VP
Joined: 22 Apr 2004
Posts: 1117
Given Kudos: 59
Location: Southern California
Schools:Kellogg MBA 2004
Re: Please evaluate my profile
[#permalink]
18 Jul 2010, 12:11
Hello,
Overall, I like your profile from an admissions standpoint. You've correctly keyed in on one potential weakness in your app -- your low GPA at a public university. But, as a Stanford adcomm once told me, "We're much more forgiving of slow starts than slow finishes." So, the fact that you finished strongly will certainly help.
I like the looks of your work experience. Assuming you have some specific examples to point to to discuss impact in your rotation job (not just that you passed through every department without actually doing anything meaningful), that will help you.
Re: extracurricular, the skydiving and scuba are nice, and may make for some interesting essays. But... and here's that word again... adcomms especially look for what impact you've had on the community or the organization around you. So, the group that you run in your company may prove very valuable in demonstrating that you're a guy who makes things happen (which is what schools need to see).
Re: recos, don't get too hung up on getting an HBS alum to write one for you... What really matters is that he/she knows you well and is in a good position to evaluate you. The fact that he/she came from HBS may seem like it gives you some kind of "insider edge," but admissions officers are less impressed by this than many applicants think. Also, I love the story about your roommate, but professional recos matter FAR more than these kinds of "He's a great guy" recos, so I'd probably say don't use him for a reco.
Sloan loves entrepreneurs, and Haas and Stanford obviously both sound like good fits for you. HBS and Wharton maybe a little less so. Naturally, these are all VERY competitive schools, so you're wise to spread your bets. You could surprise yourself and ONLY get into Stanford, which is the hardest one to get into (going by pure numbers). I think you have every reason to take a shot at those schools... Just spread your bets to maybe one or two more so that you improve your odds of success.
Good luck!
Scott