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SOA1626
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Joined: 09 Jan 2017
Last visit: 18 Apr 2018
Posts: 6
Own Kudos:
5
Given Kudos: 1
Location: United States
Schools: Booth '20 (A$) Anderson '20 (A$) Kellogg '20 (A$)
GMAT 1: 730 Q46 V44
GPA: 3.95
Schools: Booth '20 (A$) Anderson '20 (A$) Kellogg '20 (A$)
GMAT 1: 730 Q46 V44
Posts: 6
Kudos: 5
remove Updated on: 15 Mar 2018, 09:48
Originally posted by SOA1626 on 17 Jan 2017, 09:32.
Last edited by SOA1626 on 15 Mar 2018, 09:48, edited 1 time in total.
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Joined: 30 Nov 2009
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Schools: HBS - Class of 2005
Posts: 9,229
Kudos: 2,075
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remove 24 Jan 2017, 04:54
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MBAimHigh
Hi there,

Wondering if you guys can please help me with my profile as I begin to think about my Fall 2017/2018 R1 B-School applications. Any advice regarding areas I can focus on would be much appreciated to help me achieve my goals!

1) Basic demographic info: 30 at time of application, Female, Vietnamese-American

2) Educational Background: 3.95/4.0 BBA Accounting from top-70 private University in Texas (think Baylor, SMU), Master of Taxation 3.85/4.0 (from same university), expected 720 GMAT

3) Work experience:
I currently work in Corporate Taxation at a F500 major US airline as a Tax Accountant. I was promoted from Associate Accountant to Accountant role after just one year, and at time of application I will have been working here for two and a half years total. Prior to this job, I worked at PwC in a major city, in Tax for four and a half years, was early-promoted to Senior Associate (after two years), and left as a Senior Associate. During my time as Senior at PwC, I led 5-6 teams of 2-3 associates below me on client projects and worked directly with many managers, directors, partners and clients. I will have been in the workforce for a little over 7 years at time of application. I am an individual contributor in my current role and am not managing anyone below - although I have been the official mentor and unofficial manager to three department interns over three different semesters during my tenure here (I assigned/reviewed their work and wrote their reviews).

4) Extracurriculars: In college I participated in marching band all four years, was the leader of a volunteer income tax workstation for low-income individuals and also spearheaded a new program aimed at assisting international students with filing income taxes. My post-grad activities are quite lackluster. Mind you, it'll have been seven years since undergrad. I am involved in some women's groups in my current city but not in a leadership capacity for what will be a year and a half at time of application. I have an application in to start volunteering weekly at a women's shelter and am on the gala committee to raise money for this charity in the women's group I participate in. I'm concerned that a sudden uptick in participation will be a red-flag to AdComs nine months out, but something is better than nothing. Advice on strengthening this area would be much appreciated. I was very active in undergrad but post-grad I devoted my life to work and didn't focus on EC's...not sure how to overcome this.

5) Short/Long term goals: Switch from role in accounting into management consulting, with an eventual goal to move into corporate strategy with focus on transportation, travel and tourism industries. This makes sense to me given my current work in the airline industry. I'm trying to move out of tax/accounting and avoid getting pigeon-holed here.

6) Schools: Booth is my #1 choice - the flexible curriculum appeals to me given that I do have an accounting/financial background. Wondering if non-HSW M7 is within reach.

What can I focus on to become an even more competitive candidate? I'm concerned that my top-70 UG and accounting work-experience puts me at a disadvantage compared to other applicants. Perhaps I'm being too harsh on myself. Would appreciate your candid thoughts.

Thank you!
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Hey there!
So great to hear from you.
I think overall your profile is excellent. As a female American candidate with very good work experience and very strong grades you have a really strong foundation. Yes you are right that your US school might be a bit weak, and also that there will be profiles in Top 10 schools which will have more prestigious work experience. But you have leadership in PwC, and a quick promotion track. Match that with a high GMAT and you are good to go.

I also agree that your lack of ECs/activities can be a bit of a concern, or at the very least give a certain risk of you presenting a "Standard" application. But to make up for that, you'll just have to make the most exciting and memorable essays that you can with what you have.

At this point, the most effective thing will be of course a really high GMAT. Get that done and we can worry about the storytelling afterwards.

With a 720+ applying to Top 10 schools would be in order. Target as many as you can in R1, and maybe think about 1-2 safer schools from the Top 20 that appeal to you and you should be good to go!

I hope this is useful,
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SOA1626
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Joined: 09 Jan 2017
Last visit: 18 Apr 2018
Posts: 6
Own Kudos:
5
Given Kudos: 1
Location: United States
Schools: Booth '20 (A$) Anderson '20 (A$) Kellogg '20 (A$)
GMAT 1: 730 Q46 V44
GPA: 3.95
Schools: Booth '20 (A$) Anderson '20 (A$) Kellogg '20 (A$)
GMAT 1: 730 Q46 V44
Posts: 6
Kudos: 5
remove 27 Jan 2017, 09:03
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Thanks so much Jon for sharing your insights on my profile. I'm currently studying for the GMAT and hope to really knock it out of the ballpark! I'm hoping that a strong GMAT will really strengthen my profile overall.
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Joined: 30 Nov 2009
Last visit: 26 May 2024
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Location: Chicago, IL
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Schools: HBS - Class of 2005
Posts: 9,229
Kudos: 2,075
remove 30 Jan 2017, 04:04
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MBAimHigh
Thanks so much Jon for sharing your insights on my profile. I'm currently studying for the GMAT and hope to really knock it out of the ballpark! I'm hoping that a strong GMAT will really strengthen my profile overall.
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You got it, dude!
So us a favor and knock us a grand slam yeah?