Making a Top MBA Run in 2 years programs, company, getting, instead, started

jawz

I'm trying to get a gameplan going to build my chances of getting accepted to a top-MBA program. I'm in Chicago so I'm aiming for Northwestern or UChicago. I've passed Level I and, instead of attempting Level II, opted to find a job. I started my job in April and they seem to have good ties to the top programs here since the company is headquartered in Chicago. I would appreciate some advice on what to get started on if I plan to apply in the next 2 years.

Volunteering? Extra Currics/Leadership Roles (what kind?)....Should I start focusing on GMAT now or take on Level II next June and then worry about GMAT....I was a semester away from graduating with a health degree and changed my major to finance. I have a slightly interesting story since I had to complete the business program (unfortunately from a state school) within about a year and a half. My story doesn't compare to those crazy people traveling abroad and creating a business in a poor country, but I guess it's better than nothing!

Houjichasan

I don't think b-schools really care about CFA. However, you'll have to take your GMAT. You don't need a crazy story to get into business school. Just do what you love and demonstrate leadership along the way. People often ask what types of "leadership" experiences they should pursue, and I think that if you do you what you love, the leadership will come naturally...that is, if you really have leadership potential.

Don't worry too much about all the travel / work abroad stuff. All the top programs claim to be "global" -- and they are -- but you certainly don't need international experience of any kind (I didn't have any). It all comes down to the story that you tell.

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ayodayo

I went to an info session and someone asked about the CFA. They said they will believe that you can handle the quantitative side of things in their program if you have a CFA but won't really give you any specific advantage over another candidate. So probably similar to the effect of having a strong quant score on your GMAT although not nearly as important to having a strong GMAT.

thecfawannabe

In the other thread you asked for books about MBA's, but seeing this question you havent started with that yet.
If you read the book i recommended you would have the answer...


But go give some pointers:
- don't go volunteering just to be a more attractive MBA candidate (they will see through that and think you are window dressing; which you are if you are not sincere about your efforts)
- do the GMAT asap so you have time to redo it when results are not as expected (besides, starting for LII already will be waaaaay too early, start in Dec/Jan with studying for LII)
- try to get some leadership experience. Dont think this means you need to supervise other people; you can also help others in their development (coaching), come with new ideas and sell it to your bosses, be the person to go to for certain things, etc. The most important here is that you have an impact and learn something from it (about yourself).
- buy the damn book and read how to create a "brand" for yourself that you will sell when applying for the MBA.

Cheers

Analti_Calte

I actually just picked up the book you recommended yesterday ERIC. Thanks for the recommendation because I was originally leaning toward the Montauk book.

Does anyone have any experience in volunteering at colleges or high schools to help students decide where they can take their careers? I enjoy reading over and helping with resumes and helping with job searches.

king_kong

ChickenTikka Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I went to an info session and someone asked about
> the CFA. They said they will believe that you can
> handle the quantitative side of things in their
> program if you have a CFA but won't really give
> you any specific advantage over another candidate.
> So probably similar to the effect of having a
> strong quant score on your GMAT although not
> nearly as important to having a strong GMAT.

TIL some people think the CFA is quantitative. Huh.

rohitdoshi

I agree with eric468 -- you did ask for book recommendations this weekend and you had 10+ responses on that thread. The books referenced in that thread have some good answers to the questions you have asked.

Therefore, one other piece of advice I will offer -- and I see this with top business school students -- is that many of them are pretty good about action/execution (rather than just "strategy"), and doing a lot of legwork on their own (especially when it comes to finding the answers to basic questions). If you look for activities that you're passionate about, things like volunteering and leadership will work themselves out.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at Monday, July 25, 2011 at 02:15PM by numi.

canadiananalyst

I would recommend pulling all of this year's essay questions from the schools you want to attend and thinking about how you would answer each one. If you struggle with a particular question (say one about leadership), then you can work on addressing that issue.

I think the CFA doesn't count for much in the admissions process, but it is helpful once you're in school. You mihgt be able to get waivers from some of the core accounting and finance, and in general those finance/investing classes should be a breeze.

Swanand

Natural Light is right about the waivers.

Columbia told me they will let you test out of their core curriculum classes on accounting and what not.

Carson

are these waivers only allowed if you've obtained the charter or is similar to the waiver for one of the series ## waivers where you only have to pass level II