Profile Evaluation - Thank You!

[maddux3382]

Hello, I'm looking to apply this year for enrollment beginning in August 2014. Below is my profile (at time of application, not enrollment):

American White Male

Age - 23

GMAT - 740 (Q-50, V-40)

GPA - 3.5

Undergraduate - Georgetown University (Finance & Accounting double major)

Certifications - CPA

Work Experience - 2 years as an auditor at PwC, majority of the time doing Sarbanes-Oxley type work for a few large corporations. Past summer internships in commercial real estate and private wealth management. Will likely have good but not outstanding recommendations as we rotate projects and I only work with managers for short periods of time.

Extracurriculars - Not too much here unfortunately. Part of a program sponsored by my company mentoring underpriveledged children, part of college investment fund for all four years and part of research investment committee for final year, avid Brazilian jiu jitsu practitioner and soccer player.

Leadership - Another sticking point. As I've only been with PwC for 2 years I'm still usually the bottom man on the totem pole and don't have much opportunity to lead/manage others. However I've taken initiative and run a few projects on my own both with and outside my core clients.

Why MBA - I have always been interested in investing (since I was a teenager) and even (stupidly) rejected a couple of offers at a couple small buy-side firms out of college for a job at a more prestigious firm in a more fun city. While I have learned quite a bit from investing on my own studying great investors, I would love to have the opportunity to become a more sophisticated investor at business school, and I believe I need the MBA to get me out of the "accountant pigeonhole" that I don't want to be in anymore.

Short term goal - Work for a value-oriented fund under a team of well-known investors

Long term goal: Run my own value-oriented hedge fund

Target Schools - Columbia is absolutely #1 because of their value investing program (early decision if possible), but would consider other top US schools as well with strong finance programs.

My first question would be what are my chances for Columbia and other top schools? Also, would a compelling story that is not necessarily backed up by much on my resume (passion for value investing) be able to overcome limited work experience, leadership experience, and extracurriculars?

Thank you so much for your help!

[Bryant@VeritasPrep]

Firstly, a career in investing is often only begun after the MBA degree, so it's not uncommon for firms to hire folks like crazy to enter the field out of b-school. Your accounting background would actually make you valuable to an investment team as you kick the tires on companies to determine their financial health. I think your story is plausible and your UG institution is top notch as well as your GMAT score. I think you would have a good shot at any of the top schools who feed Wall Street including Columbia, Stern, Tuck, Duke, Virginia, Chicago etc. You might even take a flyer on Wharton. Yes, you are young, but with two solid years of bulge bracket accounting experience, you will be a valuable teammate in b-school. Leadership when you are not in charge is just as important and you can speak to your impact and thought leadership as well.