Could you please help me evaluate my profile?

Question

Very quickly:
European male
Age: 28
Undergraduate: BSc Business Administration GPA: 3.9 (top European business school)
Graduate: MSc Management GPA 4.0 (top European business school) + double degree
WE: 3,5 years in Big 4 Corporate Finance (5th year of internal seniority)
GMAT: 710, IR 6 (awa still waiting). First and only attempt

Schools:
INSEAD (jan17 intake)
LBS (sept16 intake)
Yale (sept16 intake)
Columbia (sept16 intake)

Post MBA main aim: IBD/PE

Open to suggestions of other schools not located in southern/continental Europe.

Do you think is it feasible to gain admission in these schools given the short time left and my profile?

Thanks

PersonalMBACoach · Answer

It is worth applying, especially since you have more time for INSEAD. You are a bit late for LBS, Yale and Columbia so the chances will be lower but you can always apply now and if it doesn't work out then re-apply. Have you considered NYU Stern as well?

Good luck and reach out if you want to talk further about your applications.

Best,
Scott

VeritasPrepDozie · Answer

I think it is worth applying you have nice measurables so if you are able to get some quality essays in and can rally your recommenders I think it is worth the last minute scramble for the remaining programs

Admissionado · Answer

Well my first question would be: Why did you wait so long? Why are you applying R3? and why not earlier? (Cause this will be the Adcom's question too!)

If you have a good reason, then a R3 application can make sense.

You will of course have better chances if you wait till R1 next year, and I would suggest having a long hard think if that is not the best course of action (less rushed applications, better chances). I'm sure you WANT to apply now, but if it will make your application stronger, why not next year?

Best,
Jon

calu87 · Answer

Thank you for you answer. There is no specific reason. I have decided I wanted to apply in december as I though later I would be too old so it wouldnt make much sense. So I took the GMAT early January and now I am here. I do not totally get why there should be a specific reason besides that R3 is the first available date since I decided. Am I too naive?

Thanks

Admissionado · Answer

Not naive, but you are reducing your chances by playing against the statistics. Basically something like 80-90% of the seats will be filled, and for the remaining seats the AdCom will have put aside many good options from candidates on the waitlist. So a) there are less places to be had b) you are going up against a tougher pool that if you apply in a regular round. That, combined with the fact that you lack some real "justification" for applying R3 (like you just got out of the army or whatever) makes me think that in your specific case, you may want to apply R1 next year, to ensure you have the best possible chances.

Best,

Admissionado · Answer

PS - you wouldn't be too old at all if you apply when you are 29.

CriticalSquare · Answer

I think waiting to apply in R1 in 2016 makes sense for you. And this gives you additional time to try and boost your GMAT - it's in a decent spot, but since you've only taken it once, so if you can dedicate the time, I'd give it another shot. When it comes time to pulling your application together, take advantage of our  free resources ! Best of luck!

VeritasPrepDozie · Answer

You are right in line with many candidates with regards to age and as stated above it is tough to get into these school as it is but with so few spots in R3 you just make things that much harder on yourself. One thing to also consider is that by applying R3 it makes it tough to make a case to reapply in R1 given the close proximity of your prior app

Could you please help me evaluate my profile?

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