Hi All,

I was hoping to get some advice and critique of my profile. Thank you all for any input....

I'm a 24 year old male and graduated from the University of Kansas in the Spring of 2006 with degrees in Business Admin/Finance and an International Business concentration. I had a 3.6 cumulative and 3.6 professional GPA. While at school as was involved in the campus activities organization, a lecture series committee, and was a member/treasurer of a club sport. Additionally, I studied abroad in Italy for a summer.

After graduation, I began working in Chicago for a global investment manager/investment bank (so, almost 2 years now). I work on the asset management side of the business within portfolio operations. Although I don't have any subordinates, I have shown a progression in my role and have taken on considerable amounts of responsibility. I would like to move into the investment management and research side of the business. To help facilitate that move I began taking the CFA exams and have passed Level I and am re-taking Level II in June. I have been a member of the CFA Society of Chicago for the past year.

My target schools are Northwestern and Chicago but given my interest in investments/finance, I heavily lean towards Chicago. I am applying for part-time admissions. I would like to apply for summer 2008 but have considered applying for Fall 2008 if I don't feel like my application is strong enough.

I just took the GMAT and got a 700 composite (did slightly better on verbal)

I'd like to get my MBA to broaden my experience, challenge myself intellectually, and advance professionally.

Questions

1. What do you think my chances of getting into Chicago are given the above (although brief) statistics?
2. Where do you see potential weaknesses in my application and how can I overcome them?
3. Is getting this application done in the next 3 weeks shortsighted and should I wait to apply in the Fall?
4. I feel like I'm slightly lacking in community involvement. In my application I've highlighted my undergrad activities as well as involvement in the CFA. Work and CFA studying has hampered my ability to get involved but maybe that's just a cop out. Suggestions?
5. Any other suggestions on strengthening my application would be great!

Any help is much appreciated...

To answer your questions:

(1) You should be competitive, assuming you spend the time to put together a well executed application
(2) Only real weaknesses are: you will be on the low end in terms of work experience for Chicago or Kellogg part-time (and full-time as well) -- most part-timers have around 5 or more years of experience. However, if you can put together a strong application outlining why you need one now and why you're ready now, then you can at least minimize this concern.
(3) Depends. Some folks can, some folks can't.
(4) Don't know what to suggest for you. I'm no life coach, but I think it's healthy to have diverse interests outside of work, regardless of your career or b-school plans. All finance, all the time especially at your age may be fine if you have a burning passion for it, but if it's purely a medium for your ambitions as opposed to pure passion for the subject (i.e. would you still be all finance all the time if the career prospects were non-existent?), then you will have a problem that goes beyond b-school applications. No matter who you are or what happens, I still think it's good to be involved in your community - whether it's nonprofit, athletic, artistic, political, religious, or otherwise. Being there for other people (and feeling like you're part of a community) is healthy - we are social creatures after all.
(5) See above. Also, it's not about strengthening your application as much as it's making choices in your life that are best for you. If you do make strong choices in your life/career and make the most of your opportunities, it will speak for itself and reflect in your b-school applications anyhow. It's not about gaming and manufacturing your life to conform to what you think an adcom wants out of b-school. Build a life, not a resume.

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

Thanks for your reply and I appreciate your suggestions/insights.

If there is anyone else who has any comments they are more than welcome.

Regards