Ask an MBA Admissions Consultant

Hello - I am considering applying to an mba program within the next two years and I would like to get your thoughts on my chances to entering a global top tier school - LSE, Hong Kong Uni, INSEAD, Stern, Fuqua, Columbia, etc. I have been working for nearly 4 years now; 3yr in finance at a major investment bank and 1 yr at a high growth/mid cap pharma company. In my first job I was in Singapore as an analyst and now I'm currently in India working as a senior mgr in business development in pharma. The reason for the switch? Simply to gain a broader perspective and to have new experiences, particularly in emerging markets. However, the common thread between the two is that the two roles have been very project-oriented. Which brings me to why I'm considering an MBA in the near future - I would like to get into a business mgmt/strategy focused consulting role. After about another year in India, I am considering moving to China/Taiwan to get certified in mandarin proficiency, as language in general is a passion of mine - I am independently learning mandarin in my free time and I have passed the level 4 of the Japanese Language Proficiency Test (only a basic level) in my free time as well. I graduated from Boston University School of Management with a double concentration in Finance and Business Law, and a minor in International Relations. My overall average GPA is 2.92; however, my finance gpa is 3.67 and Business Law a 3.0, demonstrating a general trend of increasing GPA averages over semesters. I have not taken the GMAT yet, but assuming I can score above 700, what would my chances be to get into a top tier (top 20) university?

Your chances are good if you can weave your story into a compelling and coherent case in your essays. On paper you will look good and have international team experience, which is very attractive. Especially if you get a 7-handle on your GMAT score, you should be very competitive at top tier schools. Good luck.