Need advice on best fit

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Need advice on best fit

by louvall » Fri Jun 12, 2009 3:31 am
Hello,

I am starting to prepare my applications for MBA programs in London and would greatly appreciate some advice.

First a little about myself.

I'm a 26 year old Spaniard. I'm currently an auditor at a Big Four. I have been employed here for the last 3 years and am in a senior/supervisor role. My position requires me to split my time between Spain and London (50-50). I'm happy here but I am willing to give a boost in my career and therefore have decided to take on the challenge of an MBA.

I graduated in Business Administration in Valencia, Spain. Unfortunately, due to personal reasons, my average grade is not excellent. I achieved a 7,1/10, which I sincerely don't know how it translates to the current GPA measurement used in the forum.

As said, the average is not excellent but I believe it is not indicative of my potential (as I explained, personal reasons affected the way I addressed college). However, I still got a job offering from a Big4 before finishing my major and have been working with them ever since. I was immediatelly assigned an international role in the firm.

After 3 years there I believe the time has come for a change.

I am considering schools in London due to the fact that I believe it is a great place to establish future professional relationships and the quality of teaching is superb. But, I am not quite sure of my realistic chances of getting into a top school (LBS, LSE, Cass...). Therefore, I am considering Imperial College.

However, I have been informed of the following b-schools,

- European Business School (Regent's college)
- London School of Business and Finance

but I am not familiar with their reputation. Any help on this?

Additionally, my second question is how a gap in employment can affect my admission.

I have the opportunity to move to Australia for 10 months and I am really thinking about taking the chance. It is something that has always been on my "to-do list" in life (a list I believe everyone should have) and I now have it closer than ever. Of course, this implies me quitting my current job. My intention is take advantage if my situation there and take the GMAT. I am expecting a score round 650-670, but I am sure with time to prepare I can improve this figure. Another option is taking the GMAT before, applying and with my accepted application in hand THEN move until the course begins. The only flaw of this second option is that if the application results take too long, I might loose my chance.

What are your views on my situation? Any feedback is gladly welcome!

Thanks for your time!!
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by Paxton Helms - Kaplan » Tue Jun 16, 2009 8:57 am
Hola and thanks for your note. It sounds like you have some interesting options!

- In terms of fit...that is very hard to say at this point. Your 7.1 is not a particularly strong average (I spent several years in Spain as both an undergrad and grad student) but you do have very good work experience.

- You are right that London would be a great place to have a professional network but I think you may be putting the cart slightly before the horse in focusing on applying to London MBA programs. Have you decided that London is a natural long-term focus for you? Have you considered other European programs such as INSEAD, Bocconi, RSM, and the very fine Spanish business schools? Remember that geography is very very important in choosing a business school!!

- In terms of the Australia gig, my sense is that your thinking is not quite as developed as it probably needs to be for you to take for a year. My sense is that you need to take a bit more time to think through your goals, ambitions, and options and then once you have those clear, then it might make sense to head off for a kind of "gap year." I don't think programs would look down on this; however, if you spend it drinking beer instead of doing something productive then that may not be your ideal move...

- In terms of the reputations of the programs that you mention, I'm afraid I don't know them well enough to comment.

Keep me apprised of your thinking and let me know if I can help you further.

Cheers--

Paxton
Keep me in the loop about your thinking and let me know if you have any more questions.

Paxton



Paxton Helms is an MBA admissions consultant for Kaplan Admissions Consulting. He earned his MBA from UCLA and specializes in helping clients that are applying to top twenty and "reach" programs. He can be reached directly at [email protected].

To begin working with Paxton immediately, follow this link and request him specifically: https://www.kaptest.com/GMAT/Admissions- ... lting.html