farmer314 wrote:
please rate my chances:
UG in PoliSci @ Arizona State: 3.5
Grad: 3.91 in Education
GMAT 690
Male
30
in UG i spent the money I made working in the fisheries industry in AK to be part of a group that purchased a laundromat. I still get income from my fraction of the biz.
Was a teacher for 2 years. I left to do edu consulting- was part of a team that wrote the KY state standards.
With the profits from that (and because ed consulting was a moribund field) I purchased a 600 acre farm, which, at peak production, was a 3mil per annumgross/20 employee biz.
I'm aiming for Dartmouth or Cornell (or your suggestion?)
I feel I have fairly poor numbers, but self-made biz guys are under-represented, which might be a plus. Additionally, I doubt the admin boards see many farmers through their inbox, which is an advantage
Here is the catch- I'm absolutely burnt out on small-biz/start-up and looking to get into operations. Which, of course, is really the exact opposite of my strengths.
a) what are my dart/corn chances
b) where else do you suggest (rural, small class sizes) that might better match my #
c) I am looking to go with primary-industry. Most schools brag about placement with booz allen etc, but I (ideally) am looking farm/trans related, like a monsanto/rail road co. Any tips?
Your story sounds pretty cool, actually. And one word about your numbers...I'm not sure how much you've researched into it, but I hope not so much yet, because your numbers are actually pretty good and I do not think that your GPA/GMAT will be that big of a concern for adcoms.
Being a farmer or working on a farm is cool (and most definitely, unique). However, it's really what you did at the farm that will make a difference. Having said that, you should reflect on the quality of your job. Again, yes, being a farmer is going to be a unique thing, but what can you show the adcom that you're capable of?
Secondly, you're going to have to provide the adcoms some sort of reassurance that you're marketable. What I mean by that is that you have a solid goal in mind. It sounds like you're "interested" in something post-MBA, but what adcoms would love to know is what your short-term and long-term goals are, preferably even knowing what company you'd like to join. You mentioned that Booz Allen is what people crave for (which is true, for the most part, for those who want to go into consulting), but what line of work and what company do you have in mind that you'd work for? Of course, not knowing exactly what company you'd like to work for, and that's fine. Just remember that adcoms need to know whether you're marketable, and whether you really need this MBA, and why you think you need this MBA.
Obviously, from looking at the data that schools put out, Johnson has a lower average GPA/GMAT score than Tuck. I think, given your numbers and only that for now, that you have a better chance at Johnson. However, I will go as far to say that I think you have a pretty decent chance at Tuck. Of course, each school has its own fit and culture and you're going to have to relate to that culture. Darden also is in a relatively remote area, but does have a much bigger class (I think 470-ish?) than Tuck's 240.
In summary, as long as you can convince to the adcom why you need this, what your goals are (achievable-goals, of course), why you need this now, I think you have a pretty decent chance at both Johnson and Tuck.