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bqminh1983
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Chance to Harvard, UCLA and Rochester 15 Apr 2006, 08:07
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Hi Accepted.com and everyone

Can you please evaluate my profile:

- Vietnamese nationality, studying in Australia
- Full scholarship from Australian govn for 4 years studying at uni
- Final year student (graduate on Dec 2006): Sydney University, Bachelor of Agricultural Economics, majors: Economics and Finance
- Average mark of about 81%, expected first class honour (rank of 1 to 3 in class of 60)
- Dean list, University undergrad scholarship, Dean's scholarship for Excellence, Golden Key member
- GMAT: Did not do the test, but expect the mark of 700+
- Leadership: Vice president for Vietnamese Dynamic Students - official intl Vnese students in NSW , about 1000 members. organizer of 3 main events for the group with 600+ participants
- Internships: 2 internships (2 months each) in Vietnamese companies in Hanoi

I would like to apply for Harvard, UCLA and Rochester (3 unis with less emphasize on work experience)

Also, because I lack work experience, I plan to apply for some alternatives:

- M Fin: Princeton
- MS Fin: Vanderbilt
- M Fin Econ: U of Toronto
- PhD in Finc: Yale (scholarship)
- PhD in Finc: Cornell (scholarship)
- Master of Music Business : NYU (Personal interest)

Could you advise me the chance of admission at these universities? Can I use your service if I'm in Sydney/Hanoi?

Thank you in advance. I hope to hear from you soon.

Minh Bui

P.s: Guys, if you have any info to do with my case, please reply. Really appreciate!
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Chance to Harvard, UCLA and Rochester 17 Apr 2006, 20:58
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bqminh1983
Hi Accepted.com and everyone

Can you please evaluate my profile:

- Vietnamese nationality, studying in Australia
- Full scholarship from Australian govn for 4 years studying at uni
- Final year student (graduate on Dec 2006): Sydney University, Bachelor of Agricultural Economics, majors: Economics and Finance
- Average mark of about 81%, expected first class honour (rank of 1 to 3 in class of 60)
- Dean list, University undergrad scholarship, Dean's scholarship for Excellence, Golden Key member
- GMAT: Did not do the test, but expect the mark of 700+
- Leadership: Vice president for Vietnamese Dynamic Students - official intl Vnese students in NSW , about 1000 members. organizer of 3 main events for the group with 600+ participants
- Internships: 2 internships (2 months each) in Vietnamese companies in Hanoi

I would like to apply for Harvard, UCLA and Rochester (3 unis with less emphasize on work experience)

Also, because I lack work experience, I plan to apply for some alternatives:

- M Fin: Princeton
- MS Fin: Vanderbilt
- M Fin Econ: U of Toronto
- PhD in Finc: Yale (scholarship)
- PhD in Finc: Cornell (scholarship)
- Master of Music Business : NYU (Personal interest)

Could you advise me the chance of admission at these universities? Can I use your service if I'm in Sydney/Hanoi?

Thank you in advance. I hope to hear from you soon.

Minh Bui

P.s: Guys, if you have any info to do with my case, please reply. Really appreciate!
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bqminh1983,

Sorry for the delayed post; I've been in transit. Your Vietnamese -- Australia combination will make you stand out from the pack, and a 700 GMAT will assure them that you can handle their programs. As for Harvard, they are the toughest nut of all to crack, so even with your impressive profile your odds will be low. Please understand that though HBS and other schools do accept applicants straight out of college, these are *truly exceptional* applicants whose accomplishments and potential put them on the same level as older applicants. As distinctive and impressive as you are, I'm not sure you will be able to overcome the question marks that your lack of work experience raises. You will want to be extremely persuasive in explaining why you need to start business school now. Your chances for admission will be substantially higher at UCLA and Rochester.

As for your finance graduate programs, I think you will be a distinctive and competitive applicant at all those schools, but you will need to get fairly explicit in your essays about your areas of intellectual interest to show them that you are ready for focused work in these fields at the graduate level. I can't comment on odds for the NYU music business program; I assume you have some hard experience already in the music industry?

Yes, we can certainly work with you from Sydney or Hanoi and in fact work with Pacific Rim and East Asia-based applicants all the time, both by phone and email.
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bqminh1983
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Chance to Harvard, UCLA and Rochester 18 Apr 2006, 15:07
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Dear Paul

Thanks for your kind reply. I will still apply to HBS and see how it goes... It's my dream school and I think I should give it a shot. I hope they can give me a deferal admission or something, so I can join the workforce after graduation with a certain destination to go after 1 or 2 years of work.

I hope you dont mind to clarify another enquiry. As for the GPA, my average is about 82%. I know there is no direct conversion of percentage marks to 4.0 scale GPA, but is there some number that would be comparable to my result? 3.0? 3.2? or 3.5?

FYI, the system in Sydney Uni is: Pass 50%, Credit 65%, Distinction 75%, High distinction 85%. My average is about 82% and I rank 2/60 in my class at the moment. Also we have an odd system for honour and comparison: Weighted average mark = (Year 2+ Year 3 + 2* Year 4)/ 4 (We dont count Year 1 at all). So I'm trying to boost up my 4th year grades... In your opinion, how would US schools use my marks?

Hope to hear from you soon.

Minh Bui
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Chance to Harvard, UCLA and Rochester 20 Apr 2006, 10:56
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bqminh1983
Dear Paul

Thanks for your kind reply. I will still apply to HBS and see how it goes... It's my dream school and I think I should give it a shot. I hope they can give me a deferal admission or something, so I can join the workforce after graduation with a certain destination to go after 1 or 2 years of work.

I hope you dont mind to clarify another enquiry. As for the GPA, my average is about 82%. I know there is no direct conversion of percentage marks to 4.0 scale GPA, but is there some number that would be comparable to my result? 3.0? 3.2? or 3.5?

FYI, the system in Sydney Uni is: Pass 50%, Credit 65%, Distinction 75%, High distinction 85%. My average is about 82% and I rank 2/60 in my class at the moment. Also we have an odd system for honour and comparison: Weighted average mark = (Year 2+ Year 3 + 2* Year 4)/ 4 (We dont count Year 1 at all). So I'm trying to boost up my 4th year grades... In your opinion, how would US schools use my marks?

Hope to hear from you soon.

Minh Bui
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Minh,

An 82% translates into a 3.20 GPA. It's quite likely that the U.S. schools you apply to will have people on staff who are familiar with your school's grading system. To be on the safe side, explain it to them in an addendum. They will understand that an 82% from your school means something more than it would from a U.S. school. Bottom line: your marks look strong and the schools will see this, so don't worry.

Good luck!
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Chance to Harvard, UCLA and Rochester 20 Apr 2006, 11:24
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Hi Paul

Actually I found some information on the net that says GPA of Aus school should be calculated as followed:

High Distinction (85% +) : A -> 4
Distinction (75%): A -> 4
Credit (65%): B -> 3
Pass (50%): C -> 2

I dont know how reliable this source is, but according to that, my GPA would be something like 3.8. One thing Im sure about is we can't simply convert it as scale (4*82/100).

My university, howerver, says they do not have an official conversion to U.S GPA, do you think I should include the explanation above?
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Chance to Harvard, UCLA and Rochester 22 Apr 2006, 12:28
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bqminh1983
Hi Paul

Actually I found some information on the net that says GPA of Aus school should be calculated as followed:

High Distinction (85% +) : A -> 4
Distinction (75%): A -> 4
Credit (65%): B -> 3
Pass (50%): C -> 2

I dont know how reliable this source is, but according to that, my GPA would be something like 3.8. One thing Im sure about is we can't simply convert it as scale (4*82/100).

My university, howerver, says they do not have an official conversion to U.S GPA, do you think I should include the explanation above?
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Minh,

Yes, provide this information in an addendum in your application.