you're looking at. Even if you lose your job, adcoms will know that the economy and industry are at least partly to blame. Unless 680 is the best you can do, you're really not maximizing your chances if you don't try to improve a bit.

kidderek · Answer

I know that we're talking about "getting in" for the time being; but would the unemployment be viewed negatively for recruiting?

Shamsundar · Answer

Hi folks,

Well, I am planning to apply for the MiM programmes Sept 2017 intake, so which gives me approximately 18 months from now for me to complete my application. I want to know how good is my profile as of now and hence I request you to evaluate my profile and provide suggestions on the areas of development.

CGPA: 6.8/10 ... as a number this looks like a low cgpa.. But then in my university this is a first class CGPA. ( non -IIT top 20 engineering schools in India) Suggestion needed on this part.

GMAT- determined to get 700+ ... have been scoring 650+ in mock tests and I am planing to take my GMAT in JAN 2017. So this gives me 5 more months to prepare

Extra Curriculars

As of now Two Internships.. One as a client relations management intern in one of the top 4 insurance firms in India and the other one is a marketing Internship from one of the top three Tractor manufacturing firms in India. One more thing is some people say that it is good to have as many internships as possible during undergrads. But Some other people say that too many internships is looked down upon and a maximum of two internships is to be maintained. Suggestion needed on this part.

Secretary of The Wall Street Club (finance) club in my college.

Working on a online trading based paper along with a friend of mine which should be ready in another couple of months.

Apart from these

I have attended 3 Model united Nations conferences representing the delegations of various countries.
Quizzer during my school time and have won a lot of quiz competitions.
Business director of a web startup which failed after one year of decent reach though no profits were made.
Active member of the Entrepreneurship Development Club of my college
Have organised a lot of events which includes a Technical workshop which was attended by over 1000 Engineering students from all over the country.

Hereby I request you to kindly evaluate my profile assuming that I score a 700 in my GMAT and a overall cgpa of 7.2/10 by the time I start applying.

My target schools in the order of preference

1. LBS
2.Michigan Ross MiM - first intake Sept 2014.
3. Duke Fuqua - MMS FOB
4. ESCP
5. HEC
6. ESSEC
7. Rotterdam School of Management
8. Hult Business School

Thanks in Advance.

To add that this website is helping a lot of students these days. The best educational forums I have ever seen. Keep going.

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