GMAT: 710 (Q47, V41, AWA6; I did it 3 times and scores were 710/690/710)
GPA: Overall 3.46 from top Canadian uni, finance major (3.8 in the first year, then I lost interest and it dipped to as low as 2.7 in one term... I fast-tracked through a 4 year program though, doing it in 3 years, and taking 120% course load plus summer classes)
CFA (1st time passes of levels 1&2, had to retake 3)
Polish/ Canadian citizen
Experience:
<1yr at a hedge fund (Canada)
18 months in M&A at a (failed) Icelandic bank; made Associate shortly before bank went belly up - makes for good story though!(UK)
2 years at a tiny media & entertainment advisory shop, focusing on financial restructuring (UK)
Extracurriculars:
A whole lot of student theatre (several leadership roles) while at uni
Various internships throughout my undergrad, plus during a gap year between high school and uni
8 years volunteer stage-managing at major music festival (seasonal contracts; I basically have had no proper vacation for 8 years because I use my holiday to do this)
Several freelance consulting projects (in the digital media/ video production world)
Recently co-founded a digital media production company (though we've got little to show for it so far...)
Goals:
Short-term: corp development or in-house M&A at a media corporate, possibly TMT investment banking
Long-term: media start-up, my own arts/ media advisory shop, possibly VC
Target schools:
UCLA, Stern, USC, Haas (that's my dream one)
Tangentially considering an HBS or Stanford app, but that's probably too much of a stretch
Main application concern:
I've done lots of extracurriculars while at uni, and simply don't have enough space in the app, essays, resume to cover all this (basically, I would just have to list them with no explanation - and that's as good as useless). Also, optional essay space is usually limited to 250 words! That's not enough to explain gaps in academic or professional record, extenuating circumstances, etc.
Thanks!
S.
GPA: Overall 3.46 from top Canadian uni, finance major (3.8 in the first year, then I lost interest and it dipped to as low as 2.7 in one term... I fast-tracked through a 4 year program though, doing it in 3 years, and taking 120% course load plus summer classes)
CFA (1st time passes of levels 1&2, had to retake 3)
Polish/ Canadian citizen
Experience:
<1yr at a hedge fund (Canada)
18 months in M&A at a (failed) Icelandic bank; made Associate shortly before bank went belly up - makes for good story though!(UK)
2 years at a tiny media & entertainment advisory shop, focusing on financial restructuring (UK)
Extracurriculars:
A whole lot of student theatre (several leadership roles) while at uni
Various internships throughout my undergrad, plus during a gap year between high school and uni
8 years volunteer stage-managing at major music festival (seasonal contracts; I basically have had no proper vacation for 8 years because I use my holiday to do this)
Several freelance consulting projects (in the digital media/ video production world)
Recently co-founded a digital media production company (though we've got little to show for it so far...)
Goals:
Short-term: corp development or in-house M&A at a media corporate, possibly TMT investment banking
Long-term: media start-up, my own arts/ media advisory shop, possibly VC
Target schools:
UCLA, Stern, USC, Haas (that's my dream one)
Tangentially considering an HBS or Stanford app, but that's probably too much of a stretch
Main application concern:
I've done lots of extracurriculars while at uni, and simply don't have enough space in the app, essays, resume to cover all this (basically, I would just have to list them with no explanation - and that's as good as useless). Also, optional essay space is usually limited to 250 words! That's not enough to explain gaps in academic or professional record, extenuating circumstances, etc.
Thanks!
S.
