Profile evaluation request (re-applicant)

Launched August 9, 2011
This topic has expert replies
Junior | Next Rank: 30 Posts
Posts: 12
Joined: Mon Dec 14, 2009 10:38 am

Profile evaluation request (re-applicant)

by kcw984 » Fri Jun 08, 2012 2:22 pm
Hi Jon

I was hoping to get your thoughts on my profile. I am wondering about my chances at schools such as Booth, Kellogg or Ross.

Age: 27

GMAT: 730 (45V 45Q) - a little concerned with the low Q here (74th %ile when I took it, probably worse now)

Undergrad: 3.4 GPA from a well-known liberal arts college - double major in Economics (slightly above 3.0 gpa - low) and Mandarin (3.8 gpa) - graduated May, 2007. I also have a short alt. transcript w/ As in Calculus and Statistics from NYU SCPS.

Work Exp: Approx 4 years financial compliance, first at two large asset management firms, currently at a top PE firm (think blackstone, kkr, carlyle). Originally was focusing on the worst/most unimpressive areas such as code of ethics (employee personal trading, compliance certifications); now working on legal/compliance aspects of due diligence process for deal teams, regulatory filings for IPOs/secondaries, information barrier/business selection, anti-money laundering, etc. That said, I have never been formally promoted; not sure if this is a huge problem given steady advancement in responsibilities, good salary growth, etc. Should be able to get excellent recs from manager and other senior members of team.

ECs: 2.5 years of steady involvement with a well-known NY-based charity group, became team leader at the end of 2011 and currently leading and new (and surprisingly successful) project to teach English to recent Chinese immigrants in NY looking to prepare for the US citizenship exam. light involvement with alumni association.

Personal: International background (grew up between Japan and the US). Fluent in Japanese. Conversant in Mandarin (was one of my college majors as well as my family background on father's side)

Why B-School: transition into equity research or asset management. Would like to be a portfolio manager in the long term, focusing on Asian Technology stocks. My greatest concern in my profile is whether making this kind of transition is realistic (I assume that if not, the adcom wouldn't admit me based on unrealistic professional goals).

Note: I applied to schools the schools listed above two years ago (2010-2011 application) and didnt get in any. Straight dings from CBS/Kellogg. Was WL'd for Booth from R1 until end of August, and Ross from R2 until end of August. One question: I've read that reapplicants are generally at a disadvantage; would it be better to wait an additional year to apply (thereby making me a "new" applicant again the eyes of my schools, which consider reapplicants only from the past two years) if I were able to continue on an upward career trajectory and otherwise continue to strengthen my profile?

Thanks!

GMAT/MBA Expert

User avatar
Elite Legendary Member
Posts: 3135
Joined: Fri Apr 01, 2011 8:55 am
Location: Everywhere
Thanked: 589 times
Followed by:332 members

by Jon@Admissionado » Mon Jun 11, 2012 3:09 am
Two questions for you sir, before I answer you fully:
1. Are you an American citizen?
2. What changes have happened since you last applied? (career, EC, elsewhere?)
"Hands down the best MBA admissions consulting firm of all-time, and boy, what an incredible founder!" -- Raj Patil, Founder of Admissionado

Something for everyone:
https://admissionado.lpages.co/admissio ... nter-2018/
https://admissionado.lpages.co/50-essay ... ked-vol-4/
https://admissionado.lpages.co/case-studies-lp/
https://admissionado.com/mba/reviews/
https://www.glassdoor.com/Reviews/Admis ... 700945.htm

Reach out, and let's gab. Our only requirement is that you don't prefer warm milk over cold milk. Everyone else, 100% welcome.
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 866-409-4753
Hit us up on WhatsApp.
Ping our satellite: 0884#&@-2#101101
Contact us via web form you lazy git: https://admissionado.com/contact/
Mostly, email Claudia.

Junior | Next Rank: 30 Posts
Posts: 12
Joined: Mon Dec 14, 2009 10:38 am

by kcw984 » Mon Jun 11, 2012 9:56 am
Jon, thanks so much for your response. To answer your questions:

1. Yes, I am an American citizen.
2. Since last applying, there have been a number of changes:

- I took a Calculus course and earned an A.
- I moved into my current position (the top PE firm I referenced originally), which is characterized by a higher level of responsibility and close interaction with the businesses we support. I have also built great relationships within the firm and am counting on excellent recommendations from my manager and other senior colleagues (my recommendations from my last application attempt were average to weak)
- On the EC front, I continued active participation, and became a team leader at the end of 2011, then went on to establish the new project referenced in my original message (assisting Chinese immigrants in learning English and preparing for their citizenship exams). The project has been very successful.
- Finally, I am considering retaking the GMAT (this would be attempt #3). Despite my high overall score and my A grades in Stats/Calc, I feel my prior performance does not reflect my quant abilities. I have been studying for about 6 weeks and am consistently seeing 760+ scores (with 48+ quant) on practice tests (just took a GMATPrep 2.0 test yesterday and scored 760 - 44V 49Q).

Thanks again for your insight,
kcw984

GMAT/MBA Expert

User avatar
Elite Legendary Member
Posts: 3135
Joined: Fri Apr 01, 2011 8:55 am
Location: Everywhere
Thanked: 589 times
Followed by:332 members

by Jon@Admissionado » Tue Jun 12, 2012 2:54 am
Well, first off I wouldn't worry about the quant too much. Yes, its a bit on the low side, but look on the other side: you totally aced the verbal! :)

Anyhow the overalls core is far more important, plus since you come from a finance background i dont think its necessary to "prove yourself" in this side. If you had had a totally non-business background then maybe, but as is, I wouldn't really consider it a weakness. Let's call it a "slight imperfection" 3.4 with double major is good, as an American citizen with multiple Asian languages, that should also set you apart. And I totally like your regional focus, which plays towards this strength.

Re-applicants are in most cases NOT at a disadvantage. If you look at many schools, they take a percentage from the reapplicant pool similar to the normal pool. Plus you seem to have made some significant progress, so you will have plenty of stuff to write about. Keep in mind, finally, that even though you were not ultimately accepted at Booth and Ross, they DID waitlist you, which means they did like you. So if you were to come back and be like "Hey guys, you liked me last time, and this time I'm even more awesome" well, why not? :)

And given your relatively strong numbers and good background, it makes m wonder how your essays you sent it were? Because maybe we will find that your previous applications had a lot more potential??

I don't think there is any advantage for you waiting another year if you are ready now. I would however, suggest, that when you choose schools don't do ALL reapplicant schools, but some new ones too. And try and get as many apps as you can in for R1, so you can have a bit of leeway when it comes to R2.

Hope all this comments are useful to you,
"Hands down the best MBA admissions consulting firm of all-time, and boy, what an incredible founder!" -- Raj Patil, Founder of Admissionado

Something for everyone:
https://admissionado.lpages.co/admissio ... nter-2018/
https://admissionado.lpages.co/50-essay ... ked-vol-4/
https://admissionado.lpages.co/case-studies-lp/
https://admissionado.com/mba/reviews/
https://www.glassdoor.com/Reviews/Admis ... 700945.htm

Reach out, and let's gab. Our only requirement is that you don't prefer warm milk over cold milk. Everyone else, 100% welcome.
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 866-409-4753
Hit us up on WhatsApp.
Ping our satellite: 0884#&@-2#101101
Contact us via web form you lazy git: https://admissionado.com/contact/
Mostly, email Claudia.