Profile: 25 year old white male (but don't plan on applying for a couple years)
Education: 3.28 GPA from UCLA (major in Biology, minor in Accounting). Note that I graduated in five years due to the addition of my minor and I did receive one F early in my career because I chose to pursue a job that conflicted with the timing of my class. I subsequently retook this class and got a B+.
GMAT: 770 (Q50, V45)
Work Experience: Finishing up my second year at one of the Big Four accounting firms in Audit. I plan on having between four and five years of total experience at the firm upon matriculation and will have my CPA license. I will be promoted to Senior Associate this summer and will have plenty of experience running engagements (responsible for managing my staff, the client, and the managers/partner) when applying.
Extracurriculars:
- I was recently nominated for and granted a spot on our Senior Leadership Council. This is a group of about 12 senior associates from the firm's Pacific Southwest offices that is responsible for engaging our peers to gauge what their complaints are and then working with management to resolve these issues (with the goal of decreasing turnover).
- Involved with the United Way through my firm (dedicated to fighting poverty in LA)
- VP of Homeowner's Association (good experience negotiating with/persuading people much older than myself)
Basically I am most interested in attending a top school and am leaning towards Wharton, CBS, Kellogg, Booth, Ross, Haas, Anderson. I was wondering if you think it is reasonable that I only apply to these schools (without any real safety school). I don't know if I'd be interested in attending a lower ranked school just for the sake of going back to school.
I'd really appreciate any advice you can offer with regards to school selection or steps that I can take in the next couple years to improve my chances. I'm pretty sure that I will be using a consultant down the line to maximize my odds.
Many thanks!
Education: 3.28 GPA from UCLA (major in Biology, minor in Accounting). Note that I graduated in five years due to the addition of my minor and I did receive one F early in my career because I chose to pursue a job that conflicted with the timing of my class. I subsequently retook this class and got a B+.
GMAT: 770 (Q50, V45)
Work Experience: Finishing up my second year at one of the Big Four accounting firms in Audit. I plan on having between four and five years of total experience at the firm upon matriculation and will have my CPA license. I will be promoted to Senior Associate this summer and will have plenty of experience running engagements (responsible for managing my staff, the client, and the managers/partner) when applying.
Extracurriculars:
- I was recently nominated for and granted a spot on our Senior Leadership Council. This is a group of about 12 senior associates from the firm's Pacific Southwest offices that is responsible for engaging our peers to gauge what their complaints are and then working with management to resolve these issues (with the goal of decreasing turnover).
- Involved with the United Way through my firm (dedicated to fighting poverty in LA)
- VP of Homeowner's Association (good experience negotiating with/persuading people much older than myself)
Basically I am most interested in attending a top school and am leaning towards Wharton, CBS, Kellogg, Booth, Ross, Haas, Anderson. I was wondering if you think it is reasonable that I only apply to these schools (without any real safety school). I don't know if I'd be interested in attending a lower ranked school just for the sake of going back to school.
I'd really appreciate any advice you can offer with regards to school selection or steps that I can take in the next couple years to improve my chances. I'm pretty sure that I will be using a consultant down the line to maximize my odds.
Many thanks!
