Hello Margaret,
Thanks for the detailed response.
margaretstrother wrote:
Hi Paranavt,
Sounds like you have a solid grasp of the components necessary for an application to top MBA programs. Your age and GPA are strong, and you're right to retake the GMAT, not only for a higher score but for more balance between verbal and quant.
Regarding your goals: you want to be sure your post-MBA goal is a good fit with both the MBA that you seek and what you bring to the table from your professional and educational experience. A great way to assess this is to use the Haas super-demanding "goals" question as your guide: What is your desired post-MBA role and at what company or organization? How is your background compelling to this company? What is something you would do better for this company than any other employee? Why is an MBA necessary and how will Haas specifically help you succeed at this company?
I guess I'll have to give some thought to the Haas' goals question to determine the next course of action.
margaretstrother wrote:
Remember, once you're "in", you can study anything you want. But for your application, your short-term goals should be a realistic combination of your demonstrated strengths, your personal aspirations, and that particular MBA.
Well, this is true, but if I study something that isn't vaguely related to my previous education or work experience, I doubt companies would hire me post-MBA solely due to the courses I picked during the MBA
. This is why I might have to target Technology/Consulting MBA instead of a Finance MBA.
margaretstrother wrote:
Target schools? Stern would be a stretch, McCombs and other schools at or around that level (not M7 but top-20) would be a safer target. I would suggest, however, that if you are lacking leadership in the workplace, you highlight your leadership in university and in community involvements in the present, to show that you have the "habit of leadership" that top business schools are looking for. Leading groups or events, or teaching in front of groups, will be stronger than one-on-one tutoring. You can also expand your engagements with current organizations; I don't recommend adding entirely new engagements the same year that you are applying to business school, but you may want to build out existing or recent community engagements into leadership/impact roles. Also highlight any international exposure you've had -- I see a couple of geographies in your notes, and your strong command of written English tells me that there may be more.
Good luck!
Margaret Strother
Stacy Blackman Consulting
Since I belong to the most populous set of students (Indian male with engineering/IT background), I thought I'd have a harder time with the top-20 schools. More so because my GMAT at 710 is lower than the average GMAT score of the group I am a part of. Hopefully, I'll get a better score when I retake it in a month's time.
You're right, I don't have enough leadership opportunities at my workplace and hence have worked on that front through community activities. As you suggested, I'll continue building on that both from application point of view as well as the invaluable experience it provides. Unfortunately, the international exposure doesn't relate to work experience. My schooling, prior to the undergraduate degree was in Kuwait, however the undergraduate and the work experience were in one country, India. So, I doubt that would count, will mention it nevertheless.
Thanks once again for your guidance.
Regards,
Pranav