780 GMAT - Aiming for M7

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780 GMAT - Aiming for M7

by raelax » Wed Nov 16, 2016 9:59 am
Hi B-school experts -

I've started to seriously consider business school within the next couple years (2018 or 2019 entry). My stats are below and would seriously appreciate some high-level advice on my chances of admission to M7. :)

GMAT: 780

Personal: 25 yo South Asian (Non-Indian) immigrant male, but essentially raised in the US. First-generation student.

Education: BS Math & Econ from a state school with various phd level statistics classes. GPA: 3.5 (absolutely horrible the first 2 years, but close to perfect the last 1.5 years with more quantitatively heavy classes). I worked throughout my undergrad to put myself through school. Looking back, this definitely did not contribute positively academically. haha. MS from Hopkins... GPA: 3.5 completed remote while working.

Experience: Working in back office quant finance. I've been working in model development for loss forecasting models for one of the top 4 BB banks. My work has involved quantitative heavy model development and communicating results to business execs who are less familiar with the technical specifications. I have gotten 1 promotion since starting. I'm very well-regarded by my manager and executives I've worked with in the firm. I'm confident I can get quality recommendations.

Goals: I'd like to transition closer to the business. Ideally, I'd like to break into investment management or private equity. Unfortunately, with my current position, the prospect for a successful transition is quite bleak.

EC: Work and school consumes/consumed a vast majority of my time. However, I'm decently involved in the LGBT community in my city (LGBT here). My involvement is mostly participatory through sports leagues. I don't think I can come up with any solid leadership experience as part of my EC. Obviously, this is probably a problem.

Concerns:

- What are my chances of breaking into M7? I'm definitely concerned about my lack of extra curricular shine. I'm also worried that my experience is not a typical business school profile.
- I'm also concerned about my education. I was a horrible student during the first half of my undergrad. Many withdrawals and terrible grades. Though I definitely improved this ten-fold during the later years, I'm concerned that this will be a major negative for the schools I'm trying to target.
- I understand I've got about 3 years to build a much better profile, but I'd like to enter within the next 1-2 years. How does this affect my chances.

Thanks for all the help!
Rae

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by Jon@Admissionado » Wed Nov 16, 2016 11:58 pm
Rae,
You have a really awesome profile. You work for both bracket bank, you have a ridiculously amazing GMAT, you have a strong GPA despite two years of having done not well, strong masters degree, and you're involved in the LGBT.

As for your one perceived weakness, I may agree with you, but since you are applying in one or two years you've plenty of time to fix that. Add an activity or two. Add some community service. I mean why not you have nothing to lose.

And with that profile, honestly M& is perfect for you :)

Just make awesome applications and get great recommendations, and for the love of God do your research!!! :)
(which means by the way especially since you were two years in advance: VISIT the schools!)

Best,
Jon
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