Candidate:

Mr. Career Pivot

About Me:

I am a project manager at a top 3 engineering design consultant looking to use an MBA program to pivot into an investment role focused in infrastructure development. In 7 years with the company I have been promoted regularly, and was selected as a candidate for project management upon obtaining my Professional Engineering license.

Schools:

Target School: Columbia

Considering: NYU Stern

See More Profiles For: Columbia

Application Status: Open

Details:

Undergrad School: University of Vermont

Undergrad Major: Civil Engineering

GPA: 3.1

GMAT: 740

Age: 29, Ethnicity: White

Other Degree/Certification: Professional Engineer

Extracurriculars: STEM based mentoring of high school students, Active in local alumni network and mentoring of recent graduates

Work History:

Title: Project Manager

Industry: Engineering

Company: Top Firm

Length of Employment: 7 yrs

Big Life Wins:

I was recently selected to lead the document control efforts for what would become a winning project proposal, with a projected construction budget exceeding $750M. I traveled to meet our client in order to assess their needs, and they were very happy with our final deliverable as well as the proposal win.

Post MBA Goal:

Following an MBA I would like to join an infrastructure-focused investment bank where I can focus on expanding my skills in financial modeling and analysis of investment opportunities. Once I’ve built a foundation in banking, I would eventually like to move into a fund management role where I can focus on fundraising and investment selection.

Odds:

Join in! Click here to assess the odds of Mr. Career Pivot

The Experts Rate The Odds At: 30%

See what the industry experts have to say:

John A. Byrne, P&Q Founder & Editor-In-Chief | Odds Assessment: 30%

Mr. Career Pivot, your goal to move into i-banking from engineering design and your first choice MBA program makes you an ideal candidate to apply to Columbia under their early decision deadline in early October. As you probably know, early decision applications are reviewed, and decisions rendered, before everyone else. That would give you a bit of a leg up on CBS. While your GPA of 3.1 is below Columbia’s class average of 3.6, you did study a more difficult subject at the University of Vermont: civil engineering. Your GMAT of 740, however, should offset any concerns over your GPA. So the big issue is where you work, how selective your employer is, and whether or not others have gone to MBA programs from your …

Mr. Career Pivot, your goal to move into i-banking from engineering design and your first choice MBA program makes you an ideal candidate to apply to Columbia under their early decision deadline in early October. As you probably know, early decision applications are reviewed, and decisions rendered, before everyone else. That would give you a bit of a leg up on CBS. While your GPA of 3.1 is below Columbia’s class average of 3.6, you did study a more difficult subject at the University of Vermont: civil engineering. Your GMAT of 740, however, should offset any concerns over your GPA. So the big issue is where you work, how selective your employer is, and whether or not others have gone to MBA programs from your organization. Seven years of work experience is also on the high side for a full-time MBA program, particularly when you spent all of it in one firm. All these potential red flags make me feel strongly you should apply early decision. You need to start in the August cohort for the internship to help with your transition into a new field. Otherwise, I would have also suggested that you apply to the accelerated program that starts with a January cohort. My odds for you are based on an early decision application.

4 years ago Read the full review