Help from STACY!! ROUND 2 APP!

[samus33]

Hi BTG admissions consultants,

If you can give me some feedback on my profile, it would be greatly appreciated. I'm looking for Fall 2010 admissions, and looking to meet the round 2 deadline (I know I know).

A little about me:

23 year old Canadian (non-minority)

- 3.5 4th yr GPA from a top Canadian university (degree in finance)

- During university, started a company that operated for 2 years during the summer months, and employed 12 students

- Recruited by one of the largest high tech companies in the world, hired as one of 4 applicants out of a pool of ~700 applicants in a graduate rotational 2 year program

- project controller for a very large oil pipeline project in Alberta

- currently a financial project manager for the same company in their healthcare sector, managing 4 product modalities

- writing the GMAT this upcoming friday and have been trending in the high 600's low 700's range

- Actively involved as a volunteer with one large charity and have been nominated for the board of directors for a small start up cancer charity

My reason for embarking on this saga at this point in my career: I want to get into I-banking/private equity, and eventually am planning on joining my 2 syblings who are hollistic health care professionals in a business venture.

A few schools I'm looking at:

Rotman - 'reach' v competitive v nucking futs
Schullich - 'reach' v competitive v nucking futs
Queens - 'reach' v competitive v nucking futs
NYU Stern - 'reach' v competitive v nucking futs
Duke Fuqua - 'reach' v competitive v nucking futs
UCLA Anderson - 'reach', competitive v nucking futs
Virginia Darnden - 'reach' v competitive v nucking futs
Cornell Johnson - 'reach' v competitive v nucking futs

Can you please advise as to which 5 schools would be a good 'fit' for me, as well as what would be a reach, vs competitive vs a 'you're nucking futs'? Also, do you have any other suggestions for programs I may be overlooking?

Because of wanting a career switch out of my MBA, I've been leaning towards two year programs that will allow for an internship mid program.


Thanks in advance for having a look at this!

Cheers

[Lisa Anderson]

Dear samus33,

It is really hard to comment on your chances anywhere without knowing your actual GMAT score. Also, since you aspire to be in i-banking/PE, it is critical that you are at a school where you will be connected to the industry and can compete against the numerous other IB/PE aspirants. Based on your post, the rest of your profile looks competitive for any of the schools on your list. So, it really does come down to the GMAT score, how well you write, how well you do in interviews, and how confident you are in your recommendations. If you score in the 680+ range, then you would have a shot at any of the schools on your list assuming you have a great set of essays and recommendations and interview well. If you score in the 650-680 range, have great essays/recs and interview well, then NYU, Duke, and UCLA become more of a reach for you. So, do well on your GMAT and then reassess where you are once you know your number.

Best of luck,
Lisa

[samus33]

Hi Lisa,

Thanks for the feedback- greatly appreciated.

I expect to be in the low 700-mid 700 range (but then again, who doesn't!).

One quick question: When asked in my essays about career goals and why an MBA is necessary, would I be better off to distinguish myself from the PE/IB group and mention my family business venture? Or would this hurt me in the likes of the financial focused schools?

Thanks again!

Sam

[Lisa Anderson]

Dear Sam,

I would suggest going with what your career goals are. There are not preferred goals or an answer that admissions committees are looking for in essays that will give you an advantage. If you have goals that you can support with evidence showing you have done your research on what the career is and what steps you need to take to get there, then that will reflect favorably on you.

Good luck,
Lisa

[samus33]

HI Lisa,

Thought I'd touch base and give you a quick update: I scored a 700 (48Q 38V). Should I include any other schools that I have not yet considered?

I'd like to only apply to 5, and as of now those are:

NYU
Cornell
UCLA
Schullich
Rotman

Should I throw in a BIG REACH school, such as: Stanford, Wharton, HBS? Are there schools that are strong in IB/PE that I may be overlooking?

Thanks for the feedback.

[Lisa Anderson]

Congratulations on your new score! It is up to you on if you want to try for a top 5 program. You certainly have the foundation for a competitive application, but it is a matter of how well you think you can package the whole application to be competitive and stand out from the competition. I think your list of 5 is appropriate and a good mix of schools. Just remember, that time is of the essence and it is better to turn in quality applications sooner rather than later.

Best of luck,
Lisa