Target Schools: HBS, Wharton, Chicago, Stanford, Columbia (if the application process goes smoothly, possibly Tuck and/or Darden).

Background: 24 years old, asian male, born in the U.S. 1430 SAT.

Education: Graduated in 2005 from Big 10 state school, finance (Cum. GPA 3.4, Major GPA 3.6).

Work Experience:
1.5 years at middle market investment bank in midwest.
1 year at bulge bracket investment bank in NYC.
Currently at multi-billion dollar private equity firm on east coast.
- While I have not received a formal review from my current employer, I received top rankings in both of my prior positions.
- During my time in New York, I worked on one multi-billion dollar transaction, and one initial public offering.
- Currently, since I am at a much smaller firm, I am responsible for monthly and quarterly reporting, as well as executing any transaction (sale, acquisition, IPO, debt or equity offering) for 7 of our portfolio companies. While I do not hold a seat on any company boards, I attend all meetings. I am also responsible for analyzing and executing any new potential acquisitions we make.

Activities: Since my work schedule is, and has been, rather demanding on an hourly basis, I have found little time to get involved in many activities outside of work. However, since leaving banking I've begun to involve myself in Special Olympics, as well as a weekly program dedicated to teaching special needs children ages 7-15 to play ice hockey. I'd also like to be an assistant coach for a youth hockey team, but haven't found the opportunity yet.

In college, I was heavily involved in the social fraternity of which I was a member. I took several leadership roles (philanthropy chairman, recruitment chairman, alumni relations). While I was a member, the fraternity encountered several critical issues (membership dipped from 90 to 55, building violation and health codes, etc.). During my tenure in the aforementioned leadership roles, I was able to raise $40,000 from alumni for house repair, pledge and activate 40 new members in one year, and organized weeklong events raising over $2,000 for the Children's Miracle Network.

Strategy / Future Planning: While I have not taken the GMAT, I intend to this spring and apply to my target schools in Round 1 for 2009.

I see weaknesses in my leadership and activities outside of work (especially since graduation). I also wonder if my career progression will be an issue with adcom, although I feel it's justifiable. I feel like I've maintained great relationships at all of my previous employers and would be able to get recommendations from senior management at one or the other. In addition, my current employer requires an MBA to proceed up the ladder, and several are HBS alum. The company's founder, while an alum of another of my target schools, contributes heavily to all Boston institutions.

Assuming a score of around 700, what can I do between now and October to increase my chances of acceptance? HBS and Wharton are my "stretch" schools, with HBS being my focus. Thanks again for your help and comments.

Here's the thing.

You're in a similar boat as many other ex-bankers/PE guys. Given the lifestyle issues of your job (i.e. no life), the only thing you can do to separate yourself is if you've had some extraordinary extracurriculars in college.

Otherwise, what it comes down to is how blue chip your resume is assuming your numbers are in range (GPA/GMAT) - in other words, where you went to undergrad, the brand name of the bank, and the name of the PE fund. For most banker/PE types, "branding" is really the only way they can distinguish themselves.

Bankers/PE types with Ivy/equivalent, Goldman/Morgan, and top tier PE fund typically end up at HBS/Stanford, and those that don't get in to either end up at Wharton.

Bankers/PE types with Ivy/equivalent, non-GS/MS bulge bracket, and decent to top tier PE fund typically end up at Wharton.

The same bankers with lesser names across the board (i.e. state school, smaller bank, okay to decent PE fund) typically end up at Chicago, Columbia, and so forth.

So in your case, I'd say that HBS/Stanford are a long shot, Wharton is stretch, and Chicago/Columbia should be within range.

Alex Chu
alex@mbaapply.com
www.mbaapply.com
http://mbaapply.blogspot.com

Thanks, Alex. I have more time now than I did when I was working in banking, and could easily take on more activities. I chose the ones I did because it suits my interests pretty well. Obviously I really need to step it up in the leadership area if I want to distinguish myself. But given how I really only have 9 months or so, and my schedule will only get busier with GMAT and applications, I'm not sure if it will be enough.

One other point / follow up that I have is that I don't know many people that have taken the path that I've taken. Most people in my position were very much like you mention - Ivy league undergrad, bulge bracket bank, top tier private equity. I think I have a rather unique story to tell in that there were quite a few uphill battles to fight along the way over the course of 2+ years. I'm not sure if that shows any particular sense of drive or accomplishment that a place like Harvard is looking for (obviously this is another one of those uphill battles). Certainly I'm the only alumni I know of from my school currently at a large private equity firm. I do feel like if I apply and am lucky enough to get an interview at HBS, I can make a good showing to give myself a chance.

Every school values work ethic and overcoming obstacles, but don't count on it being enough. Realistically, you do need some of the bling to go with it so to speak as well -- blue chip names on the resume, awards for your exceptional achievements in your extracurriculars, and so forth. HBS in particular likes the bling to back up the "backstory" of struggle-to-overcome-all-odds narrative.

It doesn't mean that you should spend your life pimping for bling on your resume, but as you know overachievers over the long-term do scoop up at least *some* bling along the way as a byproduct of their achievements/talent/discipline.

Just do the best you can, and hope for the best. It's not impossible, but just know that you'll be climbing a steep hill and hoping for a bit of luck.

Alex Chu
alex@mbaapply.com
www.mbaapply.com
http://mbaapply.blogspot.com