GMAT: 720
BA Economics, GPA 2.9, Captain and President of Club hockey team
MS Accounting, GPA 3.2
Age: 32
Profile: CPA with (in chronological order) 1 year in sales at venture funded software company, 2 years for Internet startup I founded, 3.5 years audit experience at Big Four firm, 1 year Internal Audit at F100 company. Currently with regional CPA firm performing audits for hedge fund and financial service industry clients. Total WE: 8+ years
Other: Sitting for CFA Level 1, December 2015. Married with young children.
Goal: MBA in Finance. Transition to Investment Management (hedge fund, asset management firm) or F500 Corporate Finance.
Schools: Booth, Columbia, Darden, Fuqua, Haas, Kellogg, Kenan-Flagler, Ross, Stern, Tepper, Wharton.
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This topic has expert replies
GMAT/MBA Expert
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mbaMissionKate
- Senior | Next Rank: 100 Posts
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- Joined: Fri Mar 27, 2015 1:05 pm
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Hi there!
So your GMAT is great and your experience as a CPA will also vouch for your quant skills. Schools will be concerned about your GPA, especially your undergrad. The GMAT can help balance that out a bit, as will the CFA, but it still could be a red flag for the top programs.
I'd like to know more about your career path and progression too - on paper it seems a bit fragmented but you also may be able to tell a really compelling story about why you made the choices you made and how those decisions have led you to needing your MBA to make this transition. You are also on the more experienced side so you'll need to be very specific about what you need from an MBA and why it's the right path for you at this point. Be thinking about specific skillsets you need to gain, both from a technical standpoint and in terms of your personal development.
To be honest, some of the schools on your list will be a stretch given these concerns - Booth / Wharton / Columbia will likely be toughest but also make sense given your Finance interest. Do your research on the schools and be thinking about mutual fit - not just why that school is ideal for you but what you'll bring to the school too.
Good luck and keep us posted if we can help!
So your GMAT is great and your experience as a CPA will also vouch for your quant skills. Schools will be concerned about your GPA, especially your undergrad. The GMAT can help balance that out a bit, as will the CFA, but it still could be a red flag for the top programs.
I'd like to know more about your career path and progression too - on paper it seems a bit fragmented but you also may be able to tell a really compelling story about why you made the choices you made and how those decisions have led you to needing your MBA to make this transition. You are also on the more experienced side so you'll need to be very specific about what you need from an MBA and why it's the right path for you at this point. Be thinking about specific skillsets you need to gain, both from a technical standpoint and in terms of your personal development.
To be honest, some of the schools on your list will be a stretch given these concerns - Booth / Wharton / Columbia will likely be toughest but also make sense given your Finance interest. Do your research on the schools and be thinking about mutual fit - not just why that school is ideal for you but what you'll bring to the school too.
Good luck and keep us posted if we can help!
Hi Kate,
Thank you for the honest feedback. I don't believe my GPAs fully reflect my capabilities as a student as a few poor semesters due to personal challenges in both undergrad and grad really brought my overall down from high to low 3's. I know this is something I'll need to add more context to explain in greater detail as part of my application. Your feedback definitely helps in terms of making me more aware of the challenges I'll be up against! Thanks again!
Andrew
Thank you for the honest feedback. I don't believe my GPAs fully reflect my capabilities as a student as a few poor semesters due to personal challenges in both undergrad and grad really brought my overall down from high to low 3's. I know this is something I'll need to add more context to explain in greater detail as part of my application. Your feedback definitely helps in terms of making me more aware of the challenges I'll be up against! Thanks again!
Andrew
GMAT/MBA Expert
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mbaMissionKate
- Senior | Next Rank: 100 Posts
- Posts: 71
- Joined: Fri Mar 27, 2015 1:05 pm
- Thanked: 19 times
- Followed by:4 members
Hi Andrew, I'm glad you found the feedback helpful. You can (and should) write a brief explanation for your GPAs in your Optional Essay. Best of luck with the process!
