Profile evaluation - Experience >2 years in PE funds

[mike34]

Hello everyone,

I would apply in a couple of years to a MBA program, and would know if my profile could be strong enough to reach a top 10 US Business School.

I am 25 and after a 2+ years experience into French PE funds, I would have a new challenging and exciting opportunity to work as a key manager at an industrial small-cap ($180 million turnover) as a corporate development (M&A) and business performance manager.

I may also have the opportunity to get a few shares of the company and be included in the whole management package as the company is currently closing a secondary LBO with PE funds.

Here is my actual profile.

Education:

Top 5 French Business School:
- Master Degree in Corporate Finance

Top ranked French University:
- Maitrise Degree in Management (4 years of studies)


Work Experience:

- 2 years (currently) - Analyst then Associate at a French PE fund investing in small-caps. 8 investments closed up to date. (Venture, Growth, LBO). I've first started as an intern then get enrolled at a full-time position

- 6 months - Analyst (intern) at a mid-market PE fund (LBO only)

- 4 months - Cash-manager (intern) at an industrial company

- Then various summer experiences totaling 6 months of work experience


I know my profile could suffer of a lack of international experience, but my new job opportunity should include international exposure to cross-border acquisitions and finance operations. It may also help improve my poor English at the time .

I am also working on a start-up plan with a few friends, but this is just for fun for the moment.

I've never took the GMAT before but I'm pretty confident to reach a fair enough score.

Now that you have the whole picture, what is your opinion about this "everything". Can I expect to be competitive to enter, say, HBS, Columbia, Stanford & Co.?

Thanks,

Michael

[Bryant@VeritasPrep]

Michael-

In short, you should be competitive if you can post a good GMAT score. France is under represented in US businesschools, so you have an edge right there, but what i like most about your profile is the fact you have bonafide PE experience. THis is a real advantage since many b-school students aspire to work in PE but there are very few firms who hire freshly minted MBAs for the PE world. Someone like you could be a valuable classmate by offering your perspecitve on this highly coveted industry. Your new opportunties sound impressive as well, but there aren't any reasons why you should delay your application in my opintion. Stanford and Harvard, for example have a pretty well known bias towards younger applicants. Your age and experience position you pretty well for a run at these two schools in particular. There is still plenty of time to apply for R3 and start in the fall

[mike34]

Hello Bryant,

Thank you for your quick reply and for sharing your insights. I will consider your advice to apply earlier.

Michael