Profile evaluation

[huanged]

Hi,

I would like to have your opinion/feedback on my profile. Thank you in advance for taking time to look through it.

Male, 29 years
Fluent in both Chinese/English

GMAT - 710(92%), Q50(93%)/V35(73%), AWA 4.0(19%) (on 1st attempt)

Bachelor of Computer Engineering (1st Class Honour, Distinction Average)
University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia

Unsure what my exact GPA is but graduated with the highest grade (First class honour)

Master of Commerce (Finance major, Distinction Average)
University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia

Completed CFA Level 3 in 2009

Approximately 7 years of experience (8 years in 2011).

Started in 2003 as a graduate analyst developer in a start-up financial software firm. Seen company grew from 4 people to 40 people in 2 years and then the company was acquaried by Australia's largest investment bank in 2005, and continued to grow until size of 100 in 2007. Promoted to Senior analyst developer in 2005 and started working on client projects. Promoted to project team lead in 2007 for a two year long project for the deployment of a new financial planning system for one of the major institutional client, until 2009 when the project was completed. During the time I was supervising up to 7-8 analysts/developers.

June 2009-Sept 2009 - 3 months as contract system analyst at Lloyds Banking Group in Sydney

Oct 2009-March 2010 - Relocation to UK + Travelling.

March 2010-Current - Investment developer in a UK national pension fund

I don't really have much extra curriculum activities besides frequent travelling around East Asia, Oceania, Europe and Northern America through these years

I am considering to apply for
LBS
INSEAD
Chicago Booth
Northwestern Kellogg
Columbia
NYU Stern
Wharton
HBS


Can I have your guidance on the following:

1. I understand my verbal/AWA is not particularly strong. Should I consider re-taking GMAT for it? or should I be focussing on the rest of the application process? I don't think I'll be able to improve my score significantly within a short time frame.

2. What are my chances of getting into the business schools that I am interested in? Are there any b-schools that I should also consider for safety?

3. Any additional feedback?

Thanks!

[mbamission]

Hi Huanged,

Thanks for writing in and sharing your information. You seem to some interesting experience to date that could lend itself to some unique essays, especially given all your international exposure.

1) You want to be able to put your best application forward, regardless of the round. Given that you listed all top-tier schools it is possible that your Verbal could draw scrutiny, especially when combined with your AWA. If you think investing time into preparing for the GMAT still will not raise your Verbal to the 80% range, then you may be ready to submit your best possible application now.

2) Without knowing your post-MBA goals or reason for pursuing the degree, I can't say with confidence what your chances are at these top-ranked schools. A 710 will likely make you competitive at these schools, but will not be seen as a strength. You may want to identify two or so other schools that meet your academic interests but are further down the top-25.

3) One thing I noticed when reading your post is that you seem to be getting a lot of great experience and already have a Master's degree. The admissions officers are likely to notice the same thing, so it will imperative that you tell a clear story as to why you want to get an MBA, and why now is the time to do it.

Good luck!
Daniel Richards
http://www.mbamission.com

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3)

[huanged]

Hi Daniel,

Thank you very much for your response. I really appreciate your inputs.

The reasons why I am pursuing a MBA now are:

1. I have realised the need of soft skills at workplace, and would like to improve it on all aspects including negotiation skills, presentation skills, effective communications, expectation management, etc..

2. I would like to learn a set of tool-kits that I can apply in the strategic analysis and decision making process, so that it can be done in a systematic way.

3. I have so far earned two specialisation, technology (undergrad) and finance (master). An MBA will complete me for the rest of the aspects in a business, i.e. leadership, marketing, operations, strategies, etc..

4. To facilitate a career change into consulting business or investment banking business such as mergers and acquisition. I enjoyed working in a project environment very much and would like to stay in a project mode for the foreseeable future.

As stated in point 4, my post-MBA goal would be to have a career change into consulting/IB sector, preferably in the Asia Pacific region (Taiwan/Hong Kong/China/Singapore). That's the region where I see I would have the most competitive advantages.

With the above post-MBA goals or reasons, what do you think would be my chances of getting into these top-ranked schools now? If I were to include Duke and Ross into my list, would my application be competitive?

Thanks again,
Edward

[mbamission]

Hi Edward,

Thanks for spelling out those points. You do seem to have a strong idea of what your reasons for pursuing an MBA are and how it will differ from your previous graduate work. Naturally, you will want to make that reasoning clear in your essays as well.

I think your varied international experience makes you a memorable candidate, which can only help differentiate you at these top-tier schools. Assuming your GMAT stays the same, HBS and Wharton may still be a bit of a reach, as your GMAT Verbal/AWA could work against you here, as well as the label of "too much experience." You should find yourself in the competitive mix at the other schools, but again you will need to emphasize the prescient points as to why an MBA is the right move on top of eight years of experience and another graduate degree.

Good luck!
Daniel Richards
http://www.mbamission.com

Read the mbaMission Insider's Guides (14 individual school titles)

Visit the mbaMission Blog

Follow mbaMission on Twitter