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09 Nov 2013, 09:47
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I haven't been able to find solid information about class profile for executive candidates at Columbia; I've attended information sessions and met admissions counselors, but no straight answers. They have a Saturday program that is a perfect fit for my post-MBA goals that also will allow me to attend while working full-time with only a partial sponsorship from my employer (this is sort of important for me and my wife, financially, full-time just isn't in the cards and doesn't really fit my goals).
Profile:
Age: 29
Target: May 2014 EMBA - Columbia
Educational Qualification:
Large public university in US
Bachelor's Degree in Accounting; Minor in Leadership and Ethics
Year of Graduation: 2007
GPA: 3.4
Extracurricular: Standard (Dean's List, honors societies, finance club, etc.) other than Semester at Sea program
Work Experience:
Top 5 Commercial Bank since graduation; three internal promotions since I started. I'm in a sort of niche subset of commercial finance.
Current position is Account Executive with ~10 mid-range corporate clients (~$10MM-$100MM) including a few large, public companies. Started as functionally a bank auditor for a couple years out of school. After that, I was an analyst and managed the due diligence on mid-large size debt transactions. I went through the bank's credit training program (top 10% of class) as well as an executive shadow program in addition to the above.
GMAT Score:
Averaging 700-720 in practice testing; terrible splits, highly reliant on continuing to score 95%+ in Verbal if I want to do half decently:
Latest Test: 710; 42 Math, 45 Verbal
Previous Test: 720; 44 Math, 43 Verbal
Sponsorship and Recommendations:
Partial sponsorship from my Company, but neither are likely to be a significant factor.
Post MBA Goals:
Work for (and eventually run) a small investment adviser and mutual fund and help it grow to a regional/national brand through organic growth, acquisition of competing business, and product line expansion into a more diversified financial services company (it's a family business currently)
Main Questions:
1) Do I fit the profile for Columbia's EMBA? I've read things all over the board; too young, too old (yes, both), too inexperienced, too much useless experience, not enough interesting things on resume, etc. I don't want to waste my time if I'm not even in the ballpark here.
2) Should I consider applying early decision given that it is basically my only best and only option right now?
3) How much of a problem is my GMAT going to be specifically? If I don't continue to crush Verbal, I'm concerned that I could slip to the 680 range on test day and I'm relying a bit on my GMAT to stand out in an otherwise mediocre/average application. At the same time, I'm not sure how much better I will get at math and the prep is getting very draining at this point (~5 months in, finished MGMAT Math books, have not started Verbal). Would it be better to focus on other areas of my application?
4) Should I come up with a different post-MBA goal to present? I'm certain of what I want, but it's not exactly the most ambitious goal ever (to an admissions counselor anyway) and I'm sure the MBA applicants that want to run the family business are a dime a dozen. I could probably come up with something more of a natural extension of my work experience (i.e. move into an executive position within the industry, start my own group, etc.), but it would be disingenuous in every way.
Profile:
Age: 29
Target: May 2014 EMBA - Columbia
Educational Qualification:
Large public university in US
Bachelor's Degree in Accounting; Minor in Leadership and Ethics
Year of Graduation: 2007
GPA: 3.4
Extracurricular: Standard (Dean's List, honors societies, finance club, etc.) other than Semester at Sea program
Work Experience:
Top 5 Commercial Bank since graduation; three internal promotions since I started. I'm in a sort of niche subset of commercial finance.
Current position is Account Executive with ~10 mid-range corporate clients (~$10MM-$100MM) including a few large, public companies. Started as functionally a bank auditor for a couple years out of school. After that, I was an analyst and managed the due diligence on mid-large size debt transactions. I went through the bank's credit training program (top 10% of class) as well as an executive shadow program in addition to the above.
GMAT Score:
Averaging 700-720 in practice testing; terrible splits, highly reliant on continuing to score 95%+ in Verbal if I want to do half decently:
Latest Test: 710; 42 Math, 45 Verbal
Previous Test: 720; 44 Math, 43 Verbal
Sponsorship and Recommendations:
Partial sponsorship from my Company, but neither are likely to be a significant factor.
Post MBA Goals:
Work for (and eventually run) a small investment adviser and mutual fund and help it grow to a regional/national brand through organic growth, acquisition of competing business, and product line expansion into a more diversified financial services company (it's a family business currently)
Main Questions:
1) Do I fit the profile for Columbia's EMBA? I've read things all over the board; too young, too old (yes, both), too inexperienced, too much useless experience, not enough interesting things on resume, etc. I don't want to waste my time if I'm not even in the ballpark here.
2) Should I consider applying early decision given that it is basically my only best and only option right now?
3) How much of a problem is my GMAT going to be specifically? If I don't continue to crush Verbal, I'm concerned that I could slip to the 680 range on test day and I'm relying a bit on my GMAT to stand out in an otherwise mediocre/average application. At the same time, I'm not sure how much better I will get at math and the prep is getting very draining at this point (~5 months in, finished MGMAT Math books, have not started Verbal). Would it be better to focus on other areas of my application?
4) Should I come up with a different post-MBA goal to present? I'm certain of what I want, but it's not exactly the most ambitious goal ever (to an admissions counselor anyway) and I'm sure the MBA applicants that want to run the family business are a dime a dozen. I could probably come up with something more of a natural extension of my work experience (i.e. move into an executive position within the industry, start my own group, etc.), but it would be disingenuous in every way.
10 Nov 2013, 11:21
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jloopy17
In short, focus on the GMAT. That is the one thing that is an unknown for you -- so you want to make sure you're focused on getting the best score you can. No distractions or hypotheticals about what if, should it, etc. Just focus on GMAT prep.
As for the EMBA -- the typical exec MBA student is someone in his/her 30s with around 8-12 years of experience. You are on the slightly younger side by a year or two which normally isn't a huge deal, but given that you're in an industry (finance) applying to a school that will get plenty of candidates in the same industry, you've got an uphill battle at this point. In other words, if there's one kind of applicant that Columbia's EMBA program will get plenty of - it's folks from financial services, and there will be plenty who are more seasoned than you.
In any case, focus on the GMAT for now before worrying about anything else. Good luck
14 Nov 2013, 11:05
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I have many clients at Columbia’s EMBA program. Your GMAT score already is sufficiently high for the program so I would not worry about retaking the test.
You can see the Columbia’s Executive MBA class profile at https://www8.gsb.columbia.edu/programs-a ... ss-profile.
You are only slightly below the 31 year average age. Your experience in financial services is similar to 44% of the class. You really need a high 600 GMAT score so if you score a 680+ you will be fine. I think your goals are also fine. Just tie Columbia’s EMBA program into these goals.
Good luck,
You can see the Columbia’s Executive MBA class profile at https://www8.gsb.columbia.edu/programs-a ... ss-profile.
You are only slightly below the 31 year average age. Your experience in financial services is similar to 44% of the class. You really need a high 600 GMAT score so if you score a 680+ you will be fine. I think your goals are also fine. Just tie Columbia’s EMBA program into these goals.
Good luck,
