Mr. Corporate Development

Hi, this is Deepak Punwani from MBA Exchange. Like your profile. You are doing very interesting work and your goals are also well aligned with your background. So much to like in your non professional work too – writing and mentoring. And you seem very self aware re your strengths and weakness. Am guessing the 3.8 GPA in Booth classes would be to mitigate the low undergrad GPA. And future recruiters (and by extension Booth) will love your big win as it shows initiative and fact you can get a “deal” done. If you can show fit with the school’s culture, you are in play at Booth and Columbia both. Good luck !

Hi, it’s Nisha from mbaMission! It looks like you’ve made a lot of progress and impact in your career in just a few years, with a promotion at each company. While your GPA is a bit on the lower side, it’s in a very challenging major at a top institution, and your solid GMAT score and the classes you’ve taken in Booth will help offset that (even so, if you ran into any particular personal challenges in college, you should address those in the schools’ optional essays).

It’s also great that you write for Seeking Alpha (it’s such an insightful site) and serve as a long-term mentor – schools will value that involvement. Make sure to communicate the impact you made in these roles on your resume/application (just as you will for your professional experience, of course).

Aside from communicating your professional and personal impact, the keys to your successful application will be: 1.) explaining the motivations behind your career goal – why buy-side research? What observations/experiences have led you to identify this goal, what transferrable skills do you have, and how do you wish to make a mark in this field? 2.) making a strong case for why each target program is right for you based on its culture and resources within/outside of the classroom.

I’d also add Stern to your list of schools given your interest in Asset Management. If you’re serious about CBS and living in NYC, definitely consider applying Early Decision, as that can be really helpful (especially if you apply early on since it is rolling admission). If Chicago is more your scene, don’t rule out Kellogg – it has an excellent finance program even though it happens to be better known for other areas.

Hope that helps! Please get in touch if you would like to discuss further.

Mr. Corporate Development – thanks for posting your profile. Susan Cera here from Stratus. I really like your professional experience and you seeem to have made a significant impact in your short tenure at each company. Well done! Your 740 GMAT is above average for all of the programs on your list and will help to offset your softer undergrad GPA. As appropriate, use the optional essay to explain (but not excuse) your lower GPA – perhaps you got off to a rocky start? Or you got mono and blew one year.

A few things to think about as you move forward in the application process:
1) Clarify your goals – once you know where you are heading, you can identify your areas for development during an MBA program. This will also help as you delve into each school’s resources.
2) Connect the dots – explain why you are taking classes at Booth and how you got involved in publishing investment research. It is likely that these two endeavors inform the direction you want to take.
3) Develop your leadership skills – although your commitment to mentoring A low income student is commendable, it doesn’t necessarily show leadership or initiative. Look for ways (either at work or outside of work) to flex your leadership muscles and develop new ones.
4) Engage with the schools – while Booth is an obvious option since you are in Chicago and could use your credits, perhaps the opportunity to be a portfolio manager for ASAM as your capstone at UCLA will set you up for success. Alternatively, CBS’s location in NYC and the change to land an in-semester internship might be instrumental in landing your dream post-MBA job. The best way to learn about the opportunities is to engage with students and alumni who are feet on the ground.

All the best!