Hi,
I'd like to share my profile with you all and would appreciate any comments or suggestions you might have on increasing my chances of being accepted into my target schools.
I plan to apply for Round 2 at:
Harvard
Wharton
NYU
Columbia
Duke (possibly)
Emory (backup choice)
GMAT: 730 (96% Verbal, 74% Quant)
Undergrad GPA: 3.1 in Finance / B.A. from Univ. of Florida (Graduated in 3 years)
Also got a M.S. in Entrepreneurship, 3.5 GPA
Work Experience: 3 years at private equity / mezzanine fund in Florida upon assumed June 2010 matriculation.
Extracurricular:
During School
Played varsity football in college
Peer mentor for other minority students through scholarship program
Assorted philanthropic and community service type roles in undergrad (no real leadership role with those, however)
Professional
Board member for local non-profit organization that manages distribution of over $150 million for low-income families needing help with child care
Organized serving opportunities for church group at local soup kitchen for homeless women and children
Some other community service stuff (Habitat for Humanity and such) but no leadership role
Goals:
I want to start a company providing funding opportunities to businesses in the Southeast. Historically, banking has been the only avenue for companies down here to access funding and there is a real void of groups that provide equity financing to growing businesses. Most groups providing that kind of funding are based in the Northeast or out in California. It's a chance to take investment dollars that would normally leave the region and instead redistribute them to local companies, thus creating jobs and boosting the region's economy. Having worked for a similar company, I got the chance to talk with many small business owners in the Southeast, and I feel there is still a very large desire for that kind of company.
General Comments:
I work for a smaller organization and thus have had a massive amount of responsibility from Day 1. While challenging at first, I feel that I have grown into the role and really embraced the opportunity. I think that is a strong selling point for me and something I plan to focus on during interviews/essays/etc.
I also recently passed Level 1 of the CFA exam. Hopefully that will dispel at least some of the concerns about my quant ability..
Alright, enough with the self-aggrandizement. Do you think I have a legitimate shot at the listed schools, given my relative lack of work experience, low quant score, low GPA, poor sense of humor, etc?
I really appreciate any advice you all have and good luck to all the other prospective MBA students applying this year.
I'd like to share my profile with you all and would appreciate any comments or suggestions you might have on increasing my chances of being accepted into my target schools.
I plan to apply for Round 2 at:
Harvard
Wharton
NYU
Columbia
Duke (possibly)
Emory (backup choice)
GMAT: 730 (96% Verbal, 74% Quant)
Undergrad GPA: 3.1 in Finance / B.A. from Univ. of Florida (Graduated in 3 years)
Also got a M.S. in Entrepreneurship, 3.5 GPA
Work Experience: 3 years at private equity / mezzanine fund in Florida upon assumed June 2010 matriculation.
Extracurricular:
During School
Played varsity football in college
Peer mentor for other minority students through scholarship program
Assorted philanthropic and community service type roles in undergrad (no real leadership role with those, however)
Professional
Board member for local non-profit organization that manages distribution of over $150 million for low-income families needing help with child care
Organized serving opportunities for church group at local soup kitchen for homeless women and children
Some other community service stuff (Habitat for Humanity and such) but no leadership role
Goals:
I want to start a company providing funding opportunities to businesses in the Southeast. Historically, banking has been the only avenue for companies down here to access funding and there is a real void of groups that provide equity financing to growing businesses. Most groups providing that kind of funding are based in the Northeast or out in California. It's a chance to take investment dollars that would normally leave the region and instead redistribute them to local companies, thus creating jobs and boosting the region's economy. Having worked for a similar company, I got the chance to talk with many small business owners in the Southeast, and I feel there is still a very large desire for that kind of company.
General Comments:
I work for a smaller organization and thus have had a massive amount of responsibility from Day 1. While challenging at first, I feel that I have grown into the role and really embraced the opportunity. I think that is a strong selling point for me and something I plan to focus on during interviews/essays/etc.
I also recently passed Level 1 of the CFA exam. Hopefully that will dispel at least some of the concerns about my quant ability..
Alright, enough with the self-aggrandizement. Do you think I have a legitimate shot at the listed schools, given my relative lack of work experience, low quant score, low GPA, poor sense of humor, etc?
I really appreciate any advice you all have and good luck to all the other prospective MBA students applying this year.
