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By taking action now, you can dramatically improve your chances of gaining admission to a top MBA program in the coming years. Thursday, Dec 13 at 9 PM EST
Carolyn and Brett - nicely explained what is the typical day of a UCLA student. I am posting below recording of the webinar for those who could't attend this session.
If my scrolling is correct, it looks like you never received a proper response to your Haas post from a few weeks back. If you applied in Round 1, then I realize some of this is after-the-fact. Though if you're invited to interview, these points will definitely still hold value.
GMAT & WORK EXPERIENCE
Your GMAT score is strong and there's a lot to like about your work experience and advancement. I'd be sure to unpack the value there. Progressing from contractor to middle office to top-tier hedge fund / asset manager and work directly alongside leadership is compelling and can reveal a lot about you. I'm curious to know more about your role. "Trade support specialist" seems to dilute some of the more powerful, frontline (working alongside CIO/COO) and investment / analytical (portfolio optimization) references you make. I'd also be curious to unpack your impact and leadership experiences.
CAREER GOALS
The main challenge I see relates to your career goals. Perhaps you explained the logic and preparation behind this in great detail in your 300-word goals essay (if you've already applied), but whether it's for Haas or any other program, you will really need to develop the rationale and credibility behind that goal. Going from a multi-year career in different corners of financial services to "product management" in one broad stroke of the brush is likely to fall flat or read as unconvincing. On top of that, "product management" is one of the most commonly cited post-MBA goals. Without proper development, it can read as though you simply picked it off of the "what do people say they want to do post-MBA" list.
If product management is indeed your post-MBA goal, then you will really need to unpack why, how that interest developed, and what you've done to this point to make it believable that you can land a product management job at one of the companies you cited post-MBA. For example, folks with a long career in finance who want to transition into product management might have worked on tech-oriented initiatives along the way, or taken a coding class outside of work to build out their baseline tech skills. On its face, I don't quite see the relevance or preparation for you, and I think that such a stark "financial services to product management" narrative feels a bit unsubstantiated for you.
QUESTIONS TO ASK YOURSELF WRT YOUR GOALS, WHY MBA, WHY XYZ SCHOOL
Keep these questions and frameworks in mind as you break down, build up, and articulate your goals: How does who I am and what I've done to this point PLUS the MBA equal or lead to my specific short- and long-term goals? What knowledge, skills, and experience do I already have that are relevant to these goals? What knowledge, skills, and experience do I lack toward these goals, and therefore wish to acquire via the MBA? How exactly will I acquire those things at each MBA program to which I apply (very specifically... courses, clubs, extracurriculars, special programs, location, community, culture, career opportunities, etc.)? What are the "goals within my goals"? What specific products would you want to work on at these companies and why are those best suited for your skills and desired impact? What is the passion and purpose behind these goals? You can read more about goal and school specificity here: https://www.avantiprep.com/blog/the-mos ... on-process
OTHER CONSIDERATIONS
Two final observations. I'd be curious to know more about your involvement, as a total lack of engaged community citizenship beyond a couple of hobbies and sports should be addressed. And from a work experience perspective, you are seemingly on the higher side of the range for most U.S. programs. Haas tends to be more open-minded toward "older" candidates, so that helps, but you should be super proactive in conveying "why MBA" and "why now" for you. (Connects back to your goals, too.)
[For what it's worth, I'm a Berkeley-Haas grad and originally came out of finance myself. Happy to chat with you or anyone else interested in Haas. Please feel free to sign up for a Free Consultation any time via this link: https://www.avantiprep.com/free-consultation.html]
Thanks, Greg
BNabs88 wrote:
Hey guys, seems we're all piling in here now! Hoping I can get some feedback on my profile:
Background and nationality English, based in UK - recently turned 30
Undergrad Information BSc Economics - University of Bath - Second Class Honors First Division (roughly converts to 3.4 GPA I think)
GMAT: 740 (Q49, V41, IR 8, AWA - Not yet received)
Work experience and leadership: (I have removed organisation names for sake of anonymity, but they are all internationally recognised)
Associate at Segregated Hedge Fund within top tier Investment Bank/Asset Manager (London, UK), 1.5 years, will be 2.5 by the time I start MBA: • Running monthly meetings with the CIO and COO on portfolio optimisation • Implementing and monitoring controls to meet the latest industry regulatory standards • Trade support specialist to portfolio managers covering a wide range of financial instruments • Achieved the highest possible grade on latest year end evaluation
Analyst at Middle Office in top tier Investment Bank X (London, UK), 3yrs: • Primary support contact for the department’s highest revenue-generating clients – received top service rankings from two of the world’s largest institutional investors • Unofficially supervised/mentored junior members of the team • Escalation point for off-shore teams regarding trade matching, trade confirmations, and cash settlements • Worked with our trading desk, sales desk and clients to resolve post-trade disputes
Contractor at top tier Investment Bank Y (London, UK), 1yr - this was only ever a short term role while I was looking for good permanent opportunities: • Daily trade reports and reconciliations • Manual entry of trades into risk capture and cash payment systems • Communicated daily with the trading desk in order to ensure my team were meeting their needs.
Full-time Internship (post-university) at top tier Investment Bank Z (New York, USA), 1yr: • Played a key role in a revenue reconciliation and recovery project, resulting in the firm recouping over $350,000 in missed revenue over a six-month period. • Created detailed reports for sales teams enabling them to monitor revenue streams, and identify new business opportunities. • Produced a daily Profit & Loss report and developed it into an easy to read snapshot for sales and trading teams, and senior management.
Full-time Internship (third year of degree was year long industry placement before returning for final year) at top tier Investment Bank W (London, UK), 1yr: • Managed clients with the assistance of senior colleagues • Created and delivered informative monthly presentations on key topics to senior management and peers. • Supported senior colleagues to provide high level service to our focus clients
Community and others: Amateur soccer player, fitness training, tennis, skiing, athletics, and stock market investing. Severe lack of volunteering, although have previously done very minor fundraising for charity
Post MBA goals: I aspire to work in a Product Management role at a large and innovative technology company based on the West Coast, such as Amazon, Microsoft or Google. My ultimate goal is to use my experience to launch a consumer focused financial technology company.
If my scrolling is correct, it looks like you never received a proper response to your Haas post from a few weeks back. If you applied in Round 1, then I realize some of this is after-the-fact. Though if you're invited to interview, these points will definitely still hold value.
GMAT & WORK EXPERIENCE
Your GMAT score is strong and there's a lot to like about your work experience and advancement. I'd be sure to unpack the value there. Progressing from contractor to middle office to top-tier hedge fund / asset manager and work directly alongside leadership is compelling and can reveal a lot about you. I'm curious to know more about your role. "Trade support specialist" seems to dilute some of the more powerful, frontline (working alongside CIO/COO) and investment / analytical (portfolio optimization) references you make. I'd also be curious to unpack your impact and leadership experiences.
CAREER GOALS
The main challenge I see relates to your career goals. Perhaps you explained the logic and preparation behind this in great detail in your 300-word goals essay (if you've already applied), but whether it's for Haas or any other program, you will really need to develop the rationale and credibility behind that goal. Going from a multi-year career in different corners of financial services to "product management" in one broad stroke of the brush is likely to fall flat or read as unconvincing. On top of that, "product management" is one of the most commonly cited post-MBA goals. Without proper development, it can read as though you simply picked it off of the "what do people say they want to do post-MBA" list.
If product management is indeed your post-MBA goal, then you will really need to unpack why, how that interest developed, and what you've done to this point to make it believable that you can land a product management job at one of the companies you cited post-MBA. For example, folks with a long career in finance who want to transition into product management might have worked on tech-oriented initiatives along the way, or taken a coding class outside of work to build out their baseline tech skills. On its face, I don't quite see the relevance or preparation for you, and I think that such a stark "financial services to product management" narrative feels a bit unsubstantiated for you.
QUESTIONS TO ASK YOURSELF WRT YOUR GOALS, WHY MBA, WHY XYZ SCHOOL
Keep these questions and frameworks in mind as you break down, build up, and articulate your goals: How does who I am and what I've done to this point PLUS the MBA equal or lead to my specific short- and long-term goals? What knowledge, skills, and experience do I already have that are relevant to these goals? What knowledge, skills, and experience do I lack toward these goals, and therefore wish to acquire via the MBA? How exactly will I acquire those things at each MBA program to which I apply (very specifically... courses, clubs, extracurriculars, special programs, location, community, culture, career opportunities, etc.)? What are the "goals within my goals"? What specific products would you want to work on at these companies and why are those best suited for your skills and desired impact? What is the passion and purpose behind these goals? You can read more about goal and school specificity here: https://www.avantiprep.com/blog/the-mos ... on-process
OTHER CONSIDERATIONS
Two final observations. I'd be curious to know more about your involvement, as a total lack of engaged community citizenship beyond a couple of hobbies and sports should be addressed. And from a work experience perspective, you are seemingly on the higher side of the range for most U.S. programs. Haas tends to be more open-minded toward "older" candidates, so that helps, but you should be super proactive in conveying "why MBA" and "why now" for you. (Connects back to your goals, too.)
[For what it's worth, I'm a Berkeley-Haas grad and originally came out of finance myself. Happy to chat with you or anyone else interested in Haas. Please feel free to sign up for a Free Consultation any time via this link: https://www.avantiprep.com/free-consultation.html]
Thanks, Greg
AvantiPrep firstly, thanks for the extremely detailed response, it has given me a lot to think about. I did apply for R1 at Haas, but also have a few more deadlines next week, so I can still put the advice into practice!
Regarding career goals, I do try to go into detail in my essays on why I want to make the switch to become a product manager (talking about what I like about my job now, but what I would like to add to that in order to create more meaning in my career). I am doing the MBA to facilitate a career switch, so I guess on the face of it my career experience won't scream relevance, but I need to make sure I point out the points that are relevant (and that I've done some online programming and marketing courses)
For the point regarding the amount of work experience I have, I definitely seem to be in the middle of the range of ages that most MBA programs seem to quote on their class profiles, and felt it was more appropriate than an Executive MBA given that I am looking to switch industry rather than push further up in finance.
I've sent a consultation request across on the link you sent me as well, not sure if you'll have availability before my next deadlines, but any help is appreciated!
Re: Want to get into Haas? Review Profiles here
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12 Nov 2018, 12:16
Intake Year: 2019
Pre-MBA Career: Public Relations and Communications Post-MBA Career: Consumer Goods (Marketing and Brand Management) GMAT: 710 GPA: 3.3 Years of Work Experience: 2
Notes: My GMAT score breakdown is: (710- Q: 49 and V: 38).
A brief on my background: I have worked for two years in a top-notch international PR and Communications agency (post my under-grad) in Mumbai and served a plethora of MNCs and large scale conglomerates across corporate and consumer verticals in those two years. I was among the youngest people at the agency and was promoted within a year of working there. I have also actively helped in crisis and reputation management for one of the largest corporate crisis in India during my stint at the agency, and truly believe that my quality of work experience has been great over the past two years.
I specialised in PR during my undergrad and carried out five internships successfully during the same time. Three at non-profit organizations and two at industry-specific agencies. Through school, college and work, I have always taken up roles of responsibility and leadership, actively looked out for and asked for opportunities and always showcased the urge to learn.
Additionally, I have always actively participated in extra-curriculars at school and college and performed extremely well academically. I would like to do an MBA with a major in marketing, from a top B-school in the US specifically, so as to add to my experience of PR and communications and achieve concentric growth around my core competencies. Furthermore, coming from a advertising and PR background, I have a fair understanding of the changing communication landscape and would like to deep dive into understanding brand management, disruptive marketing and ways to break through the current clutter to create an impact or spearhead behavioural change.
That aside, in the long run I would like to join the C-suite of an MNC, lead from the forefront and create a lasting impact on the society using my position. However, to get there, I do believe that it is important for me to venture out into relatively new territories for me, i.e. finance, accounting, sustainability, micro-economics and macroeconomics among the others. Hence the MBA.
Furthermore, why the MBA now? Well, because I want to make the switch from the agency side to the corporate side now, and no better way to bridge the gap than do an MBA that would provide me with a holistic understanding of the other side, before I step into it.
Starting today, I have about 50 days till the round 2 deadline to get my essays in place. Does Haas seem like a good option and what are my chances basis my profile?
Note: By matriculation, it would be about 2 years and 7/8 months of work experience
Re: Want to get into Haas? Review Profiles here
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17 Nov 2018, 06:12
Hi, I'm aiming for top B schools including Booth.
Age 31, Male, Indian
Academics: UG: BE CIVIL, 3.0/4 Did LLB alongwith job from Delhi University (evening classes), 54% GMAT 650 (Q 49, V 31, IR 8)
Have 9+ years of work ex in India's largest power equipment manufacturer and top 7 Public sector undertakings.
Started as Project engineer at thermal sites and then moved to HR, Business Administration and law. Currently leading 3 different teams in HR, CSR and Business Administration and memeber of legal team.
Saved approx. $500,000 for the company in an arbitration (changing arguments and strategy).
In business administration, saved Rs $50000 a year by using idle machinery from other units instead of hiring it.
Implemented online stores and helpdesks, thereby reducing manpower requirements by 70%.
Negotiated and took 50% discount on existing connections (negotiated with senior management including CMD of Telcom). Also have managed many indistrial disputes saving 500+ man-hours combined.
I'm also a certified behavioural trainer in my company and have trained 200+ employees.
Consistent top performer and can get LORs from seniors, Head of HR and Executive Director. Although dont have international workex, but have travelled a lot in India (demographically different) for business.
Extra curriculars include: have represented company in all india psu football tournaments, have won table tennis tournament in law college. Participated in street plays on social issues in company. Avid biker, trekker.
I know my experience is on higher side and have low GMAT score, still what do you think of my chances.
Long term goal is to open a venture to tap energy generation in renewable energies (in small and micro levels) that solves the energy problems and upliftment of society in developing and underdeveloped countries. Mba in top b schools would help in getting the global outlook, networking, insight on new technologies and nuances of business to help achieve my dream.
Thanks a lot.
Posted from my mobile device
gmatclubot
Re: Want to get into Haas? Review Profiles here &nbs
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