Columbia - 07-02-2025 | Clear Admit ApplyWire

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July 1, 2025 7:24pm ET

Applying: Columbia, Harvard Business School, Northwestern / Kellogg, U. Chicago Booth, UPenn / Wharton

Intake Year: 2026

Pre-MBA Career: Entrepreneurship - E-Commerce Founder

Post-MBA Target Industry: Investment Banking Companies: Goldman Sachs , JP Morgan , JP Morgan Chase

GRE: 335

GPA: 3.8

Years of Work Experience: 8

Notes:

Trying to make a career transition from running my own e-commerce business to corporate finance or investment banking. An MBA will give me the technical foundation and the recruiting path to make these transition possible as I am now 8 years out from my undergrad studies.

Why I want one now: My business has reached an inflection point and I am ready to make a career change. It’s no longer in a growth stage, and I’m ready for a new challenge. I wish to build a long-term career in finance and utilize my finance degree. (ideally make the transition into IB post-MBA)

Like (1)

Show Comments (10) Last: July 7, 2025

alexbr4 Verified User. Likes Earned: 1830 What are your longer term goals, post investment banking? What are your plans for your current business?

Showing impact and growth, as an entrepreneur will be important, supported by strong recommendations. Are you also involved in any activities outside of work? Any additional hobbies and interests.

Super numbers will help.

(0)

entrepreneurtomba Likes Earned: 1 My post MBA path involves first going to do investment banking for two years and then transition into private equity or venture capital. Because I don't have the corporate industry experience, I am planning to use my MBA as a pathway to IB and then transition into something more specific. My recommendations are a co-founder of mine and also an colleague (someone who was under me) since I didn't have any direct reports Outside of work love to stay active, work out, play recreational sports such as basketball. Also I love to interact to travel and experience new cultures. Any additional advice or feedback would be super helpful! Thanks! (0)

alexbr4 Verified User. Likes Earned: 1830 Choice of recommenders May be challenging, especially the colleague who was under you? Did you have any mentors that have witnessed your work? Any outside the firm that have provided services, and seen your growth and impact? (0)

entrepreneurtomba Likes Earned: 1 No I did not have any mentors. I had worked with other companies to grow our business however these individuals are no longer in business. Would it be a disadvantage to use someone who was an colleague of mine? Any suggestions would be appreciated (0)

alexbr4 Verified User. Likes Earned: 1830 We discuss this on tomorrow’s podcast, hopefully that will help surface some ideas for recommenders. (0)

entrepreneurtomba Likes Earned: 1 ok got it, if you need any additional info from me let me know. I would love to know what your guys thoughts of my odds are for these schools (edited) (0)

entrepreneurtomba Likes Earned: 1 Are you also involved in any activities outside of work? to add to this: Finance Chair of local building association; co-chair of local Chinese Community of Chicagoland and finally captain of local pickleball league (1)

alexbr4 Verified User. Likes Earned: 1830 very good. Here's the podcast episode. Hope it helps: https://www.clearadmit.com/2025/07/mba-wire-taps-433/ (0)

entrepreneurtomba Likes Earned: 1 Hi Alex, really appreciate you and Graham reviewing my profile on the podcast. This would be a triple jump for me if I attend schools in the east coast as I am currently in Chicago. The recommenders was very insightful. Instead, I will be using an business collaborator/strategic partner that I have partnered with to do brand project with and also an entrepreneur board member that I am part of. I believe this repositioning should be much better than co-founder and colleague (employee) that I had before. Any insight to this would be helpful. thanks! (0)

alexbr4 Verified User. Likes Earned: 1830 Yes, that does make sense, especially if they have a view of your work and impact over a good period of time. Glad you found the podcast discussion useful. Best of luck! (0)