Weird Story, can I get into Columbia (and do I want to)?

Graduate School Business School - MBA
1

<p>Ok, </p>

<p>Here's the story: I went to a mid-tier college. I messed around a lot and ended up getting a 1.8 GPA (a day doesn't go by that I don't regret it) but I did have a 1400 on the SAT. I could give you a long list of excuses but this isn't a psychiatrists' forum so all that matters is that I have a 1.8 GPA. That was a few years ago. I got my act together big time after school and smartened up.</p>

<p>I am now working for one of the world's most famous investors (George Soros, Paul Tudor Jones, Warren Buffett etc. famous, in other words a world recognized Guru) at his hedge fund in London, UK and I am his official and only understudy. I go to his house once a week and learn investing in conjunction to working at the office. He has made me read literally every book on investing out there in the past six months.</p>

<p>Not only did I accomplish this, but I did it from scratch. I didn't know the guy, he isn't a family friend, etc. I met his partner randomly and pitched a business to him. Eventually they offered me a job and literally told me that I had raw entrepreneurial and investment talent. They then recruited me and told me point blank that they would teach me how to invest. They are now (six months later) about to put me in charge of running an over £100 million fund and I'm only 27 years old.</p>

<p>I have been told by both my bosses that this arrangement won't last forever and that within the next few years they are going to send me off and that I should start my own fund after what they're done teaching me. I have also made a ton of contacts in the finance field and could easily get another job at a hedge fund, broker's, or investment bank. There is no doubt in my mind that I want to stay on the buy side.</p>

<p>I am originally American and would like to go back to the States. Columbia's Value Investing program seems of great interest or the Kelogg school in Chicago. I test well and can easily get a 700 on the GMAT. The reason I want to get an MBA is in conjunction with my wanting to further my investing education not so that I can get a 150K a year job at McKinsey or apply for an associate's position at an I-Bank (not that there is anything wrong with either). </p>

<p>I was wondering if I had a chance of getting into Columbia or not?</p>

<p>The other two questions I had were:</p>

<p>a.) Kelogg and Columbia seemed to be the only two B-Schools that strongly focus on investment theory and portfolio management. Are there any other schools out there that I'm missing?</p>

<p>b.) Is it worth considering a school like Harvard or Wharton (if they'll take me of course)?</p>

<p>Other things that I've done since leaving college:</p>

<p>Executive Produced a documentary which will air on PBS</p>

<p>I'm on the board of a $10 million dollar charity</p>

<p>Sorry for the novel but it's just a weird story. Any insight would be helpful.</p>

<p>Thank You and Best Regards,</p>

<p>Smartened Up</p>

2

<p>GMAT, work experience and LOR’s are nearly all that matter, you graduated (Gates and Zuckerberg did not)
My question is why? What do you think you can learn that you did not already have in your armamentarium of experience? (although I do understand the feeling you want to correct the past and show the world you could do it) Especially since you seemed to have nailed the knowledge in investing are you seeking to double dip maybe and learn more (it may actually cloud your perceptions and you could second guess what you have developed that is gut by now. )</p>

<p>Except to feel better about yourself, and maybe hear more of the research or fundamentals, you may not have learned at the elbow of your mentors, you need to look at the added value to you (your investors, etc)</p>

<p>You will also need to look at the cost benefit side of the equation ( you are a businessman after all) the opportunity cost ( loss of wages) could be substantial for you. </p>

<p>Perhaps you should just go to a good management program to learn the basics, maybe in management, so you can learn how to lead others, and just hire all the Columbia MBAs you need to make up for your perceived shortfall. For that I would recommend Wharton Executive MBA ( you only lose every other Friday workday a month ( as well as weekends) and there is no distinction given to Executive graduates. Chicago has a part time program to looking into as well, no reason to drastically cut your career earnings for schoolwork based on your potential income.</p>

<p>Good luck</p>

3

<p>Ivy Geek,</p>

<p>First of all thank you very much for your response. It is much appreciated.</p>

<p>My primary reason for picking Columbia is due to their Graham & Dodd Value Investing program. For quantitative investors Value Investing is by far the Holy Grail of all the methods. All of the teachers at Columbia are recognized experts in that field and have used it extensively (and profitably) in the real world.</p>

<p>Like I said before, I am very young for this line of work (only 27). I would not plan on attending Columbia until at least Fall of 2012. I do not want to go to an Ivy League just in order to prove that “I can do it”, right the wrongs of the past, or throw it around at dinner parties. In fact I don’t want to go to any Ivy League; Columbia was the specific choice. The reason is like I said above, to add more depth to my investment knowledge which I plan on applying in the real world.</p>

<p>In our line of work it is not the salary that is the draw of the job; but the appreciation of the principal. I am not trying to grow the NAV of any future fund to the maximum just to milk the largest 2% maintenance fee from clients. My goal is to consistantly achieve alpha, do it with the least amount of risk, AND add value to any clients (both in a pecuniary and HONORABLE fashion).</p>

<p>Value Investing is the one method which has proven its worth through Depressions, bear markets, wars, changes in currency systems, market crashes, and any other possible “fat-tail” out there. Its only drawback is the time that it can take to realize a gain from one’s investment. Its mastery in both theory and application is one of the greatest tools an investor can possess; and that is why I picked Columbia specifically.</p>

<p>So, I don’t mean to be blunt; but basically the answer you gave me was “yes I have a decent chance of getting into the Columbia MBA program”? Correct?</p>

<p>Once again, thank you very much for your response and my advanced apologies for the last and rather sophomoric summary question above should it be too blunt.</p>

<p>Best Regards,</p>

<p>Smartened Up</p>

4

<p>Hi-</p>

<p>My credentials:</p>

<p>Graduated cum laude (3.8) from Loomis Chaffee (CT Prep School)
Graduated Vassar College (3.65) cum GPA; BS History, Italian
Speak fluent Italian and Spanish
President of Mentoring/tutoring group; taught Italian for 2 years
White Jewish male
Dad went to Columbia Business School, uncle went to HBS- both have donated for 20+ years
Have worked for a gourmet food importer for 1 year
Job description: sales, PR, marketing, consulting, research, analytics, among other jobs
Am taking the GMAT in the spring
Looking to apply for MBA for Fall 2013</p>

<p>Would ideally like to go to HBS, Columbia, NYU or Cornell.</p>

<p>Can someone answer the following:
What are my chances of getting into these schools?
Is History a well regarded major for b schools?
If I had a 3.65 in History and Italian from Vassar, worked for 3 years and broke 700 on my GMAT, could I get into these 4 schools?
Thanks,
Robert</p>

5

<p>^^^You will have zero chance based upon your posting in multiple threads about yourself. Your rudeness and aggressive nature will turn any interviewer off.</p>