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First applicant ever from my country

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msday
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Re: First applicant ever from my country [#permalink] New post   07 Aug 2008, 13:50
I would, in your application essays, try to be as incoherent as possible, and then at the end, I would drop the unknown-country bomb, like so:

"My bigest mistake was that I wroked 2 hard 4 my own well beeing. OH, but I am from Country X, so it's all good".

I think that would get you optimal results.
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Re: First applicant ever from my country [#permalink] New post   07 Aug 2008, 13:57
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I would guess that a person from every country has attended a program in the Top 10.

You have to remember, that just because there is a community of students in the states from your country, does not mean that they know all the students who may have attended school 50, 60, 70, or even 100 years ago at some of the top programs.

Secondly, there would be no reason to not mention which country you are from. A handle like "buzz" certainly isn't going to identify you.

However, if you are going to mention it, I wouldn't play it as the "only person ever" I would simply say that, despite growing up in a community that didn't have a lot of interaction with MBAs, I have realized that pursing one at school X is my calling. Obviously, this is a little cliche, but you get the idea.

Also, good work for pursuing an MBA from a little known country, the diversity you bring to a class will be an asset to all the students.

~Sam
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ko
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Re: First applicant ever from my country [#permalink] New post   Updated on: 07 Aug 2008, 14:00
buzz2008 wrote:
Hi
I am from this country from South East Asia but I went to a US school for my undergrad education.......As far as I know, I think there is no one from my country attending the top MBA program in the states. If I get into one of them, I might the first person ever to go to a top-tier program.

Is that fact going to put me at a advantage in the admission process?
My top choice is Wharton. What does it take to get into Wharton?

Please feel free to give me any insights or suggestions....Thanks.


Well, I'm going to resist the urge to continue with "20 Questions"...for now at least (this could be fun, eh?).

To answer your question - which we can't do as effectively without knowing which country you're talking about - it might help you or it might do nothing. With the information you've provided, we can only say with certainty that it shouldn't hurt you. I think it depends on the school; some will care more than others.

But in my opinion, I think it will help you, but probably not much. It might make you a bit more memorable - but I doubt it will get you in when compared to other students with similar qualifications. I would expect the benefit to be minimal. But that's just my opinion.

And I would be exremely careful making a claim like this. You better be dang sure that claim is true before you put it on an application (and in all honestly, it's very likely that there's someone out there from the last 20 years that you don't know of).

My next post on this thread will continiue with our game of "20 Questions", for entertainment's sake. :)

Originally posted by ko on 07 Aug 2008, 13:59.
Last edited by ko on 07 Aug 2008, 14:00, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: First applicant ever from my country [#permalink] New post   07 Aug 2008, 13:59
msday86 wrote:
I would, in your application essays, try to be as incoherent as possible, and then at the end, I would drop the unknown-country bomb, like so:

"My bigest mistake was that I wroked 2 hard 4 my own well beeing. OH, but I am from Country X, so it's all good".

I think that would get you optimal results.



good one! msday86
Yea, I am from East Timor. If you guys know anyone from East Timor attening a top MBA program, please let me know.

Peace out!
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Re: First applicant ever from my country [#permalink] New post   07 Aug 2008, 14:02
And the game's over.
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Re: First applicant ever from my country [#permalink] New post   07 Aug 2008, 14:05
smkrn wrote:
And the game's over.



OR not......if I am not being truthful...
:-D Its fun to mess around with you guys.....thats the kind of break I need during this crazy GMAT preparation.
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Re: First applicant ever from my country [#permalink] New post   07 Aug 2008, 14:08
Well, we're glad that we can be of service and give you something to laugh at. Good luck with the GMAT prep. If you need any help, post questions where and we'll do our best to help you out.

buzz2008 wrote:
smkrn wrote:
And the game's over.



OR not......if I am not being truthful...
:-D Its fun to mess around with you guys.....thats the kind of break I need during this crazy GMAT preparation.
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ko
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Re: First applicant ever from my country [#permalink] New post   07 Aug 2008, 14:11
buzz2008 wrote:
smkrn wrote:
And the game's over.



OR not......if I am not being truthful...
:-D Its fun to mess around with you guys.....thats the kind of break I need during this crazy GMAT preparation.


You can't lie in "20 Questions."
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Re: First applicant ever from my country [#permalink] New post   07 Aug 2008, 14:24
buzz2008 wrote:
Yea, I am from East Timor. If you guys know anyone from East Timor attening a top MBA program, please let me know.

Rats, I lose! :|

All joking aside. It's true that being an under-represented minority and/or having a unique background helps your chances to gain admissions to top business schools. It gives you a special angle to which you can shape your essays and explain your experiences and perspectives. First and foremost the top b-schools' primary concern is that you can handle the acamdemic rigors and time demands of their program. So establishing your ability to "fit in" by showing good undergraduate records, a solid GMAT score, and demonstrating professional leadership is still a must. Later on, when you share your personal circumstances, is when you can take advantage of your unique ethnic background to "stand out" from the rest of the applicant pool.

Think of your GPA, GMAT, WE, and EC as "the cake" and your unique ethnicity as "the frosting". I'm making myself hungry...
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Re: First applicant ever from my country [#permalink] New post   07 Aug 2008, 14:30
ok so let's get a list of countries represented and work backwards ! who is up for it? lol
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Re: First applicant ever from my country [#permalink] New post   07 Aug 2008, 14:41
Brunei
Cambodia
East Timor
Indonesia
Laos
Malaysia
Myanmar
Philippines
Singapore
Thailand
Vietnam


Ok according to wikipedia, these are the countries of south east asia. You probably can scratch a few off based on size. Let's see if I can find a country list for a top school.
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Re: First applicant ever from my country [#permalink] New post   07 Aug 2008, 14:48
terp26- you are a very smart person! What score did u get on GMAT? lol
I will be definitely caught in your net!

I don't think I have much chances at top school unless I can step it up to the next level......My GMATprep scores have been pretty miserable. Q is ok like 45 but V is killing me...just around 28. I didn't realize my english is that bad.
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Re: First applicant ever from my country [#permalink] New post   07 Aug 2008, 14:51
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Perhaps, it is time to post a poll :)
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Re: First applicant ever from my country [#permalink] New post   07 Aug 2008, 14:53
It may not be your English is bad. The verbal section is difficult for native english speakers. That's why I am so impressed by peoples' scores like kevincan and walker. Non-native english speakers. I'm assuming kevincan is a non-native speaker since he's based in Madrid according to his profile.

Approach the verbal like it's science. Use the grammar rules, apply them and eliminate any answer that breaks a rule. That will really help you out.

buzz2008 wrote:
terp26- you are a very smart person! What score did u get on GMAT? lol
I will be definitely caught in net!

I don't think I have much chances at top school unless I can step it up to the next level......My GMATprep scores have been pretty miserable. Q is ok like 45 but V is killing me...just around 28. I didn't realize my english is that bad.
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Re: First applicant ever from my country [#permalink] New post   07 Aug 2008, 14:58
Brunei or East Timor...this is the hardest decision I have to make all day!!! :shocked
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Re: First applicant ever from my country [#permalink] New post   07 Aug 2008, 15:01
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Let's make guess... :roll:

You are 22...mmmm...3.7 gpa .....mmm...1370 GRE .... I see design as your major.... :zoom
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Re: First applicant ever from my country [#permalink] New post   07 Aug 2008, 15:06
I think that being an Eskimo from the Antarctica will definitely be a shoe-in at any top MBA program. Can even play the diversity/cultural experience card by saying "I immigrated from the north pole to the south pole to differentiate myself from all the other Eskimos." :-D
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Re: First applicant ever from my country [#permalink] New post   Updated on: 07 Aug 2008, 15:16
I've always wondered if applicants from small, or underdeveloped, or politically unstable countries are somewhat bound by the types of things they should write in their essay.

For instance, how would adcom view an application such as "I'm from Country X, and I want a private equity job in America so I never have to put up with the perils and poverty of my home country again."

Not to say that every applicant from these countries has to put a philanthropic spin on their career goals essay, but if they disregard it entirely, would adcom think that they're not bringing the right kind of diversity to the classroom?

If so, that would definitely undermine the fact that you come from a rarely-represented country. I think there's a certain expectation about the kind of diversity that these types of students bring. And if one doesn't address those in your essays, a unique nationality may not be of any benefit at all.

Originally posted by FairPlay on 07 Aug 2008, 15:10.
Last edited by FairPlay on 07 Aug 2008, 15:16, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: First applicant ever from my country [#permalink] New post   07 Aug 2008, 15:14
Lets use the POE technique. Based on what Buzz told earlier (I will be definitely caught in net!), lets assume, the answer is in one the choices below....

Brunei - Quite possible
Cambodia - May be
East Timor - Probable candidate
Indonesia - I know many indonesians in US, may not be in top Bschools. Out.....
Laos - Well, it is possible
Malaysia - Too many malasians in US for sure
Myanmar - May be
Philippines - I know few phillipinos....again in not Bschools, so, out
Singapore - Out
Thailand - Out
Vietnam- Out

This narrows it down to
A) Brunei, B) Cambodia, C) East Timore, D)Laos, E)Mayanmar.

Buzz,why don't you confirm this and we can have a poll :) If it is not in the aforementioned list of 5 but is in the list that terp posed. Then, I am sorry bud, you might not be that unique as you might think....
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Re: First applicant ever from my country [#permalink] New post   07 Aug 2008, 15:48
Dude, he already said where he's from.
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Re: First applicant ever from my country [#permalink]
07 Aug 2008, 15:48
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