CPA2MBA
Hello,
Thanks in advance for the evaluation!
Work Experience: 1.5 years at a Big 4 accounting firm (tax & audit experience), would be up to 3 years when I apply
-Would it help to get a job as a financial analyst in a Fortune 100 before applying?
GMAT: 720+ (Expected)
College: Low ranked state university, 3.9 GPA in finance & accounting, graduated in May 2012
Extra-curriculars: Various community service, around 30 hours a year (working to improve)
Certifications: CPA
Target Schools: Wharton, Booth, Kellogg, MIT, Fuqua (potentially open to others)
When I plan to apply: R1 of 2015-2016; R1 2016-2017 if I switch jobs before
Post MBA goal: to get into private equity or management consulting
Okay, so overall if you get that GMAT, the only "blemish" really is that your school is not fantastic, and to be honest, it's less of a blemish than a "too bad there's not more". what could really make up for it, is if you have stellar ECs (like being the President of the SGO in a low ranked college is still pretty awesome)… Definitely a good idea to crank up that volunteer work a bit over the next year and a half.
Getting a job as a financial analyst can be good. Accounting can sometimes be perceived as dull (that was a joke)… but seriously if you are being offered a more interesting position with a better salary you just take it (and worry later about how to weave it into your story).
Target schools - it's a bit early to worry about that… See first how you perform till the end of the year and lock down that GMAT.. likely if you get the scores you want and do well at work these schools will be possible, but challenging, so you might want to stretch your list a wee bit.
Best,
JF