Ask an MBA Admissions Consultant

Just posted in Veritas board....didnt realize i could post for everyone...

Age 24 (Currently), looking to enroll Fall 16 so will be 25.

Will have 3 years full time work experience at start of program. Also have extensive intern and part time work at same company.

Work for small Registered Investment Advisor in Knoxville. Role is "associate" but it's a small business so a little of everything really!

British citizen, moved to US for school when I was 16. All my family remain in England.

Passed level 1 and 2 of CFA and anticipate passing level 3 in June.

Decent extra curricular.

Graduated regional liberal arts college (nothing special) 3.8 GPA, in accounting.

710 GMAT

What are my best options?

The Schools I was looking at were:

Reach - Tuck

1 Goal - Duke

Others - Ross, Johnson

Are these reasonable/attainable?

You could apply to Tuck/Duke/Ross/Johnson as a reach schools. I might not apply to all four...choose two perhaps. If you absolutely want an MBA you should also look at additional (lower ranked) schools as target and safety schools.

One thing you do have going for you is the fact that you would be considered an international from the UK - so it makes you a bit more unique than if you were strictly American.

Additionally: Do you have any long-term (you say decent) extracurricular activities? Is your personal story a compelling one? I'm wondering how you ended up coming to the US in the first place... Finally what are your LT goals?

I made the decision to come to America when I was 14. I looked around me and so very few people truly happy and doing something they LOVE. I decided if I wanted to excel and give myself the greatest chance of success I needed to leave. I began contacting boarding high schools and left for the US when I was 16, on my own. I have been here ever since.

The 5 schools I want to apply to are: Duke, Ross, Johnson, Anderson, Kenan-Flagler.

I have a decent amount of experience volunteering at my old high-school. I volunteered for 2 years in the boys dorm, helping with weekend activities. I also volunteered for 4 years as an assistant coach for the boys varsity basketball team. Then the basics like some social organizations etc. Nothing major here though.

Oh, and LT goal would be provate equity, perhaps via, investment banking (M&A division)

So your short-term goal for the purpose of applying is going to be IB M&A. Obviously at a school like Duke or Ross it would be easier to do that than at some of the other schools you're looking at. I would have a think about crafting your short-term goal statement to the various schools. You want to make sure your goals align with the types of recruiting opportunities the school can provide you with. Misalignment is always a red flag to the adcom - the adcom wants to maintain its numbers for the purpose of rankings (and by numbers I mean the % of students who have received an offer 3 months post graduation).

You're in the right solar system of schools though and should aim to submit R1 if possible.

All the best,
Leah