Seth Lowry Optional Essay

Transcript

1. Optional Essay: Additional Considerations Seth Lowry | Optional Essay | MIT Sloan
2. I wanted to quickly highlight some additional considerations that may be pertinent to your admissions decision I chose the PowerPoint format because I feel it is the most direct and purposeful way to convey this information 2 2 Purpose Statement
3. 3 • I would like to highlight some examples from my past that demonstrate I can handle rigorous academic and quantitative challenges 1. Highly quantitative work history • Strong track record of quantitative tasks in my equity research and investment banking experience: Quantitative GMAT Score Not Indicative of Academic Ability 2. Solid academic performance in a quantitative-based undergraduate curriculum • Strong grades at the Air Force Academy, renown for its difficult engineering curriculum • Highest math course taken was Calculus II, received an “A” • Received “A’s” in many other quantitatively challenging coursework – Physics I and II, Electric Engineering, Statistics and more… 3. CFA level III candidate
4. • Air Force Academy grading scale much more conservative than civilian universities – A 3.5 GPA at AFA would have been ranked in the top 15% of my class – AFA average GPA is 2.7 versus U.S. average(1) GPA of >3.1 – If AFA GPA were to be standardized to national average, cumulative collegiate GPA would likely be 3.6 or greater • GPA at University of Colorado – Tough transition to University of Colorado after abrupt medical disqualification from AFA – Loss of scholarship after leaving AFA required me to work full-time to pay for school/living expenses – Started successful heavy-equipment financing brokerage business that developed from an internship • Independently brokered over 50 semi-truck deals • Business remedied my financial issues but became a burden academically • Brokerage business was part of MTB Financial (easytruckfinance.com) which still exists today 4 Class Rank and GPA Considerations (1) New York Times ?
5. 5 • I did not choose my direct supervisor as a recommender because: – Potential implications on my job • Citi has announced further workforce reductions in October – Potential impacts on my variable compensation (decided in November this year) • Chosen recommenders have extensive history and knowledge of my professional development as both supervisors and clients Selection of Recommenders
6. • In addition to the sale of the manufactured housing facility I highlighted in my essay, during my time away from Wall Street I also created a business with my father and a family friend – The primary function of Scottsdale Corvettes is to connect buyers and sellers of rare classic cars • Also a fun way for my father and I to monetize our hobby and passion for restoring classic cars • (As well as keep my father out of my mother’s hair during their retirement) – We also provide verification of the originality of the cars, which is critical to the value of the car – Initially, my role in the business was to: set up the business, create a website (scottsdalecorvettes.com), scout cars for buyers and help with verification of certain car parts • Since returning to Wall Street my role has diminished but I still continue to scout in the Northeast 6 Entrepreneurial Activities – Scottsdale Corvettes Over 50 classic car deals brokered since 2009 and counting!
7. • Sloan admission’s desired qualities in its candidates are… Parting Thoughts `  Solid GPA on a standardized basis  CFA III Candidate  High class rank at Air Force Academy  GMAT score well within Sloan’s middle 80% Range  Three successful ventures in entrepreneurship (two post college, one during college)  Long-track record of community service  Officer training from Air Force Academy  Mentorship of Summer Interns and Jr. Analysts  Manage analysts on current equity research team  Earned three promotions throughout Wall Street career in a highly competitive work environment  Strong peer and manager rankings  Bounced back from family tragedy
8. • And finally, according to Sloan’s admissions: “We are as interested in your path to accomplishment as we are in the results that you have attained.” I have had a unique and challenging path, but my experiences will add diversity to the Sloan student body. I look forward to making a positive impact at Sloan 2003 1985 Born in Pataskala, Ohio. A small, rural town on the outskirts of Columbus, Ohio 2014 Parting Thoughts Con’t Accepted congressional nomination to attend the United States Air Force Academy 2007 2009 2011 Bounce back from discharge at USAFA to begin career on Wall Street at Merrill Lynch Grandfather repairing a foundation in our park Return to Wall Street to work in equity research at Citigroup Leave Wall Street to start two successful entrepreneurial ventures and help family
9. 9 Thank You Thank You for Your Consideration!