Hi Linda,
First off, thank you so much for being so active on here and in your profession. I am new to the MBA hunt, but I can already tell how passionate you are about helping people help themselves. I listened to your HBS webinar this morning on the train-ride to work and really enjoyed it.
My stats: I come from a non-traditional background (first-generation, Hispanic American) and graduated Cornell with a 3.4 Cumulative GPA in a fairly unique branch of Physical Sciences (think oceanography, meteorology, environmental sciences). I have 3 C+'s (Calc III, Linear Algebra, Physics) and a C- (Electricity & Magnetism), with A's and B's in all other courses (including an A- in Calc II, B in statistics, etc.) My grades show a significant upward trend; I transferred to Cornell and needed to adapt to its rigor; my first semester I had a 2.7, my last - a 4.2. However, an adcom at a Top-10 noted they deflate Cornell's GPA since A+'s receive 4.3's, so at least at this school, I only have a 3.15 GPA.
I also minored in the Dyson School. I have been working at a Bulge Bracket for a year now in a Trading role, and am a leader in my analyst class. I have taken several external leadership roles, too, including recruitment and volunteerism. I was also selected to be featured on my company website in a video about a typical analyst's day, and anticipate warm recommendations.
I recently took the CFA Level 1 and narrowly failed, and am now having to choose between retaking Level 1 in December or preparing for the GMAT. I would really like to get the GMAT over with, and am considering applying to MLT MBA Prep which requires a GMAT by Feb 1 to enroll. I am targeting entering in the Fall of 2015. My post-mba goals involve tying in my environmental undergraduate work and passions with my financial work history and enter the energy sector, preferably into an energy-focused hedge fund or VC firm.
My questions to you:
Would you recommend the GMAT or the CFA Level 1 retake in Dec 2013?
What score will I need on the GMAT to offset any doubts of my academic ability (due to 4 C's on transcript)?
Do you think it's worth it to retake any courses? I have a B in Calc I and an A- in Calc II, not sure if it's worth retaking...
Can I realistically think about HBS, Wharton, Columbia, Yale, & NYU
Thank you so much, Linda! I am eagerly awaiting your advice.
Best regards,
Big Red
First off, thank you so much for being so active on here and in your profession. I am new to the MBA hunt, but I can already tell how passionate you are about helping people help themselves. I listened to your HBS webinar this morning on the train-ride to work and really enjoyed it.
My stats: I come from a non-traditional background (first-generation, Hispanic American) and graduated Cornell with a 3.4 Cumulative GPA in a fairly unique branch of Physical Sciences (think oceanography, meteorology, environmental sciences). I have 3 C+'s (Calc III, Linear Algebra, Physics) and a C- (Electricity & Magnetism), with A's and B's in all other courses (including an A- in Calc II, B in statistics, etc.) My grades show a significant upward trend; I transferred to Cornell and needed to adapt to its rigor; my first semester I had a 2.7, my last - a 4.2. However, an adcom at a Top-10 noted they deflate Cornell's GPA since A+'s receive 4.3's, so at least at this school, I only have a 3.15 GPA.
I also minored in the Dyson School. I have been working at a Bulge Bracket for a year now in a Trading role, and am a leader in my analyst class. I have taken several external leadership roles, too, including recruitment and volunteerism. I was also selected to be featured on my company website in a video about a typical analyst's day, and anticipate warm recommendations.
I recently took the CFA Level 1 and narrowly failed, and am now having to choose between retaking Level 1 in December or preparing for the GMAT. I would really like to get the GMAT over with, and am considering applying to MLT MBA Prep which requires a GMAT by Feb 1 to enroll. I am targeting entering in the Fall of 2015. My post-mba goals involve tying in my environmental undergraduate work and passions with my financial work history and enter the energy sector, preferably into an energy-focused hedge fund or VC firm.
My questions to you:
Would you recommend the GMAT or the CFA Level 1 retake in Dec 2013?
What score will I need on the GMAT to offset any doubts of my academic ability (due to 4 C's on transcript)?
Do you think it's worth it to retake any courses? I have a B in Calc I and an A- in Calc II, not sure if it's worth retaking...
Can I realistically think about HBS, Wharton, Columbia, Yale, & NYU
Thank you so much, Linda! I am eagerly awaiting your advice.
Best regards,
Big Red