Ask Stacy Blackman

Hi BTG admissions consultants,

If you can give me some feedback on my profile, it would be greatly appreciated. I'm looking for Fall 2010 admissions, and looking to meet the round 2 deadline (I know I know).

A little about me:

23 year old Canadian (non-minority)

- 3.5 4th yr GPA from a top Canadian university (degree in finance)

- During university, started a company that operated for 2 years during the summer months, and employed 12 students

- Recruited by one of the largest high tech companies in the world, hired as one of 4 applicants out of a pool of ~700 applicants in a graduate rotational 2 year program

- project controller for a very large oil pipeline project in Alberta

- currently a financial project manager for the same company in their healthcare sector, managing 4 product modalities

- writing the GMAT this upcoming friday and have been trending in the high 600's low 700's range

- Actively involved as a volunteer with one large charity and have been nominated for the board of directors for a small start up cancer charity

My reason for embarking on this saga at this point in my career: I want to get into I-banking/private equity, and eventually am planning on joining my 2 syblings who are hollistic health care professionals in a business venture.

A few schools I'm looking at:

Rotman - 'reach' v competitive v nucking futs
Schullich - 'reach' v competitive v nucking futs
Queens - 'reach' v competitive v nucking futs
NYU Stern - 'reach' v competitive v nucking futs
Duke Fuqua - 'reach' v competitive v nucking futs
UCLA Anderson - 'reach', competitive v nucking futs
Virginia Darnden - 'reach' v competitive v nucking futs
Cornell Johnson - 'reach' v competitive v nucking futs

Can you please advise as to which 5 schools would be a good 'fit' for me, as well as what would be a reach, vs competitive vs a 'you're nucking futs'? Also, do you have any other suggestions for programs I may be overlooking?

Because of wanting a career switch out of my MBA, I've been leaning towards two year programs that will allow for an internship mid program.


Thanks in advance for having a look at this!

Cheers

Hi Lisa,

Thanks for the feedback- greatly appreciated.

I expect to be in the low 700-mid 700 range (but then again, who doesn't!).

One quick question: When asked in my essays about career goals and why an MBA is necessary, would I be better off to distinguish myself from the PE/IB group and mention my family business venture? Or would this hurt me in the likes of the financial focused schools?

Thanks again!

Sam

HI Lisa,

Thought I'd touch base and give you a quick update: I scored a 700 (48Q 38V). Should I include any other schools that I have not yet considered?

I'd like to only apply to 5, and as of now those are:

NYU
Cornell
UCLA
Schullich
Rotman

Should I throw in a BIG REACH school, such as: Stanford, Wharton, HBS? Are there schools that are strong in IB/PE that I may be overlooking?

Thanks for the feedback.