Seeking Expert Advice

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Seeking Expert Advice

by ahhejase » Mon Aug 26, 2013 10:34 pm
- GPA, major, school:3.12, Finance Major, Oakland University, MI & MA Economics UD Mercy 3.27 GPA
- GMAT with breakdown: Q47 V36 680
- resume highlights, including company name, job titles and promotions

1.5 yrs: financial Analyst with Kuwaiti PEG 1yr , then 0.5 yr as business coordinator liaising between same PEG and acquired firm, worked in Detroit, managed financials and all business purposes, and within a few months uncovered wrongdoing within the acquired firm. I informed the PEG on the suspicious activity"long story", and after many proceedings, acquisition was liquidated, and thus I lost my job, but I was given a timeline for rehire by the firm(6 months and a relocation to Kuwait which I did not want at the time),Instead I Moved to NY and took a 1 yr contract as an equities trader, I developed a loss mitigation tool for new traders that is still being used and saves them an ongoing $100,000/month at a minimum.
I then took another contract for 8 months in financial reporting at Fidelity Investments, as an analyst as well in middle office finance. That ended, then After hitting 3 years + of strong WE. I developed my MBA attack plan, I needed to get back into PE, and work on my grades, so I signed up at NYU Part time , and got hired by a PEG in NYC as an intern "Private Equity Associate". I work on the Managing principle's favorite deals, and I have accomplished a lot this year. I saved the firm from a potential bad multimillion dollar investment. I have been doing that for 7-8 months now.

The managing principal will back me up 100% for my first recommendation. He is a Wharton MBA grad
The second one will be from a mentor of mine who will comment on my academics, he is a MIT MBA grad, and formerly taught at STERN, and he also managed me in a work setting in a previous internship I had at the start of the year in Investment Banking.

I also went with NYU this summer for a research intensive in Vietnam, where I worked on development programs, micro finance research, and participated in cultural and political meetings, and that lasted 3 weeks.

When my PEG internship ends, I am heading to lebanon for a visiting instructor role teaching Macro Econ, and corp finance, at a private university From December2013 till May 2014

- extracurricular involvements
Many : Red cross, Political activism, was a monitor at a major UN arms conference, volunteered in Sandy, was a Boyscout for 8 years,and I am a current active member of American Latino Professionals in Finance and accounting, and serve as a mentor to latino aspiring youth.
I coached soccer for 3 years
I played and still do at the amateur level in tournaments

- awards, patents, publications, etc...
Assisted in a publication on behavioral finance, my name is on the paper

- interesting personal facts - countries lived in, challenges faced, unusual interests:

I have traveled to 20 countries, I am Mexican and arabic as well as a US citizen. I have lived in Beirut for 13 years, survived warzones twice 1996 and 2006, as I escaped with my grandparents under heavy artillery.
I am interested in Street Art, global cultural communication(active member of Soliya), and I like to play a role in helping my friends achieve their goals.

I have a very clear view of short term goals: translate the analytical skills into a consulting career path through the education I will receive in my mba, one of my recommending supervisors will address this, he was a former Mckinsey Engagement Mgr. I want to stay for at least 5 years.

I will also reinvest my efforts into helping Hispanic youth by guiding them to pursue MBA's as well.


Target Schools :

Dartmouth, Cornell, Yale
Mich, Darden, Georgetown
Notredame, Simon
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by mbaMissionJenK » Wed Aug 28, 2013 10:39 am
Hi and thanks for posting!

You definitely have an interesting, varied profile with what sounds like great experiences in terms of setting you up to bring a lot to the classroom (so critical in b-school admissions) and to your application essays as well.

A few comments and questions:

-Overall I believe you have a solid profile for the schools on your list, and it looks like you've broken your schools into 3 appropriate tiers. Makes sense to me based on your profile, and if you put together a really strong application and essays etc you may have a shot at the higher tier (potentially).

-When you said you signed up for NYU part-time, do you just mean taking various classes there? Just clarifying that you didn't mean an actual MBA that you have already started.

-Your undergrad GPA is obviously low, but the masters degree GPAs are at least slightly better. GMAT could be higher but acceptable.

-You have an interesting career in terms of your work experience; sounds like a few potential risks in terms of making sure you describe your story coherently in your essays, resume and interview, so work on that.

-Focusing on impact you made and results, as you've started to do already, within your roles is important in the application.

-Your extracurricular activities sound strong as well-- schools like to hear how you've been involved and active in the past, assuming you'll do the same at their program.

-Sounds like you've got some solid recommenders lined up.

-Your international diversity and experiences will bring a lot to the class as well.

-You'll want to make sure it's clear that you do still NEED the MBA even with your prior grad school work, fyi.

Wishing you good luck on the process! If interested in more of a q&a we do offer a free 30 min consult, btw, info at: https://www.mbamission.com/consult.php, just in case. Feel free to post q's or progress as well!
Jennifer Kedrowski
MBA Admissions Consultant
www.mbamission.com
[email protected]

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