Candidate:

Mr. South African American

About Me:

South African, 31 YO, caucasian male, moved to the USA in ’06 for university. Worked full time while an undergrad student. Worked at Goldman Sachs after undergrad (2.5yrs). Left GS to pursue Investor Relations roles to broaden my finance skillset (5 yrs). Now a Corporate Development Associate at a widely known family-owned firm working on its transformation strategy (1yr). Looking to pursue operations strategy post-MBA.

Schools:

Target School: Kellogg SOM

Considering: McCombs School of Business, Foster School of Business, Chicago Booth

See More Profiles For: Kellogg SOM

Application Status: Open

Details:

Undergrad School: Arizona State University

Undergrad Major: Supply Chain Management

GPA: 3.44

GMAT: 700

Age: 31, Ethnicity: White

Extracurriculars: x3 Half Ironman Events - placed in top 30% of Age Group

Work History:

Title: Goldman Sachs - Analyst

Industry: Banking & Finance

Company: Fortune 100 Top 10

Length of Employment: 2 yrs, 5 mos

Title: Investor Relations Associate

Industry: Banking & Finance

Company: Fortune 500

Length of Employment: 5 yrs

Big Life Wins:

Goldman – part of a highly admired team, go-to analyst for the head of trading desks for very sensitive portfolios. Investor Relations – Without an accounting background, became proficient in hosting calls with sophisticated investors from major shops/banks. Corporate Development – leading the charge for the future state of the business.

Post MBA Goal:

Post-MBA goals are two-fold: 1) Short-term goal: Equip myself with more technical skillset to pursue operations consulting for large enterprises, aided by my current experience. 2) Longer-term, personal goals: establish a business to provide South African consumers with increased access to the USA capital markets.

Odds:

Join in! Click here to assess the odds of Mr. South African American

The Experts Rate The Odds At: 25%

See what the industry experts have to say:

mbaMission Odds Assessment: 30%

Hi, it’s Nisha from mbaMission. I’m really impressed by your profile – working your way through college and still getting a solid GPA, landing at top organizations including GS, and Ironman! I’d like to understand a little more about your post-MBA goal in operations strategy – has it been inspired by your current role? Bschools will really want to understand what drives your post-MBA ambitions, so definitely dig into this in detail. Additionally, at 31 you’re on the upper end for full-time programs, so you’ll want to make it clear why NOW is the right time for an MBA (though every year, schools admit applicants on the lower and higher end of the spectrum, as they are looking to build a …

Hi, it’s Nisha from mbaMission. I’m really impressed by your profile – working your way through college and still getting a solid GPA, landing at top organizations including GS, and Ironman! I’d like to understand a little more about your post-MBA goal in operations strategy – has it been inspired by your current role? Bschools will really want to understand what drives your post-MBA ambitions, so definitely dig into this in detail. Additionally, at 31 you’re on the upper end for full-time programs, so you’ll want to make it clear why NOW is the right time for an MBA (though every year, schools admit applicants on the lower and higher end of the spectrum, as they are looking to build a diverse class with the strongest candidates).

Aside from that, since Kellogg and Booth’s average GMAT is closer to a 730, I think it is definitely a good idea to retake it. With this higher score and with a well-executed application that communicates your impact, values, and drivers clearly, you can be a contender for these programs. Hope that helps a bit – best of luck!

4 years ago Read the full review
Stratus Admissions Counseling Odds Assessment: 20%

Mr. South African American – Thanks for posting your profile. Susan Cera here from Stratus Admissions.

Your 7+ years of post-UG work experience shows great growth and you note that you made transitions to develop new skills. As you craft your narrative, it will be important that your post-MBA goals build on your experience to date. Right now they seem connected to your UG major but I don’t see a clear trajectory from your recent work experience.

I’m impressed by the resilience and dedication you must have to move halfway around the world and work full time while studying. I would suspect that you leverage this dedication in your Ironman training. While adcom may value the dedication, they also want to see how you use your skills …

Mr. South African American – Thanks for posting your profile. Susan Cera here from Stratus Admissions.

Your 7+ years of post-UG work experience shows great growth and you note that you made transitions to develop new skills. As you craft your narrative, it will be important that your post-MBA goals build on your experience to date. Right now they seem connected to your UG major but I don’t see a clear trajectory from your recent work experience.

I’m impressed by the resilience and dedication you must have to move halfway around the world and work full time while studying. I would suspect that you leverage this dedication in your Ironman training. While adcom may value the dedication, they also want to see how you use your skills in leading others. Perhaps there is more that you are doing or can do beyond your work that will enhance your leadership profile.

With stats that are below the average and lighter leadership/community engagement, I’m less bullish on your prospects for Kellogg. If Operations Strategy is the direction you want to take, consider expanding your school list to include CMU Tepper, Michigan Ross (check out Tauber Institute) and Georgia Tech Scheller which are all very strong in operations/production.

Feel free to reach out for a free consultation. Wishing you all the best on your MBA application journey!

4 years ago Read the full review