Client case study: financial analyst reapplies to cbs as an entrepreneur

1. http://www.amerasiaconsulting.com/
Client Case Study:
Financial Analyst Reapplies to
CBS as an Entrepreneur

2. By the Amerasia Consulting Group,
Boutique MBA Admissions Consulting
Client Case Study:
Financial Analyst Reapplies to
CBS as an Entrepreneur
MBA Admissions Consultant | http://www.amerasiaconsulting.com

3. Our Client Case Studies detail how Amerasia consultants
have helped clients address unique challenges
associated with their application.
Client : Andrew M.
Education : Top 25 Public University,
Accounting/Finance Degree, 3.5 GPA
Experience : Big 4 Accounting Firm (3 years),
Social Media Entrepreneur (10 months)
GMAT : 700 - 720
MBA Admissions Consultant | http://www.amerasiaconsulting.com

4. Situation:
Re-applicant to Columbia Business School
Andrew was a re-applicant, having applied to Columbia Business
School the year before. He knew that he would be under the gun
to answer “what had he improved since late applying to
Columbia.”
However, since last applying, his professional situation had taken
a turn for the "worse." Andrew had been laid off from his New
York City based financial services job. Further complicating his
situation, Andrew did accept a new role – an unpaid position that
was outside of his finance industry.
MBA Admissions Consultant | http://www.amerasiaconsulting.com

5. Challenge:
Career switcher from the traditional to the non-traditional
Andrew’s challenge would be to explain how his current
“volunteer” career path (working for a social networking start-up)
built towards the finance-oriented goals he stated in his prior
application to Columbia Business School.
He also needed to be make sure that he was not signaling to the
Columbia admissions committee that he was a "career switcher"
looking for an “escape hatch” from his current foray into the start-
up world.
MBA Admissions Consultant | http://www.amerasiaconsulting.com

6. The zig-zag nature of his work experience would also call into
question his ability to discern a specific career path.
Would it seem reasonable to the Columbia admissions
committee that Andrew could not find a finance-related job in the
nine months since leaving the financial services industry?
MBA Admissions Consultant | http://www.amerasiaconsulting.com

7. Addressing the Challenge:
Understanding Columbia's direction and aligning new
career trajectory
Andrew worked with his consultant to assess the pieces of his
candidacy and logically connect the dots for both Andrew and
any potential evaluator of his candidacy.
First, Andrew and his consultant examined what the Columbia
admissions committee was seeking in their candidates.
Conducting his due diligence Andrew discovered that Columbia
was seeking to further its entrepreneurial strengths while
strengthening its cohesive business school community.
MBA Admissions Consultant | http://www.amerasiaconsulting.com

8. In truly evaluating his fit with the Columbia MBA program, Andrew and his
consultant evaluated his current work and extracurricular experiences.
Andrew truly had a passion for his new found role as an entrepreneur and in the
social networking space. Drawing parallels between his new career path and
what a Columbia MBA could offer, Andrew felt confident in moving forward with
new career goals as a “technology entrepreneur.”
Working with his consultant, Andrew articulated his new positioning and
supported his transition by demonstrating how his finance skills were able to add
a “professional” element to a rapidly growing organization.
MBA Admissions Consultant | http://www.amerasiaconsulting.com

9. Results
From day one, Andrew had his heart set on the Columbia
Business School. Both years he elected to only apply for
the Columbia MBA. But only in his 2nd year of applying
did Andrew work with an Amerasia MBA admissions
consultant.
He was accepted Early Decision and is now bringing his
finance, technology, passion, and social networking skills
to Columbia.
MBA Admissions Consultant | http://www.amerasiaconsulting.com

10. For an overview of Amerasia MBA Admissions Consulting services, please visit
http://www.amerasiaconsulting.com/mba_admissions_consulting_services/
If you are interested in the MBA Admissions Consulting services offered by
Amerasia, please email mba@amerasiaconsulting.com to inquire about setting up
a free consultation.
http://www.amerasiaconsulting.com/