Impact of Extra Certifications

[mbagnoli]

Hey all,

I plan on applying to b-schools next year and aim to bolster my extracurriculars in the meantime. Aside from volunteering and other activities, I was wondering - how much stock do adcoms put into certifications such as the CFA or CPA? Would the benefit of completing, say, the first level of CFA certification before applying be worth my time/effort/money? I was an Economics undergrad, so I was curious on how much of an impact this would have on my candidacy. Any thoughts are appreciated.

Thanks!

[paulsbodine]

mbagnoli,

You would be surprised how many MBA applicants have completed the first level of the CFA -- it show you started something challenging but the real coup is completing all 3. And it's much rarer. Earning the CPA is also a significant achievement, but obviously only makes sense for accountants. In general, when it comes to extracurriculars, think in terms of activities that will allow you to show leadership (yes, of course, extracurriculars that benefit society are good, but the extra value-add comes from adding the leadership layer). Feel free to send me your resume for a quick review: [email protected].

[Jon@Admissionado]

Getting Level one of the CFA is like the tiny cherry on a very big cake. Make sure you focus your energies on the cake first.