Hello- thanks in advance for sharing your thoughts with me.
I'm a white female from Midwest. Undergrad was at the U of Iowa- 3.27 GPA, Major in Accounting, Minor in French (also worked about 20h/wk)
Experience so far (4 years) has been in Big 4 Public Accounting and at a Fortune 500 Medical Device company in the tax function. I will be moving for an international assignment soon so I want to visit my top choices before I go.
GMAT was 720- 44V, 44Q. (I have a CPA certification that can hopefully buffer the weak quant score.)
I want to study marketing and strategy in a big city. I'd like an MBA to facilitate a career change- I'd like to be in a more creative role, and be close to a thoughtfully designed product I strongly believe in (e.g. not soap or tobacco). I'm undecided on industry, but there is an interest in luxury goods in the back of my mind. I'm also thinking that I would prefer to work at a privately held company that can focus without the sacrifices that are sometimes made for quarterly results. (For example, I know where a large company like LVMH recruits, but not sure I'd want to work for them.)
My top choices and rationale:
NYU: Great location, and I've heard the luxury goods club is strong
Kellogg: Where else for marketing?!
Wharton: Great reputation in general and I've also heard their marketing program is very strong
The two I'm waffling about:
Columbia: I prefer NYU's location within the city, but it's still NYC. There's one class in particular (Design and Marketing of Luxury Goods) that interests me because it's co-taught with Parsons School of Design, but other than that, this school seems stubbornly finance focused.
Harvard: Perhaps I'm letting the HBS stereotype cloud my judgment, but I'm not sure I am what they are looking for. I'm the first in my family with a 4 yr. degree, let alone an MBA. From what I understand, strong applicants have "demonstrable" leadership experience- I can demonstrate leadership characteristics, but not in the traditional sense of "I was President of XYZ Club and founded XYZ organization."
I'd appreciate feedback on my chances, or perhaps some comments on any blind spots I've demonstrated in my analysis of the schools. Thanks!
I'm a white female from Midwest. Undergrad was at the U of Iowa- 3.27 GPA, Major in Accounting, Minor in French (also worked about 20h/wk)
Experience so far (4 years) has been in Big 4 Public Accounting and at a Fortune 500 Medical Device company in the tax function. I will be moving for an international assignment soon so I want to visit my top choices before I go.
GMAT was 720- 44V, 44Q. (I have a CPA certification that can hopefully buffer the weak quant score.)
I want to study marketing and strategy in a big city. I'd like an MBA to facilitate a career change- I'd like to be in a more creative role, and be close to a thoughtfully designed product I strongly believe in (e.g. not soap or tobacco). I'm undecided on industry, but there is an interest in luxury goods in the back of my mind. I'm also thinking that I would prefer to work at a privately held company that can focus without the sacrifices that are sometimes made for quarterly results. (For example, I know where a large company like LVMH recruits, but not sure I'd want to work for them.)
My top choices and rationale:
NYU: Great location, and I've heard the luxury goods club is strong
Kellogg: Where else for marketing?!
Wharton: Great reputation in general and I've also heard their marketing program is very strong
The two I'm waffling about:
Columbia: I prefer NYU's location within the city, but it's still NYC. There's one class in particular (Design and Marketing of Luxury Goods) that interests me because it's co-taught with Parsons School of Design, but other than that, this school seems stubbornly finance focused.
Harvard: Perhaps I'm letting the HBS stereotype cloud my judgment, but I'm not sure I am what they are looking for. I'm the first in my family with a 4 yr. degree, let alone an MBA. From what I understand, strong applicants have "demonstrable" leadership experience- I can demonstrate leadership characteristics, but not in the traditional sense of "I was President of XYZ Club and founded XYZ organization."
I'd appreciate feedback on my chances, or perhaps some comments on any blind spots I've demonstrated in my analysis of the schools. Thanks!
