Candidacy Evaluation and Advice needed

[MidWestMan]

Stacy,

The advice you have given throughout this forum has been amazing. I'm a long time lurker who decided to join because I'm having some reservations about my current position.

Past:
Michigan State University
Attended for 1.5 semesters started with a 2.26 GPA and raised it to a 2.82, but was still unsure of what I wanted to pursue. Transferred to Wayne State University.

Currently:
3.5 semesters Wayne State University
Accounting
3.8+ GPA
Taking extra undergrad courses in intermediate economics/mathematics/finance (for my 150 credit hours)

Three Internships (All three accounting internships)
1 at a Manufacturing behemoth who is struggling to stay alive
2 at a two different Regional Public accounting firm(s)

I've been volunteering with a local friend for the past two years who is a county commissioner by cleaning up roads and helping him campaign.

August:
Will be working for a Regional (top 10) public accounting firm.

I obviously dug myself a hole at MSU by not applying myself as much as I could have. I transferred and have found what I am interested in. But I'm still worried that it will be looked at rather negatively especially transferring to a lower ranked research institution.
My question(s) are:

How much focus will be placed on my first two semesters of college ? (Will they look to see that I showed improvement?)

If I achieve a relatively high GMAT score 700+ do I have a chance at a top 30 (USA) (MSU, Georgetown, USC, Emory) (maybe 20) program coming from Wayne with a business major? (I've seen your comparison on this site of a Communications degree from WSU to a Engineering degree from UofM, and hope that accounting is better than communications. But at the same it makes me think admissions counselors will discount a degree from WSU)

I think with some hard work (before I graduate) I might be able to network with a Big 4 public accounting firm... will a "regional public accounting firm" be discounted in terms of experience?

When to apply for the best chances with my current circumstances?

My main concern with applying to a top MBA program is the school I come from. I enjoy it and have learned a great deal, I just hope I will not always look second best in comparison to others.



Any flags that you see that you can give quick advice on? Or any advice on how to stand out to top programs while I still have a semester/two left?

Thanks in advance for any advice that you are able to give me.

[Lisa Anderson]

Dear MidWestMan,

I actually see many positives in your profile that should serve you well in the business school admissions process. While your first two semesters at MSU were rough, that is not uncommon and will not be viewed with much significance in the holistic evaluation of your application since you have done very well at WSU in a quantitative major. Likewise, if you score well on the GMAT (680+), then it will further diminish any concern around a rocky freshman year in college. I think you will have a solid academic profile with a 680+ GMAT and a 3.8 GPA from WSU in accounting. Your work experience in accounting will also serve you well as it shows a solid work ethic, so you will want to maximize your time in your job once you graduate at the regional public accounting firm. Being with a regional firm is certainly not a negative, and might even be an advantage for you, as you might be exposed to more breadth/depth of work than folks in similar roles at a big 4 firm. I highly encourage you to maximize your job opportunity and seek out ways to gain quality experiences.

If you score well on the GMAT and do well in your job, then I think you have a shot at a top 30 MBA program. You will want to have a good mix of schools, but any of the ones you noted in your post could be real possibilities for you. I would suggest getting at least two years of experience after you graduate before applying though as schools do prefer at least two years of experience.

Best of luck,
Lisa

[dominogold]

Wayne State University is a AACSB Carnegie I Research Institution, and one of only 3 in the state with such a high ranking. If your grades are good and you do well on the GMAT, it will not matter.