Gene Said:

What should I do from here to get into an Ivy League school?

We Answered:

You need the highest grades in the hardest classes and very high test scores just to compete with everyone else applying, but top schools still take fewer than 10% of applicants. So you need all that, and you need to find a way to stand out from everyone else. Your activities are good, but definitely won't make you stand out.

Joe Said:

Big 4 Accounting Firm or Boutique Investment Firm?

We Answered:

How boutique are we talking about. Is it a well known firm, or is it a firm that anybody could get hired at. Since you didn't name the boutique firm, I would have to say one of the big 4. However, what are your long term goals? At a boutique you will have more hands on experience, at a big 4, you will be one of the heard unless you can make yourself standout. If your goal is mainly to obtain an MBA at a good school, I would go with a big 4, if you want to get some hands on experience I would go with the boutique. I am not sure about the pay, it depends on the location.

Tara Said:

"Investment Banking position" or "Portfolio Manager"? Which one is better for my next step of career pursuing?

We Answered:

More will depend on where you work as oppossed to your choice of titles, but here's my best take on your question.

An entry level Investment Banker is expected to work 12+ hour days (and more when a deal is closing) and will not be given any "glamour" assignments. Expect to spend a lot of time checking numbers and gathering data. And don't make any mistakes, or you will very likely find yourself back on the street. You don't mention where you got your MBA, but unless it was from one of the top 3 schools (Harvard, Wharton, (Yale, Stanford, MIT tie for 3rd place)), then it isn't going to open any doors. A top IBanker works for Goldman Sachs, puts in 2-3 years of 24/7 work, and (if he survives) can make a good deal of money.

Based on the text of your question (broken English, poor grammar), and the fact that you're even asking the question, tells me that you probably didn't get your MBA from Harvard, and, in that case, I'd go the Portfolio Manager route. Your Asia experience is very valuable, as Asia is booming, and every big shop wants to hire someone who can speak Chinese and/or manage a portfolio of Asian securities.

If you want the biggest bang for your buck, I'd start by contacting the biggest hedge funds. Any quantitative/ programming skills you have will be a big plus. Try looking at www.hedgefund.net, or search the AIMR/ CFA website job boards to get contact info.

If you want more security, then you can contact any of the bif brokerage houses (Merrill, Lehman, etc), or the big banks, especially those based in San Francisco (Wells, Barclays, etc).

Good luck, and remember me when you get rich.