Ask an MBA Admissions Consultant

Hi,

I'm looking for Fall 2010 admissions, and looking to meet the round 2 deadline (I know I know).

A little about me:

23 year old Canadian (non-minority)

- 3.5 4th yr GPA from a top Canadian university (degree in finance)

- During university, started a company that operated for 2 years during the summer months, and employed 12 students

- Recruited by one of the largest high tech companies in the world, hired as one of 4 applicants out of a pool of ~700 applicants in a graduate rotational 2 year program

- project controller for a very large oil pipeline project in Alberta

- currently a financial project manager for the same company in their healthcare sector, managing 4 product modalities

- writing the GMAT this upcoming friday and have been trending in the high 600's low 700's range

- Actively involved as a volunteer with one large charity and have been nominated for the board of directors for a small start up cancer charity

My reason for embarking on this saga at this point in my career: I want to get into I-banking/private equity, and eventually am planning on joining my 2 syblings who are hollistic health care professionals in a business venture.

A few schools I'm looking at:

Rotman - 'reach' v competitive v nucking futs
Schullich - 'reach' v competitive v nucking futs
Queens - 'reach' v competitive v nucking futs
NYU Stern - 'reach' v competitive v nucking futs
Duke Fuqua - 'reach' v competitive v nucking futs
UCLA Anderson - 'reach', competitive v nucking futs
Virginia Darnden - 'reach' v competitive v nucking futs
Cornell Johnson - 'reach' v competitive v nucking futs

Can you please advise as to which 5 schools would be a good 'fit' for me, as well as what would be a reach, vs competitive vs a 'you're nucking futs'? Also, do you have any other suggestions for programs I may be overlooking?

Because of wanting a career switch out of my MBA, I've been leaning towards two year programs that will allow for an internship mid program.


Thanks in advance for having a look at this!

Cheers

Quick update:

700 GMAT (48Q 38 V).

Thanks in advance!

Hi and thanks for your post. As it happens, one of my clients just got into Rotman (his first choice) so --at the risk of sounding cavalier-- people do get in!!

On the other hand, let me tell you about another client that I consider a rock start. He just got waitlisted at HBS and Wharton so who knows?

At any rate...you obviously have killer work experience and you have a solid (but not absolutely extraordinary) GMAT. It sounds like you are focused and not applying to the hyper-elite programs like HBS, Wharton, Stanford, etc.

So...all of this is to say: I think you are competitive at all of those schools but I would remind you that all of those schools have lottery elements. Not every student that is qualified to go to those programs gets in. So...I would use my filtering approach (described in a sticky post at the top of the forum) and choose which of those really interest you and, perhaps, ID a few more that are not on your list but should be.

When you have that, send me an e-mail (or hire me!) and let's talk about how to maximize your chances of getting in.