Here is my profile. I'm from UK.
Age: 29
GMAT: 780
undergrad GPA: 3.1/5 Non-honors (Finance) - Warwick
Masters GPA: 4.6/5 (Applied Econs), 4.8/5 (Accounting) - University of Birmingham
CFA qualified, CPA qualified
Working experience: 1st 2 yrs: Cofounded finance software startup (acquired), 2 years: Futures trader (Small prop firm), 3 years: Audit at Big 4
As you can see, my undergrad GPA sticks out like a sore thumb. In fact, this is the only time i performed so badly in my academic history. I had straight As for my A-Levels, including distinctions for my special papers. Won scholastic awards consistently before college. SAT 1500/1600
The reason was that I was running 3 startups during college and making considerable money that I did not place sufficient priority nor focus on my studies (I skipped half of my classes. If I'm not at work with my startups, I would be learning programming on my own). Another sore thumb was that I was originally from Engineering but i switched in my 3rd year. 1st year grades were reasonable 4/5. Second year I had 4 Fs, all of which are in Electrical engineering classes (because I skipped all of them due to lack of interest). I wanted to switch after year 1 to Finance but due to lack of vacancy, i only got approval in the second year. i just thought it didn't make sense to attend Engineering classes after I got approval to switch to Finance in the 3rd year.
I take responsibility for my immaturity back then. Which is why I have taken concrete efforts to show my seriousness in education by getting the CFA and CPA qualifications + Masters. Now, I want to get a good MBA because I'm aiming to become the CFO of a good firm.
I'm not aiming for the top 5 schools but more of the likes of Michigan, Rice, UCLA, Berkeley.
What should I do to better improve my chances and mitigate my low GPA? Also, is my working experience too jumpy? I jumped to audit not because I was failing at trading but because I need to get the experience to be CPA qualified.
I am contemplating taking a 2 year Masters of Finance and ace it in order to boost my MBA application (i.e. 3 masters altogether. I took the Econs Masters because of one D in Macro Econs - missed the term paper as i wasn't aware since i was seldom in class. I took the accounting Masters because I want to be a CFO. I'm contemplating taking this Masters of Finance because it's research based and I'm treating it as replacement for my honors year). Would this be wise?
Age: 29
GMAT: 780
undergrad GPA: 3.1/5 Non-honors (Finance) - Warwick
Masters GPA: 4.6/5 (Applied Econs), 4.8/5 (Accounting) - University of Birmingham
CFA qualified, CPA qualified
Working experience: 1st 2 yrs: Cofounded finance software startup (acquired), 2 years: Futures trader (Small prop firm), 3 years: Audit at Big 4
As you can see, my undergrad GPA sticks out like a sore thumb. In fact, this is the only time i performed so badly in my academic history. I had straight As for my A-Levels, including distinctions for my special papers. Won scholastic awards consistently before college. SAT 1500/1600
The reason was that I was running 3 startups during college and making considerable money that I did not place sufficient priority nor focus on my studies (I skipped half of my classes. If I'm not at work with my startups, I would be learning programming on my own). Another sore thumb was that I was originally from Engineering but i switched in my 3rd year. 1st year grades were reasonable 4/5. Second year I had 4 Fs, all of which are in Electrical engineering classes (because I skipped all of them due to lack of interest). I wanted to switch after year 1 to Finance but due to lack of vacancy, i only got approval in the second year. i just thought it didn't make sense to attend Engineering classes after I got approval to switch to Finance in the 3rd year.
I take responsibility for my immaturity back then. Which is why I have taken concrete efforts to show my seriousness in education by getting the CFA and CPA qualifications + Masters. Now, I want to get a good MBA because I'm aiming to become the CFO of a good firm.
I'm not aiming for the top 5 schools but more of the likes of Michigan, Rice, UCLA, Berkeley.
What should I do to better improve my chances and mitigate my low GPA? Also, is my working experience too jumpy? I jumped to audit not because I was failing at trading but because I need to get the experience to be CPA qualified.
I am contemplating taking a 2 year Masters of Finance and ace it in order to boost my MBA application (i.e. 3 masters altogether. I took the Econs Masters because of one D in Macro Econs - missed the term paper as i wasn't aware since i was seldom in class. I took the accounting Masters because I want to be a CFO. I'm contemplating taking this Masters of Finance because it's research based and I'm treating it as replacement for my honors year). Would this be wise?
