tonyzzz wrote:
Background:
- Chinese American male, 29 years old, married.
- Undergraduate: Economics @ UCLA.
- GMAT: 700 (V35, Q49, AW6, IR2). I've taken the GMAT twice. First time I scored 620 in April this year. I improved to 700 three months later in July.
- GPA: 3.2
- WE: 6 years in a private equity commercial/residential investment and development firm (a family business setting but not my family's business) in San Francisco. Promoted for 3 times. Now hold a director title. Main duties include project management, property management, marketing, potential project acquisition analysis.
- EC: Co-founded a podcast station with my college friends; sound editor for my wife's dance studio; community service at a local temple to help disadvantaged seniors during college, etc.
- Development of interest in consulting: At my current job I have helped many retail business owners/entrepreneurs set up their companies as our shopping plaza tenants - primarily restaurants, coffee shops, bridal shop, furniture stores, etc. Through helping them I realize that I lack skills in X, Y, and Z and thus will need an MBA to reinforce those areas. To have the adequate tools and power to make an impact in the small to midsize business (SMEs) circle, I developed my interest in being a management consultant. I would like to work at a top global consulting firm in order to expose/immerse myself with the big corporate training so that I can be my own boss in the long run.
- Short-term goal: to work at MBB or Deloitte/Accenture/EY to focus on retail management consulting.
- Long-term goal: to found my own consultancy to help small to midsize businesses succeed in the retail industry.
School selections:
I've already applied to CBS Early Decision (rejected without interview), Tuck R2, Johnson R2. Now I'm working on Yale SOM and Fuqua for R2. I really need some advice for the last 3-4 schools that I'm going to apply in December. I'm debating between Ross and Anderson, while I'm definitely applying for Tepper and USC Marshall.
Please feel free to share with me your thoughts based on my candidacy. I've felt frustrated to confirm on the last few schools to apply to.
Thank you!!
Hi there,
Your work experience sounds solid, and I like your various community & EC involvements and the thought you've put into your goals. With the lower GPA and borderline GMAT, it's true that the top tier of schools are going to be tough... I'd be hopeful for consideration at Johnson, Tepper, and Marshall... I'd choose Ross over UCLA for you in my view. You could also look at options such as Emory or Georgetown for more of a backup potentially. Good luck! Let us know if you'd like to speak further, we do offer free consultations if interested.