Age: 27
GMAT: 690 (47,37); did better on practice tests. I was scoring n the 710s.
Undergrad: University of Illinois at Urbana/Champaign
Major: Physics (A top ten program in the nation)
GPA: 2.6
My gpa dropped significantly from a 3.2 to a almost a 2.0 after I pledged a fraternity and then moved in the following year. After I moved in to my own apartment my junior year my gpa shot back up to a 3.12, but the damage had already been done. Advice on how to address this would be helpful. Obviously, my career options diminished with this gpa, but I still found a way to succeed and surpass most of my peers.
Work Experience:
4.5 years of trading experience of financial derivatives, particularly of fixed income and short term interest rate options at a 100 strong prop firm. I was eventually promoted to a portfolio manager. A weakness to my experience is that there is not much management experience in the trading field. All management is focused on your own operation and portfolio. It is like running a small business, but using firm resources to handle menial tasks. It did provide me with the chance to train and mentor younger employees of the company (not sure how valuable that is to talk about)
Extra cirriculars:
Another weak area, but I worked a lot during european hours so it was difficult for me to be involved in much.
LOR:
I am sure I can get some strong letters of recommendation.
I am hoping to get into a top full-time school. I would like to attend booth or kellogg, but they may be a long shot. Are there any schools that you think my profile would stand a chance?
GMAT: 690 (47,37); did better on practice tests. I was scoring n the 710s.
Undergrad: University of Illinois at Urbana/Champaign
Major: Physics (A top ten program in the nation)
GPA: 2.6
My gpa dropped significantly from a 3.2 to a almost a 2.0 after I pledged a fraternity and then moved in the following year. After I moved in to my own apartment my junior year my gpa shot back up to a 3.12, but the damage had already been done. Advice on how to address this would be helpful. Obviously, my career options diminished with this gpa, but I still found a way to succeed and surpass most of my peers.
Work Experience:
4.5 years of trading experience of financial derivatives, particularly of fixed income and short term interest rate options at a 100 strong prop firm. I was eventually promoted to a portfolio manager. A weakness to my experience is that there is not much management experience in the trading field. All management is focused on your own operation and portfolio. It is like running a small business, but using firm resources to handle menial tasks. It did provide me with the chance to train and mentor younger employees of the company (not sure how valuable that is to talk about)
Extra cirriculars:
Another weak area, but I worked a lot during european hours so it was difficult for me to be involved in much.
LOR:
I am sure I can get some strong letters of recommendation.
I am hoping to get into a top full-time school. I would like to attend booth or kellogg, but they may be a long shot. Are there any schools that you think my profile would stand a chance?












