Age:27
Degree: Bachelors in Finance (Complete non-target state school)
GPA: 3.5
GMAT: 670
Work Experience: 4 years working in Asset Management at a very well known Energy company.
Certifications: Passed CFA level 1 & 2
Schools i’m interested in: Boston University, NYU Stern, Boston College.
Everything you listed look fine except for GMAT score. Can you retake? Your score seems low especially if you have passed CFA 1 and 2.
I am wondering why you wish to attend an MBA program given your work experience and your focus to get the CFA designation.
If your wish is to continue in asset management, the CFA trumps an MBA.
To be completely honest, you don’t have to be, for lack of better words “IQ smart” in order to pass CFA levels 1&2. With a couple hundred hours of studying and consistent application of theory, passing the CFA exams are not very hard. I struggle with the “games” that are played with the GMAT. The wording of questions and similarity of answers between questions really throws me off. I can retake the GMAT in hopes of a possible 700.
My want to attend a semi-target MBA relates back to my desire to work at a PE or Buy Side ER shop. Due my poor choice of school I attended in undergrad, networking opportunities are slim to non in “High Finance” related roles. And my current AM position has introduced me to a lot of bankers but no PE or ER guys. I’m really looking at an MBA as an opportunity to develop a more in-depth network. And participate in the OCR events that these Universities have to offer.
I don’t know if you’ve prepped for GMAT. You should improve your score with a course in GMAT prep and definitely 700 is doable if you spend as many hours on it as you did with CFA.
Most buyside shops don’t recruit through OCR so your semi-targets may not help you much with the exception of Stern.
You should know that in any ER role, buyside or sellside, CFA still trumps MBA and you save 2 years of tuition plus 2 years of opportunity costs.
If you still want to do an MBA and have a chance with buyside, I would aim at higher ranked schools other than BC or BU. You would need a higher GMAT score.
I want to be as realistic as possible when applying to MBA programs. Given that I can score a 700-720 on my next take at the GMAT do I actually have a chance at a top 15 program (Harvard, Booth, Kellog ect)? I was and currently am under the impression that the lack of prestige in my undergrad school paired with my current non banking institution background, significantly impairs my ability to be accepted into a top program. I would be more than willing to apply if I knew that I had at least a 50% chance at acceptance.