CFA in MBA school application schools, 2011

sdada

Do MBA schools care at all if you passed Level I/II/III? Or do they just look at your GPA & GMAT? Anyone know?



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at Wednesday, August 3, 2011 at 04:08PM by feiliuge.

jmh530

From what I've read - no. MBA programs want someone who has leadership potential, not just the brains to pass exams. If you're applying with good GMAT and work experience they know you can pass the exams, they want someone who is more well rounded and people who bring new perspectives to the table. I think not having a great undergrad GPA won't automatically disqualify you, but the GMAT is the most recent standard measure they have to put you against people. I think that is very important metric.

grharmeyer

Law School = LSAT + GPA only (That's basically it for law school)

BSchool = (GMAT + GPA (This gets your foot in the door)) + (Work Ex + Leadership + Recommendations + Essay + Other Things (The core of your app))

IMO. Schools are starting to warm to the CFA, although it won't earn you many brownie points and I don't think being a candidate at any level will help much.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at Wednesday, August 3, 2011 at 04:25PM by Chuckrox8.

liquidity

Why would it be detrimental to list it? I don't think the application reviewers are cynical enough to think negatively of an application because it mentions the CFA charter.

hw0799

I'm in the middle of applying right now, and I'm not hyping it up. However, the more quantitative or financial schools (Booth, Haas, Wharton, etc) may treat it like the ethics adjustment - if you're on the edge, it may be the little bump that pushes you above someone else.

A school like HBS that focuses almost exclusively on leadership probably won't care too much about it since it doesn't demonstrate leadership in any sense of the word

IAmNeil

Mba programs care a lot about how employment statistics. Having a professional designation can only help your employment chances.

RepoToronto

I had a conversation with UCLA about MBA admissions and the two most important factors they look at to weed out candidates are: GMAT + GPA!

I asked about the CFA, hoping that an admissions officer would consider passing all 3 levels and boost my chances of being admitted with a very low GPA! He replied saying "You must have a 3.0 GPA to even be considered, it doesn't matter that you are a Chartered Financial Analyst.

CFA = a small boost if you GPA is >=3.0

bdavi77962

CFA > Hotties> MBA > CPA> CFP

BelalM

I hear your GPA matters less and less the further out you are. I'm hoping this is true, but not counting on it.

onelife1

Wonder if there's anyone here who got into one of the better biz schools with a low GPA?