Hello! I would love to get some advice on what my chances are for HBS, Wharton, Stanford, MIT, and Columbia. Multiple perspectives welcome, and if an expert or two can reply I would be thrilled.
- Graduated Ivy League 3.21 GPA, liberal arts
- 5 Years work experience (by summer 2011) in major NY investment bank working mostly as a business analyst/business lead for back office/infrastructure projects (many diverse types of projects supporting multiple financial products). Projects were process-improvement and risk mitigation related and involved building significant relationships with IT. Successfully promoted twice and had leadership roles.
- Canadian
- Last year I took NYU continuing education courses in calculus, statistics, financial accounting = A's
- International experience (every day working with global colleagues, worked in London office for 1 year)
- Captain of recreational football team
- 760 GMAT (third time, 710 both times before) 44V/49Q
My biggest concerns are 1) my GPA is significantly below the median for these schools, 2) I support the back-office at a bank as opposed to being a cool I-banker or trader (revenue generator), and 3) I have very little volunteer experience. Last tax season I worked 4 hours a week preparing tax returns with an IRS sponsored program (every week from the first week of January to mid April). This year I am applying to be a team leader for this same program. This is my only significant volunteer experience because I have very little time after work to make significant commitments.
I want to go to business school to switch careers and move out of financial services and into a brand management role. I have researched brand management careers, attended seminars with groups like Forte, talked with alumni from my school who work in brand management in consumer products. A goal of mine is to attend Brand Camp at P&G the summer before business school to gain an inside look into the industry. I am also possibly interested in consulting.
Many thanks for all of your help!
- Graduated Ivy League 3.21 GPA, liberal arts
- 5 Years work experience (by summer 2011) in major NY investment bank working mostly as a business analyst/business lead for back office/infrastructure projects (many diverse types of projects supporting multiple financial products). Projects were process-improvement and risk mitigation related and involved building significant relationships with IT. Successfully promoted twice and had leadership roles.
- Canadian
- Last year I took NYU continuing education courses in calculus, statistics, financial accounting = A's
- International experience (every day working with global colleagues, worked in London office for 1 year)
- Captain of recreational football team
- 760 GMAT (third time, 710 both times before) 44V/49Q
My biggest concerns are 1) my GPA is significantly below the median for these schools, 2) I support the back-office at a bank as opposed to being a cool I-banker or trader (revenue generator), and 3) I have very little volunteer experience. Last tax season I worked 4 hours a week preparing tax returns with an IRS sponsored program (every week from the first week of January to mid April). This year I am applying to be a team leader for this same program. This is my only significant volunteer experience because I have very little time after work to make significant commitments.
I want to go to business school to switch careers and move out of financial services and into a brand management role. I have researched brand management careers, attended seminars with groups like Forte, talked with alumni from my school who work in brand management in consumer products. A goal of mine is to attend Brand Camp at P&G the summer before business school to gain an inside look into the industry. I am also possibly interested in consulting.
Many thanks for all of your help!
