Columbia - 08-27-2019 | Clear Admit ApplyWire

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August 27, 2019 10:29am ET

Applying: Columbia, Duke / Fuqua, NYU Stern, Toronto / Rotman, UVA / Darden

Intake Year: 2020

Pre-MBA Career: Deloitte Consulting

Post-MBA Target Industry: Consulting Companies: Bain , BCG , Deloitte , McKinsey

GMAT: 700

GPA: 3.46

Years of Work Experience: 4

Location: India

Post MBA Location: Within the US

Notes:

Wish to get into MBB.
Worked with Deloitte S&O for 2.5 years, and KPMG Consulting earlier. Worked in industries - agro, technology, media, FMCG, Real Estate, manufacturing. Received promotion after 2 years as a fresher.
Participated in public policy fellowship, submitted research and policy brief to India Member of Parliament
Completed CFA Level 1
Student Ambassador for a Big 4 firm during college (organized placements, case study comp., workshops, etc) received award for best student ambassador for the South region. Significant involvement in organizing business festivals
Run half marathons
Born and lived half of my life in Nigeria.

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Show Comments (6) Last: September 10, 2019

alexbr4 Verified User. Likes Earned: 1674 Your challenge is that your profile is generally over represented in the applicant pool at top US MBA programs, although if you are of Nigerian citizenship, that might not be the case, To help overcome this, if it is an issue, you need to really push to differentiate yourself with regards your professional and personal backgrounds. You might also consider retaking the GMAT, gaining 30 points should help. But you also should try to target the first rounds, before spaces for your profile become more limited. What are your long term goals? (0)

anon26009 Likes Earned: 0 Hi, thank you for the response. I understand that I am from an over-represented profile, I am an Indian citizen. I am trying to differentiate myself in terms of the type of Consulting I have been into, which is focused on CFO Advisory in terms finance processes. I have taken the GMAT again, my score hasn't improved. Applying for the early action rounds of Darden and Duke, and Round 1 for the rest. My long term goals are to return to Nigeria/ Africa as a Consultant at large and help drive their efficiency and growth through cross-functional expertise (which I would build in the years to come), leveraging the experience I have and would gain in more mature organizations. Having been born lived for 11 years in Nigeria, and my own family with 50+ years in Nigeria, I want to be involved in the Africa growth story (0)

alexbr4 Verified User. Likes Earned: 1674 The Africa growth story might well be your better point of differentiation, so make sure that it's a clear aspect of your candidacy. While your consulting work may be different to many other candidates, it might be seen as finance consulting, which is not too unusual. Of course, it will be important that you can show impact, through your work. (0)

alexbr4 Verified User. Likes Earned: 1674 More details on this candidacy in this episode of Wire Taps: https://www.clearadmit.com/2019/09/episode-51-wire-taps-mbb-aspirations-startup-experience-dual-citizenship-and-more/ (0)

anon26009 Likes Earned: 0 Hi Really appreciate you picking my profile for your podcast. I guess there was a lot of info I had not mentioned, and you tried to fill in those gaps Regarding my aspirations to go back to Nigeria, I'll explain my path. I joined Consulting right after my undergrad. My decision to remain in India for work-ex was because 1. Financial reasons- My father, a businessman, continues to be based in Nigeria (my grandfather moved there first in the 1960s). The currency there has significantly devalued against the Indian Rupee and in general, hence me remaining in India was crucial to keep the financial balance of my family which is based in India. Apologies if this is too much information! 2. I felt it would be useful to work in a more mature market. In the 3-4 years of my experience in India, I have worked on multiple projects in companies of different levels of maturity. I wasn't sure if the Consulting in Africa was mature enough for me to gain experience in the nascent years of my career. At Deloitte, my specific team hadn't developed inroads into the Africa corridor yet, although other teams in Deloitte S&O have, which is one of the reason I would be happy to return to Deloitte 3. Regarding my decision to stay in the US, the plan was only for a few years. The financial aspect, yes, would be to repay the debt I plan on taking, which may be considerably more difficult if I directly move back to Nigeria considering the currency aspect. But also, I believe it makes much more sense to work in a market where organizations are more advanced strategically, operationally etc, and then move to a market where there is unlocked potential, so that the experience would me understand what works for these advanced organizations. I have actually felt that myself during my experience, after working for both advanced and growing organizations. 4. Canada- you got that right, immigration was a factor there. Organizations and the Consulting profession in Canada is mature as well. Hope that explains my path! (0)

alexbr4 Verified User. Likes Earned: 1674 Yes, that does make sense. Your connection to Nigeria is much clearer, and your decisions, while keeping Nigeria as a long term focus, do make sense. You could even argue top Euro based schools would also fit your narrative? (0)