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Chances at top schools

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Chances at top schools

by TechPMtoCF » Wed Jun 23, 2010 5:55 am
Hello,

I'm in need of some profile evaluation for my application this fall for a program starting fall 2011. Any advice is extremely appreciated!

Career goals:
1. Shift from high-tech project management to a corporate finance role. Staying in high-tech industry could be most beneficial but I'm not against changing industries.
2. Get international again by working post-MBA in Europe before eventually coming back to U.S.

Programs must be:
more than one year in length, very international class, global brand recognition, great reputation in finance, opportunities for internships, study abroad/exchange programs, in a big city, and not too small.

Demographics: White, American, Male, 27 years old. Grew up in USA except for 2 years in Europe as a teenager.
Undergrad: Computer Science major, Business minor. Overall GPA: 3.5 (Cum Laude). Large Top 50 University.
GMAT: 710 (92%), Q49 (87%), V38 (83%), AWA 5.5

Work Experience:
4 years (5 by matriculation) at mid-sized high-tech company that is consistently on Fortune 100 Companies to Work For. 2 years interacting with customers, then 2 years project management and supervising of engineers.

Entrepreneurial:
Invested in real estate properties, manage my own 4-plex, manage a stock portfolio.
Was co-founder of software start-up that was sold to another company.
Co-founder of another innovative start-up currently being developed.

Do these schools all seem too much of a stretch? What is "too much of a stretch"? I'm not looking for a safety school at this point, but have tried to lump them into rounds.

Round 1?
- LBS
- Wharton
- Columbia
- MIT
Round 2?
- IESE
- Chicago
- NYU
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by Tani » Thu Jun 24, 2010 6:44 am
Thanks for the Post!

You have strong stats and an interesting work experience background. The combination of a steady background with an existing company and entrepreneurial efforts is impressive. Schools like applicants who have started successful companies. Your years living abroad should be helpful in legitimizing your interest in international work. (I am assuming you've become fluent in at least one language other than English.)

Your high tech background can work both ways. Obviously it's am exciting and growing sector, despite a few glitches along the way. Schools recognize that they need to train people in the field. On the other hand, you will be up against an enormous number of people with similar backgrounds including tons of international applicants, especially those from the Pacific rim.

Your school list is, of course, challenging, but not out of line. My caveat to people looking at schools of this caliber is that the final cut comes down to factors beyond your control. Are you a worthy candidate? Yes. Does that mean you will get in? Depends. The problem is that schools such as Wharton have thousands of applicants and most of them are strong. Candidates tend to self-select so that people with poor GMAT/GPA/work experience profiles don't apply. As many as 80% may be qualified, 60% may be great, 40% fabulous and the school still may have room for only 15%. Schools will tell you they could fill their classes two or three times with students they would love to have.

What happens when the list gets down to great candidates is something called "balancing" the class. In other words, no school wants all engineers or all finance geniuses or all international students, etc. The fact that there are tons of techies in the pool will make it tougher for you. Be sure to differentiate yourself by telling them about your entrepreneurial efforts and your real estate work. Also, give considerable thought to how you are going to position your career goals. Schools see tons of people who want to switch careers, but you need to convince them that a switch makes sense for you. You need to put your goals in the context of what you have done already and make it clear why you a) are interested and b) have the ability to succeed in your new field. They are wary of people who are simply trying to escape a "bad fit" without an understanding of the new field. With your extra-curricular activities you should be able to make a strong case that you know what you are getting into with the switch.

In summary, your list does not have any "safety schools" on it, but does include schools at which you should be able to do well. If you are determined to go to school next year, one or two safety schools would make sense. If you are happy enough in your current career that you only want to stop to go to school if you get into a top school, your current list is on target.

Hope this has been helpful.


Tani Wolff
Tani Wolff
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