Profile Evaluation - Legal to Banking

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Profile Evaluation - Legal to Banking

by NYCharlie82 » Mon Aug 22, 2011 12:48 pm
I always thought I would end up in law school but realized it wasn't for me. After graduation (2004), I spent 2 years traveling and then moved to NYC and worked as a paralegal at at top law firm in the derivatives/structured products group for 4.5 years. I became really interested in that area of finance and decided to leave the law firm for a job at a bank. For the past 6 months, I have been working as an analyst in the structured products group of a large bank. I'm nervous that my age (29) and background make me a weak candidate. I have a weak quant background despite doing well on the GMAT. I do well in math but foolishly decided to go into humanities while in college. Additionally, I'm hesitant to ask my current boss for a letter of rec since I've only been here a few months and he expected a 2-year commitment during the interview. Two partners at the law firm (both with MBAs from Columbia) have agreed to write letters for me. Your help is appreciated.

29-year old male
Double-major at a top public university (2004; political science and cultural studies; no quant classes)
3.2 cumulative gpa (there are 2 "No Pass" marks on my transcript for elective classes)
GMAT 740 (Q49)
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by Jon@Admissionado » Wed Aug 24, 2011 8:48 am
Well sir its a bit too bad about the grades, but you are in no danger of anyone thinking you incapable if you have good experience at a law firm. Yet, thankfully you have a stellar GMAT and that should really help cover you there. Actually I've seen law people do quite well,t he trick I think in your case is to not throw away your experience. You are gonna want to build career goals that milk your law experience to the bone. Okay, you don;t want to do law, and that's cool, but you should be using your law skills and experience. It's part of what makes you unique.

As for your LORs, its a more common problem than you might think, and all you have to do there (besides making sure that your LORs you do get are amazing) is explain WHY you aren't getting a Rec from your current boss in an optional essay.

PS - Humanities aren't bad. Look at the stats for the percentage of Stanford admits who come form humanities! Your differences make you unique. Use them to your advantage.
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by Stacy Blackman » Mon Sep 19, 2011 8:41 am
Hi NYCharlie82,

Are you looking for help on how to improve your application or for recommendations on which schools to apply to?

Best,

Conrad and the Stacy Blackman Team
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