peterpan wrote:
Hello
I stumbled across your site yesterday and wish I would have found it much earlier!
I would be very happy if you could give me an answer to my questions.
I am planning to apply for top 10 MBA programs for second round, i.e. January 6 and would like to know if my plans are realistic. Here is my story: I just turned 27, Bachelor Computer Science Minnesota State University GPA:3.9, German citizen, fluent in four languages. I have worked for 2.5 years for a fortune 500 medical device company as a systems analyst and resigned in May to grow my own startup company since then. I am taking the GMAT at the end of this month and am expecting a score close to 700. I have been enrolled as a part time MBA student at a local private university over the last two years, six classes short of graduating. I have taken ten out of sixteen classes so far: Financial management of Electronic Ventures, Organizational Concepts and techniques, Independent Study, Information and Analysis, Financial Reporting and Control, Enrepreneurship, Customers & markets, operational Processes, New product Development, Law & Ethics in business and project management.
Are the classes I took too much for the B-schools, or could I explain these business classes I took as personal interest for running my company and preparing for a top B-school? My transcript also says my major is Master of Science in Information Technology, not MBA. This is possible because both degrees share many classes and electives and I switched around.
How do you think would be a good way to position myself in essays, especially with the graduate business classes I took. Should I just not mention that I went to a local business school or try to explain them, i.e. could they even help instead of hurt?
If I do not score a 700, but let's say a 650, would you recommend applying anyway and reapplying or waiting until next year? Does reapplying look bad?
Thank you very much,
Peter
Peter,
Almost all applications ask you to list any post-secondary education. So you must inform the schools of your current program, but you certainly can and should say you are enrolled in a Masters of Science in Information Technology. You can also say that these classes have whetted your interest in business. You will need to explain why you need both degrees and show that you are not a degree collector. Why do you need an MBA and why won't attaining your current degree goal help you achieve that goal? You are going need to be crystal clear on why you need an MBA to achieve your goals .
Regarding your question about reapplication, at almost all schools reapplicants are either viewed neutrally or positively. Harvard and a few of the European schools appear to be exceptions to that rule. For more information on applying as a reapplicant, please see "
MBA Admissions: Application Advice for Reapplicants."
Finallly, as to your basic question about competitiveness in the top ten, if you score around 700, can show some leadership or extracurricular activities, and successfully explain your reasons for wanting an MBA given your closeness to another masters program, then you have a competitive profile in the top ten.
Good luck!
Good luck!
close
16 Dec 2004, 05:34
