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

Redeem

Government Experience, Evaluation Appreciated!

Free advice from the world's top MBA consultants
This topic has expert replies
Post new topic Post Reply
Previous Topic Next Topic
Newbie | Next Rank: 10 Posts
Posts: 2
Joined: Wed Oct 19, 2011 12:22 pm

Government Experience, Evaluation Appreciated!

by utexas2010 » Wed Oct 19, 2011 12:23 pm
Hey everyone,

Will be applying soon and wanted some honest feedback from the forum that has helped me so much already! I come from a somewhat unique work expereince that is not too common.
Any advice or honest feedback is highly appreciated and thanks in advance!

GPA: 3.7 from a public ivy (BBA)
GMAT: 720
Work Experience: 4 years at a highly respected government agency as an analyst (FBI/CIA)- 4 month overseas assignment in the middle east, main focus is global financial frauds, took 9 months to get hired, worked on very high profile cases that I can disclose once they are public and plan to include in essays, work is highly focussed on financial markets but obviously not a "finance" job
Recommendations: Current supervisor, senior agent/operative, other analyst
Extra: Founder/President of a 40 member club in college, a lot of community service
Other: Fluent in Spanish, parents didn't graduate college, half South American, intermediate in 2 other languages

Goal: Interested in finance/pe and or consulting

I am applying to Harvard, Wharton, Columbia, and NYU. What are my chances? Any feedback or advice/ Constructive criticism? Thanks again!
Top
Source: — Ask an MBA Admissions Consultant |
User avatar
Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts
Posts: 288
Joined: Wed Jun 22, 2011 10:23 am
Location: Los Angeles/NY
Thanked: 58 times
Followed by:11 members

by PrepMBA.AlexLeventhal » Wed Oct 19, 2011 7:55 pm
Hi UTexas,

Your background will be unusual and attractive to the top schools.

Here are two quick suggestions:

First, get some more clarity on your career goals. You not only need to pick a direction, but also need to give a specific, compelling drill down into one of these careers (pe, consulting...) based on your experiences and pursuits. Given you are coming from a very different sector, I think you are on the hook more than the average candidate to provide a clear path.

Second, make sure that when you talk about your achievements in the intel world, that they are not all just individual analytical contributions. Try to show team work, management of others, persuasion up the chain, innovative thinking.... The top B schools are looking for more than just people who work great alone.

Good Luck!

Alex
Alex Leventhal
Harvard MBA, 1998
Prep MBA Admissions Consulting
www.prepmba.com
[email protected]
(323)424.3178
Top

GMAT/MBA Expert

User avatar
Elite Legendary Member
Posts: 3135
Joined: Fri Apr 01, 2011 8:55 am
Location: Everywhere
Thanked: 589 times
Followed by:332 members

by Jon@Admissionado » Thu Oct 20, 2011 12:29 am
Very Good. I echo Alex in saying that your chances should be good. If you have any leadership in the government agency, that would be a double plus. Also if you have any "Exciting stories" (ones that you can tell ;) ) use those too. they can make for a great read, and a unique profile.
"Hands down the best MBA admissions consulting firm of all-time, and boy, what an incredible founder!" -- Raj Patil, Founder of Admissionado

Something for everyone:
https://admissionado.lpages.co/admissio ... nter-2018/
https://admissionado.lpages.co/50-essay ... ked-vol-4/
https://admissionado.lpages.co/case-studies-lp/
https://admissionado.com/mba/reviews/
https://www.glassdoor.com/Reviews/Admis ... 700945.htm

Reach out, and let's gab. Our only requirement is that you don't prefer warm milk over cold milk. Everyone else, 100% welcome.
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 866-409-4753
Hit us up on WhatsApp.
Ping our satellite: 0884#&@-2#101101
Contact us via web form you lazy git: https://admissionado.com/contact/
Mostly, email Claudia.
Top
Newbie | Next Rank: 10 Posts
Posts: 2
Joined: Wed Oct 19, 2011 12:22 pm

by utexas2010 » Thu Oct 20, 2011 2:02 pm
Excellent advice guys. Thank you for the response! I agree with all of that and I think that i going to be my biggest challenge- trying to escape the "government" employee branding and stating a concrete set of goals. I am embedded on a squad so that should help show teamwork and have been a mentor to new analysts which i will touch on. To give you guys an example, I worked heavily on the Madoff investigation- would this be "unique" enough to include in essays? Thanks again for the help!
Top
User avatar
MBA Admissions Consultant
Posts: 810
Joined: Thu Jun 16, 2011 1:12 pm
Thanked: 127 times
Followed by:35 members

by MBAPrepAdvantage » Thu Oct 27, 2011 6:42 am
The Madoff investigation would be very unique. Obviously, you would have a compelling ethics perspective. Try to link your viewpoint to some of the expected subject matter you would have in the classroom to show your perspective would give value. So look at classes in ethics, finance, etc.

Good luck,
Michael Cohan
MBAPrepAdvantage Founder & AIGAC Board Director
305-604-8178
www.mbaprepadvantage.com

Please thank and/or like individual posts.

Follow Michael Cohan on Image Image and BeattheGMAT.
Follow MBAPrepAdvantage on Image Image Image.

For a free assessment email [email protected] your target schools, goals, resume, GPA and GMAT or fill out our Free MBA Admissions Consultation Form.
Top
Post new topic Post Reply
• Page 1 of 1