BREAKING: Target Test Prep releases Brand New 2026 On Demand GMAT prep course

Redeem

Profile evaluation please

Free advice from the world's top MBA consultants
This topic has expert replies
Post new topic Post Reply
Previous Topic Next Topic
User avatar
Junior | Next Rank: 30 Posts
Posts: 28
Joined: Wed Feb 14, 2007 12:25 am
Thanked: 1 times
GMAT Score:690

Profile evaluation please

by Andrei » Fri Sep 18, 2009 3:29 am
Hello,

I would like your advice on my profile, what would be main strengths and weaknesses I should address in my application and whether I have some chance for the MBA programs targeted.

I am a 33 old male from an Eastern European country, I have an undergraduate degree in Finance & banks (3.9 GPA), followed by 1-year graduated degree (sort of MSc) also in Finance & banks (also 3.9 GPA), both at the same fairly unknown university.

I have a total of 9 years of work experience, as follows: for the first 3.5 years I worked as financial auditor for 2 out of the 4 Big global audit firms, and then I worked 1.5 years as planning accountant for a world leading telecom company.
Followed by 8 months as financial analyst for a major bank, then 1 year as financial advisory consultant for a Big4 firm. For the last 2.5 years I am the manager of a pricing team for the same major telecom company - in the marketing dept but lot of financial work.

Extracurricular activities: not very much, played in basketball high school team - 2 years winners of regional league, lately participated in small charitable activities (going out in trips with poor children). During the 4 years of undergraduate degree I received merit-based state scholarship.

I took the GMAT in January - 650 (Q:48, V:32, AWA:5.5), plan to take again in November, I hope to improve the score to 680 - 710 range.

I am interested in top European 1-year programs as IMD, IE Madrid, INSEAD, ESADE and Oxford Said. Post MBA I intend to go for a financial advisory or strategy consultacy position.

Thank you in advance for your advices and insights.
Top
Source: — Ask an MBA Admissions Consultant |
User avatar
Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts
Posts: 225
Joined: Thu Sep 10, 2009 10:21 am
Location: Phoenix, AZ / Houston, TX
Thanked: 40 times
Followed by:10 members

by Sophia007 » Fri Sep 18, 2009 11:04 am
Great work experience. Decent GMAT score for someone with your caliber.

So help me understand again - why do you need a degree in MBA at this point?

Option#1: If you are going to stay in the same field - how do you think it will benefit you?

Option#2: If you want to move into the field of strategy, that is a big jump for someone with 9 yrs of work experience in Finance. There needs to be a logical transition and flow when you plan to take a jump.

Option#3: Have you thought about being a strategic financial advisor at some point?

You may want to keep this in mind while writing your essay. If you cannot justify yourself, the reason you need an MBA, you will not be able to come out strong in your essays. If you are seeking more clarity in your thought process and need help strategizing this, I can help you with that. Either ways, at the end of the day, you need to have only one option remaining (whichever path you plan to take to approach your essays).

You could take GMAT again, however, since you already have a master's degree, you may have some lee-way there. So, no harm sitting it for it again in your case.

Other than that, you qualify for the business schools you have listed (based on your work experience). Again, your work experience may be able to off-set your GMAT score. But I'd highly suggest that you take it again.

As far as school acitivities go, they are not a mandatory requirement. Consider it as 'icing' on the cake. If you have it, great. If you don't have it, focus on your other strengths. :)

Hope this helps.
Good Luck!
Sophia Pathak| Admissions Consultant |

If my post was helpful, let me know by pushing the thanks button.:) Please free to directly email me at [email protected]. ANY questions are welcome! check out what others have to say about their experience with me https://mymbamentor.com/?page_id=31
Top
User avatar
Junior | Next Rank: 30 Posts
Posts: 28
Joined: Wed Feb 14, 2007 12:25 am
Thanked: 1 times
GMAT Score:690

re

by Andrei » Fri Sep 18, 2009 11:50 pm
Sophia, thank you very much for your insights and questions! :) It helped a lot to clarify my thoughts.
Sorry, I think I skipped the motivation part from my profile. The main reasons to enroll in an MBA at this point would be:

1. International career - although I worked at multinational consulting firms, banks or companies with colleagues from various parts of the world, most of my experience relates only to my Eastern European country. I would like to find a job in a financial centre in Western Europe (London, Paris, Madrid, Brussels, Vienna, etc.) and I think the MBA top program stamp on my CV, the recruitment events I would have the opportunity to participate to and the MBA alumni network would help a lot.

2. Career change - it is right that I would like to remain in the financial area, but whilst my financial experience is related mostly to auditing, accounting, financial reporting, budgeting and analysis, I would like to make a shift to a corporate finance job (in a major consulting firm, business development department of a global company or at a private equity fund).
I think I have the necessary financial background and an MBA would help to enlarge my knowledge and abilities to other areas needed in CF: working with multinational and multifunctional teams, organizational change impact assessment, strategic corporate development, processes integration, business models assessment, etc.

3. Entrepreneurship focus - in a 5-10 years time frame(post MBA) I intend to start my own firm and I think during the MBA program I could gain the skills and mindset for an entrepreneur; that's why all MBA programs I target have a strong entrepreneurship focus.

4. Career level - I think right know I gathered enough experience and knowledge (both at functional and mid-managerial level) not only to be able to really understand the issues discussed in an top MBA program but also have a strong personal contribution to the class.

Thank you again and please let me know your thougths on these points.
Top

GMAT/MBA Expert

User avatar
MBA Admissions Consultant
Posts: 3845
Joined: Wed Feb 06, 2008 8:57 pm
Location: Houston, TX
Thanked: 442 times
Followed by:148 members

by Lisa Anderson » Sat Sep 19, 2009 12:58 pm
Dear Andrei,

I think you have a competitive profile for the EU schools you are targeting, both with a 650 and a higher GMAT. As Sophia mentioned, your rationale for getting your MBA in relation to your past experiences and future goals is key for your applications. Based on your last post, it is understandable how the MBA makes sense for you to transition to corporate finance and gain skills for a future entrepreneurial endeavor. As long as you are effectively communicating your rationale, then you have a good chance at one or more of your schools.

Good luck,
Lisa
Lisa Anderson
Consultant
Stacy Blackman Consulting

Learn more about me
Top
User avatar
Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts
Posts: 368
Joined: Mon Aug 18, 2008 3:18 pm
Location: Los Angeles CA
Thanked: 30 times
Followed by:13 members

Re: Profile evaluation please

by Linda Abraham » Mon Sep 21, 2009 5:40 pm
Andrei wrote:Hello,

I would like your advice on my profile, what would be main strengths and weaknesses I should address in my application and whether I have some chance for the MBA programs targeted.

I am a 33 old male from an Eastern European country, I have an undergraduate degree in Finance & banks (3.9 GPA), followed by 1-year graduated degree (sort of MSc) also in Finance & banks (also 3.9 GPA), both at the same fairly unknown university.

I have a total of 9 years of work experience, as follows: for the first 3.5 years I worked as financial auditor for 2 out of the 4 Big global audit firms, and then I worked 1.5 years as planning accountant for a world leading telecom company.
Followed by 8 months as financial analyst for a major bank, then 1 year as financial advisory consultant for a Big4 firm. For the last 2.5 years I am the manager of a pricing team for the same major telecom company - in the marketing dept but lot of financial work.

Extracurricular activities: not very much, played in basketball high school team - 2 years winners of regional league, lately participated in small charitable activities (going out in trips with poor children). During the 4 years of undergraduate degree I received merit-based state scholarship.

I took the GMAT in January - 650 (Q:48, V:32, AWA:5.5), plan to take again in November, I hope to improve the score to 680 - 710 range.

I am interested in top European 1-year programs as IMD, IE Madrid, INSEAD, ESADE and Oxford Said. Post MBA I intend to go for a financial advisory or strategy consultacy position.

Thank you in advance for your advices and insights.
Andrei,

You contacted me and asked me to comment so here goes.

I also feel that you have a competitive profile for the schools you are applying to with the possible exception of IMD, which seems more focused on general management than corporate finance to me. A higher GMAT will help you at all your target programs especially INSEAD, but you are not out of range at any of them.

Best,
Linda Abraham
Linda Abraham
Accepted.com -- Helping You Write Your Best!
310.815.9553
Accepted Blog
Accepted on Twitter
Accepted on Facebook
Top
User avatar
Junior | Next Rank: 30 Posts
Posts: 28
Joined: Wed Feb 14, 2007 12:25 am
Thanked: 1 times
GMAT Score:690

Re: Profile evaluation please

by Andrei » Tue Sep 22, 2009 7:29 am
Dear Sophia, Lisa and Linda,

Thank you again for your feedback and insights, you gave me confidence to continue with the application to the targeted schools! :) All the best, Andrei
Top
MBA Admissions Consultant
Posts: 500
Joined: Mon Jul 21, 2008 9:34 am
Location: Florida
Thanked: 45 times
Followed by:6 members

by Scottie@VeritasPrep » Mon Sep 28, 2009 5:32 pm
Andrei,

Though you asked me for additional advice I think the previous responses are pretty thorough. I concur that you need to clearly articulate how your past experience coupled with an MBA will position you to achieve your goals. Your background is solid however it is critical that you submit a strong application (essays, interviews, LORs) to be competitive. Don't discount the amount of time it will take to create an application that clearly communicates your strengths. Best of luck!
Scottie Winslow | Admissions Consultant |
Veritas Prep

Enroll now. Pay later. Take advantage of Veritas Prep's flexible payment plan options
Top
User avatar
MBA Admissions Consultant
Posts: 80
Joined: Mon Aug 31, 2009 10:58 am
Location: Seattle, WA
Thanked: 4 times
Followed by:1 members

by Brett N » Tue Sep 29, 2009 8:30 am
Hi Andrei,

We have a profile evaluation form if your interested in having us take a look at it and recommend possible areas to improve, stress or compensate for.

Feel free to insert your information here:

https://ivyappsuccess.com/advice/profileeval
Please free to contact me at [email protected] or through our
profile evaluation form.

Ivy App Success
Top
Post new topic Post Reply
• Page 1 of 1