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SpareTime
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Joined: 15 Dec 2015
Last visit: 02 Jan 2017
Posts: 17
Own Kudos:
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Concentration: Finance
Schools: Sauder '17 (A) Schulich Sept"18 (A) Ivey '18 (A)
GMAT 1: 730 Q47 V44
Schools: Sauder '17 (A) Schulich Sept"18 (A) Ivey '18 (A)
GMAT 1: 730 Q47 V44
Posts: 17
Kudos: 4
Unusual candidate, 730 GMAT, poor GPA - Chances at Canadian/US schools 15 Dec 2015, 17:55
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I have a couple of questions if anybody is able/willing to help me out. But first, here is my profile...

White, Male
28 years old
5 years high school teaching on a colony (think amish, mennonite, etc)(1 subbing in the city, 4 full time at the colony)
Married with school age child

CFA Passed Levels I and II on first attempts

Not good GPA. Did two years of engineering, bombed in year two (there's a story to this which I hope I could work in somewhere in the essays or interviews...)
After two years of engineering did a year of arts and science to get requirements for college of education, then 2 of education before graduating

% in university (don't use GPA in Canada) is 72% across the 5 years, 82% over the last two years, or 80% across all 5 years if one doesn't include the second year of engineering (ya...it was bad)

GMAT 730 Q47 V44 IR8 AWA (still waiting...expect 5+) I'm confident I could get a 750 if I retook, but I have to start studying for CFA Level III so I have no time and don't want to risk my CFA studies. I'm bummed about my quant score...but overall I can't be upset I suppose.

Volunteer experience includes leadership roles, including chairman of a small local church - most but not all of my volunteer experience is connected to the church in some way

Target Schools: Ivey, Sauder, Schulich, Queen's

Goals: Finance, Asset Management (plan 1A is to end up as an analyst at a large Canadian pension fund)

Here are my questions...

What chance do I have at my target Canadian schools? My undergrad is one giant black spot on my application. It's from a respected but not top Canadian school, I failed several classes in my second year, and the transcript tells the story of somebody who couldn't hack it in engineering and switched into an easier college. I'm worried that this narrative will define my application before I've had the opportunity to talk about that second year performance - there is a long and involved story, but I also don't want to be seen as an excuse maker. When it came down to it, I failed those classes because of decisions I made.

Also, being a teacher I'm really limited in "leadership" opportunities at work due to the nature of the job. I am going to have to convince schools to take in a teacher who wants to work in finance... Hopefully having the two CFA levels will help prove my commitment.

The other question I have is, is it worth it to apply at any international schools? I know I have a competitive GMAT for many great schools, but my current thinking is that my GPA and work experience would prevent me from having a chance at a Top 25, or even top 40 school. Do I have a shot at any top 40 schools in the states or UK, and if so, is it worth it to go to school there if I'm hoping to live and work in Canada for at least a few years after graduating?
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Unusual candidate, 730 GMAT, poor GPA - Chances at Canadian/US schools 15 Dec 2015, 19:16
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SpareTime
I have a couple of questions if anybody is able/willing to help me out. But first, here is my profile...

White, Male
28 years old
5 years high school teaching on a colony (think amish, mennonite, etc)(1 subbing in the city, 4 full time at the colony)
Married with school age child

CFA Passed Levels I and II on first attempts

Not good GPA. Did two years of engineering, bombed in year two (there's a story to this which I hope I could work in somewhere in the essays or interviews...)
After two years of engineering did a year of arts and science to get requirements for college of education, then 2 of education before graduating

% in university (don't use GPA in Canada) is 72% across the 5 years, 82% over the last two years, or 80% across all 5 years if one doesn't include the second year of engineering (ya...it was bad)

GMAT 730 Q47 V44 IR8 AWA (still waiting...expect 5+) I'm confident I could get a 750 if I retook, but I have to start studying for CFA Level III so I have no time and don't want to risk my CFA studies. I'm bummed about my quant score...but overall I can't be upset I suppose.

Volunteer experience includes leadership roles, including chairman of a small local church - most but not all of my volunteer experience is connected to the church in some way

Target Schools: Ivey, Sauder, Schulich, Queen's

Goals: Finance, Asset Management (plan 1A is to end up as an analyst at a large Canadian pension fund)

Here are my questions...

What chance do I have at my target Canadian schools? My undergrad is one giant black spot on my application. It's from a respected but not top Canadian school, I failed several classes in my second year, and the transcript tells the story of somebody who couldn't hack it in engineering and switched into an easier college. I'm worried that this narrative will define my application before I've had the opportunity to talk about that second year performance - there is a long and involved story, but I also don't want to be seen as an excuse maker. When it came down to it, I failed those classes because of decisions I made.

Also, being a teacher I'm really limited in "leadership" opportunities at work due to the nature of the job. I am going to have to convince schools to take in a teacher who wants to work in finance... Hopefully having the two CFA levels will help prove my commitment.

The other question I have is, is it worth it to apply at any international schools? I know I have a competitive GMAT for many great schools, but my current thinking is that my GPA and work experience would prevent me from having a chance at a Top 25, or even top 40 school. Do I have a shot at any top 40 schools in the states or UK, and if so, is it worth it to go to school there if I'm hoping to live and work in Canada for at least a few years after graduating?
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If the poor performance is because of one year in undergrad and it can be explained with an extenuating circumstance, you don't necessarily need to worry about that. The GMAT will offset that, and the grades aren't even that bad.

I would want to explore your profile more to fine tune the schools but the ones you mentioned are worth applying to and you would have a shot at 25-40 in the US and UK

Email me if you want further hep with your applications but you are on the right track. Now it's about telling your story!

[email protected]

Best,
Scott