Dear Lisa,
I would love to hear your feedback in my case.
Chinese Canadian (Moved to Canada 10 years ago)
Age: 27 when martriculate
GMAT: 750 51Q 39V 5AWA
Undergrad: GPA3.7 Software Engineering degree from the top engineering school in Canada
Work experience: 3 years (when martriculate) Business Analyst/Programmer in a mid-size investment firm developing risk application. One promotion (fast-tracked and a star performer, can get my manager to confirm that in reference letter). Some mentorship experience.
1 year internship (part of undergrad requirement) with IBM as software developer.
Community activities: (Volunteer) Board executive in a nursing home with 100+ volunteers. Oversee different volunteer programs (funding raising...etc). Ongoing.
Extra curricular (all in university): Treasurer and member of the chinese debate club. Violin player in school orchestra. Residence floor leader.
Why MBA: Career change from IT to finance. Also want to relocate back to china after graduation. I think I can put together a story of how I planned my career carefully since graduating from university. (e.g. turn down an offer from microsoft to join a investment firm for the financial experience, passed two levels of CFA...etc)
School choices: Tuck (target), Yale (backup), Duke (backup)
My questions:
1) Do you think my school choices make sense? Am I over-reaching?
2) If not, I also want to add two more "reach" from the group of Wharton, Chicago, Columbia, LBS. Which two do you think are my best shots?
3) This one is tricky. Do you think I am better off marketing myself as someone whose goal is to do "IT management in a financial firm" instead of a career changer? As long as I can get into the schools, I can choose whatever career direction afterwards.
Thanks a lot
Peter
I would love to hear your feedback in my case.
Chinese Canadian (Moved to Canada 10 years ago)
Age: 27 when martriculate
GMAT: 750 51Q 39V 5AWA
Undergrad: GPA3.7 Software Engineering degree from the top engineering school in Canada
Work experience: 3 years (when martriculate) Business Analyst/Programmer in a mid-size investment firm developing risk application. One promotion (fast-tracked and a star performer, can get my manager to confirm that in reference letter). Some mentorship experience.
1 year internship (part of undergrad requirement) with IBM as software developer.
Community activities: (Volunteer) Board executive in a nursing home with 100+ volunteers. Oversee different volunteer programs (funding raising...etc). Ongoing.
Extra curricular (all in university): Treasurer and member of the chinese debate club. Violin player in school orchestra. Residence floor leader.
Why MBA: Career change from IT to finance. Also want to relocate back to china after graduation. I think I can put together a story of how I planned my career carefully since graduating from university. (e.g. turn down an offer from microsoft to join a investment firm for the financial experience, passed two levels of CFA...etc)
School choices: Tuck (target), Yale (backup), Duke (backup)
My questions:
1) Do you think my school choices make sense? Am I over-reaching?
2) If not, I also want to add two more "reach" from the group of Wharton, Chicago, Columbia, LBS. Which two do you think are my best shots?
3) This one is tricky. Do you think I am better off marketing myself as someone whose goal is to do "IT management in a financial firm" instead of a career changer? As long as I can get into the schools, I can choose whatever career direction afterwards.
Thanks a lot
Peter
