Profile Evaluation Please

[vbhalla1187]

Male: 25 years old at the time of matriculation
GMAT: 720
GPA: 3.5
Undergrad: Baruch College, NY
Major: Finance
Minor: Economics

Indian American (born and raised in the United States)

Work Experience:

1) Started as an intern in the Hedge Funds group (team of 6) of a large public pension fund based in NY - analyzed potential hedge fund investments as part of a $5 billion hedge fund allocation.

2) Moved on to a niche Hedge Fund consulting firm in NY - similar role but more involved qualitatively and quantitatively. Also interacted with several clients with regards to their hedge fund investments.

3) Currently work for a premier investment management firm in NY as a hedge fund analyst. We run single strategy hedge funds as well as fund-of-funds.

EXTRACIRRICULARS

1) Professional singing - in 2008, I was selected among almost 10,000 singers to be on the televised Indian version of American Idol. I have been singing and training since I was 10. Since then, I regularly give concerts and stage shows around the country and have been invited to sing internationally as well.

2) I have run my own party entertainment business, incorporating my live singing but also hiring and subcontracting with other professionals (including DJs, photographers, videographers, etc).

3) I am actively involved with a charity which my parents founded 21 years ago, but have more or less handed over lead responsibilities to me. The charity feeds 3000 hungry kids every single day in New Delhi, India. I have taken an active role in operations functions as well as organizing various fundraising activities and events in the NY-NJ-CT-DC area.

Very passionate about asset management, and specifically hedge funds. Would like to go back to business school to polish corporate finance, valuation, and asset management skills so that I can work for a hedge fund upon graduation and some day evolve into a Portfolio Manager.

Target Schools: Harvard, Stanford, Cornell, Tuck, Yale, Wharton, Columbia

Would you please help me evaluate my profile and also help me highlight areas which you think I should emphasize in an application and also areas in which I could potentially improve my chances of admission?

Thanks very much!

[Stacey Oyler]

Hi,

Thanks for your post. You seems to have a very well rounded profile in terms of professional experience, academics and extracurricular activities. All of this will certainly help your application's appeal.

The one area that may raise some red flags is the number of jobs/companies you've had since graduation. If I am interpreting your information correctly, you've had 3 jobs at 3 different companies since graduating. While these days it's much more acceptable to have multiple jobs over a period of time, a new job each year could raise some red flags. You'll want to be sure that you adequately explain each transition in your application data forms and perhaps even in an optional essay. You essentially want to quell any concerns the adcom may have about the number of jobs you've had by being as open and honest about each role (and hopefully the growth you've had).

The great news is that you seem to have many different experiences in your life to draw from for your essays. You may wish to write about your experience as a singer in your essays. Your experience running the non-profit could also provide some excellent leadership examples for your essays. These experiences are both interesting and unique and will certainly help you get noticed in the pool.

Please feel free to send your resume to me at [email protected] for a more detailed assessment.

Best,

Stacey

[vbhalla1187]

Perhaps what I wrote was a tad bit unclear. Apologies - My first position that I listed at the pension fund started off as an internship near the end of college and flowed into a temporary full-time role during the period post-graduation for a couple of months. I left there in October following my graduation in June.

So in terms of pure-full time roles, I've had two since graduation: 1) the hedge fund consulting firm and 2) the asset management firm where I am currently.

Hope this clears it up. Thanks!

[Stacey Oyler]

Hi,

Thanks for the clarification. This certainly does help and makes your job changes a non-issue. Please disregard my previous concerns/advice since I thought you had 3 jobs in 3 years!

Best,

Stacey