Profile Evaluation

Free advice from the world's top MBA consultants
This topic has expert replies
Newbie | Next Rank: 10 Posts
Posts: 3
Joined: Mon Dec 28, 2009 11:46 am

Profile Evaluation

by gamaitec » Mon Dec 28, 2009 12:05 pm
Please evaluate my profile. Thank you.

GMAT: 710 Q44 (70%) V42 (95%) [I did not study hard for the test. Should I re-take and attempt to get in the 750 range?]

Undergrad GPA: 3.0 from State School in Mathematical Finance with minors in math and economics. The split in my undergrad record is pretty significant with C and Bs in advanced mathematics courses and B+ to As in Finance/Business classes.

Work Experience:

Started career with a MAJOR financial institution in the controller's group. I was promoted within the first 6 months and received an internal rating designated for the top 5% of the company. After 1 year at this position, I was hired at a mid-tier investment bank in the equity research group.

Specifically, I covered specialty finance and banks & thrifts. I was ranked as the number 2 associate in the company even though I was the youngest associate and one of the few without an MBA.

After 1.5 years in that position, I was lured away to start a business for a well-known entrepreneur. He has started two publicly traded companies ($500M+ market cap) and currently owns a very large media business. Our business was tailored to providing political research for institutional investors. I was the 2nd employee and drove the majority of the revenue in the first year. Unfortunately, there were compensation disagreements with management and employees and none of the original employees are with the firm.

I returned to the first company and perform mostly corporate strategy functions with high interaction with government agencies. Currently, I am a Senior Financial Analyst and have once again received the highest rating in the company.

Recommendations
-My boss (managing director) at the investment bank
-A senior vice president at my current company

Extracuricular
-College
Inter-fraternity Council President
Inter-fraternity Council Treasurer
Fraternity Man of the Year (award given by the administration to the individual who most exemplified academics, leadership, and ethics)
Fraternity Treasurer
Fraternity Ritual Chair

-Post College
Founded an Investment Club and act as CIO
Active in both the Republican Party and the Libertarian Party
Campaign for certain candidates


My academics are notably weak. Since college, I have outperformed almost every other individual at my level in every job. I think the significant advancement as well as my extracuricular activities should help to highlight my leadership potential.

What do you think are my potential schools?

Below is my list:

HBS (a reach obviously)
Wharton (a reach, but since I have very strong experience and recommendations in the Finance community it should be less of a reach)
Tuck
Johnson (Cornell)
Anderson (UCLA)
Darden (UVA)
Fuqua (Duke)
USC (safety)
Georgetown (safety)
Source: — Ask an MBA Admissions Consultant |

User avatar
Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts
Posts: 368
Joined: Mon Aug 18, 2008 3:18 pm
Location: Los Angeles CA
Thanked: 30 times
Followed by:13 members

by Linda Abraham » Tue Jan 05, 2010 10:30 pm
gamaitec wrote:Please evaluate my profile. Thank you.

GMAT: 710 Q44 (70%) V42 (95%) [I did not study hard for the test. Should I re-take and attempt to get in the 750 range?]

Undergrad GPA: 3.0 from State School in Mathematical Finance with minors in math and economics. The split in my undergrad record is pretty significant with C and Bs in advanced mathematics courses and B+ to As in Finance/Business classes.

Work Experience:

Started career with a MAJOR financial institution in the controller's group. I was promoted within the first 6 months and received an internal rating designated for the top 5% of the company. After 1 year at this position, I was hired at a mid-tier investment bank in the equity research group.

Specifically, I covered specialty finance and banks & thrifts. I was ranked as the number 2 associate in the company even though I was the youngest associate and one of the few without an MBA.

After 1.5 years in that position, I was lured away to start a business for a well-known entrepreneur. He has started two publicly traded companies ($500M+ market cap) and currently owns a very large media business. Our business was tailored to providing political research for institutional investors. I was the 2nd employee and drove the majority of the revenue in the first year. Unfortunately, there were compensation disagreements with management and employees and none of the original employees are with the firm.

I returned to the first company and perform mostly corporate strategy functions with high interaction with government agencies. Currently, I am a Senior Financial Analyst and have once again received the highest rating in the company.

Recommendations
-My boss (managing director) at the investment bank
-A senior vice president at my current company

Extracuricular
-College
Inter-fraternity Council President
Inter-fraternity Council Treasurer
Fraternity Man of the Year (award given by the administration to the individual who most exemplified academics, leadership, and ethics)
Fraternity Treasurer
Fraternity Ritual Chair

-Post College
Founded an Investment Club and act as CIO
Active in both the Republican Party and the Libertarian Party
Campaign for certain candidates


My academics are notably weak. Since college, I have outperformed almost every other individual at my level in every job. I think the significant advancement as well as my extracuricular activities should help to highlight my leadership potential.

What do you think are my potential schools?

Below is my list:

HBS (a reach obviously)
Wharton (a reach, but since I have very strong experience and recommendations in the Finance community it should be less of a reach)
Tuck
Johnson (Cornell)
Anderson (UCLA)
Darden (UVA)
Fuqua (Duke)
USC (safety)
Georgetown (safety)
I think you have analyzed your strengths and weaknesses well, but are probably reaching too high in aiming for HBS, Wharton, and Tuck. If you want to aim for them in addition to retaking the GMAT (aiming to raise your quant score), I would retake or take a couple of business related courses. If you have several Series exams under your belt, the coursework may be less important. But a few recent A's could only help you.

You are more competitive at the other schools on your list, particularly if you beef up the academic credentials.

Other resources: Best,
Linda Abraham
Linda Abraham
Accepted.com -- Helping You Write Your Best!
310.815.9553
Accepted Blog
Accepted on Twitter
Accepted on Facebook