Eval for 3.95/720 with investment banking and private equity

[BankHaven]

Hey all,

I'm currently a first year private equity associate (will be "promoted" to second year in July) looking at admissions to top business schools. Here's my profile:

-3.95 GPA in Finance from strong state school (think UVA, Michigan, Berkeley, Texas, UNC etc.)
-720 GMAT (47Q, 42V)
-Two years investment banking at one of Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley or JP Morgan (with work on high-profile M&A deals and IPOs)
-Two years (at time of enrollment) as a private equity associate at a medium-sized private equity firm
-Letters of rec from top school alumni from senior bankers and investment professionals at both places I've worked
-A couple of decent, not great leadership roles in various clubs on campus (executive board and various committees)
-Spend some time working at a non profit on the weekends
-Various awards and scholarships for academic achievements during college

Thanks!

[BankHaven]

Just to add some more color, the main thing I'm wondering is how to differentiate myself amongst the masses of IBD/PE candidates that apply every year. I know my GPA is in the right range, but I'm worried that my GMAT (especially the quant) is low, especially for the bucket I'm competing for. I want to continue working in private equity and everything I've seen suggests that it's easiest to go back out of Harvard, Stanford and Wharton and even then it's an uphill battle. Any suggestions for what to emphasize in apps to show how I'm not just a finance drone?

[mbaMissionJenK]

Hi there,

Thanks for posting. I think you have done a good job self-assessing thus far and have hit the nail on the head-- when reading your profile I thought you have a lot of great positives for the application, but at the moment may just be missing that extra 'something' to help you stand out... which you eventually said to a certain degree yourself.

The stellar GMAT and GPA and strong work experience and recommendations will all help a good deal. Yes GMAT quant could be higher, and I'd be looking for more leadership experience even just among your work (but part of that is that I don't have your full resume etc here).

I think ultimately what could push it one way or another is what you can showcase about yourself that is unique. What I do with clients, and what we all do at mbaMission, is a very thorough brain-storming session to help uncover this. We may start with questions about actual experiences you've had... even in life, childhood, family... related to other interests or ambitions. But I'd also dig in, and giving you these thoughts now to think about in case it helps, to things like personality traits, your perspective on life, your passions. Think hard about, what might YOU contribute to an MBA class, that others might not. Even if it's just a way of approaching life, people, projects, challenges, etc. Lots to think about! Focus on accomplishments, professional and personal, and anything you are proud of over your life, and/or that made an impact on you.

Hope that helps get the wheels turning! Good luck and let us know how we can help!