Profile Evaluation and B School Selection

[ca.nikhiljain]

Greetings,

Can you please evaluate my profile:

Academics:
i. Presently a CFA Level III Candidate. (Cleared L1 in December 2011 and L2 in June 2012)
ii. Chartered Accountant (CA) of May 2011 batch (Indian equivalent of CPA in US)
iii. Graduated from St. Xavier's College, Kolkata in June 2010 (68% in aggregate)
iv. Passed Final Level of Company Secretary exams in December 2009 (before completing graduation)

I haven't yet appeared for GMAT. However, I am planning to give it in September.

Presently I am also pursuing a Diploma Course in Information Systems Audit from ICAI.

Co-Curricular Activtes:
Not much to speak about.
i. Was a Managing Committee member of CA Students Association wherein I have experience of organising National Convention and Seminars.
ii. Have contributed articles to College journal.

Workex:
i. 3.5 years of internship with a CA firm (basically my family profession as my dad is the Senior Partner of the firm) as a part of CA Curriculum which ended in March 2010
ii. Post internship I am working in the same CA firm. Have post internship workex of 1.5 years till date.

Major responsiblities included conducting audits and preparing audt reports and managing day to day activities of the firm.

I want to do an MBA from an elite BSchool. Post MBA I want to work in investment banking for some time and thereafter return to my CA firm to expand the same. I have shortlisted MIT Sloan, Tuck, Columbia, Booth, Michigan Ross, Stanford and Stern.

My queries is:

I feel I am lagging behind most MBA Students (and also most people who have posted their profiles on this forum) in the years of workex. I personally feel that its the right time to do an MBA though though. Moreover, the above B schools generally have 2 years as the lower range of workex (some even have nil work ex requirements).
Should apply for these programs now or should I work for few more years?

[milimbamission]

Hello,

If you're really determined to attend one of those top schools, I'd suggest that you wait a few years and gain more experience before applying. It's less about the # of years of experience than it is about the depth of leadership experience. My advice would be to move out of an auditor role if possible, as this profession does not typically allow for a lot of leadership responsibility, team work, etc. These are the key skill sets that they'll be looking for, and continuing in this role/trajectory likely won't improve your chances. Perhaps you could get a foot in the door at HSBC or other financial institution where you could be an analyst on a team and then work your way up, then apply to school. In the meantime, you can also take up some strong community and extracurricular leadership activities to build out that side of your profile, as that will also be important.

Hope this helps,
Mili

[ca.nikhiljain]

Thanks a lot Mili,

By the way one of the reason of pursuing a GMAT at this junctre of my career was to move from the role of auditor.

Regards,

Nikhil

[milimbamission]

Sure, no problem!

Good luck with your transition!
Mili