Hi there!
Thanks for sharing your profile with us. Academically you are very strong, with an excellent GMAT (nice work!) and a strong GPA from a top school. Plus, the experience studying in two different non-US countries is a nice bonus. Your work experience seems very strong too. Again, I really like the international exposure you've had, plus b-schools know that jobs with VC firms are competitive, so that says a lot about you. Schools are definitely interested in applicants who have startup experience and you should use it as a positive - using the application (essays in particular) to show skills and qualities like initiative, decision making, leadership, drive, passion, etc. Be sure you can quantify your impact and success on your resume (e.g., size of firm, growth of revenues, # of customers, % customer growth, capital raised, etc.). And make sure you've got clear reasons for why MBA since many entrepreneurs (especially in Tech) have been successful without an MBA. The only other thing I see entrepreneurs struggle with is finding good recommenders, since you may not report directly to someone. So hopefully someone you reported to at your VC firm can write one, and then for other one, perhaps you have an advisor / mentor or key customer that could write one? Or if you have co-founders / partners, that can work too, though it's ideal if they have more experience than you (i.e., not your exact peer).
Are the extracurricular programs you mention current activities? If not, then that could be a potential area to improve upon, though I know as a business owner you probably don't have much free time!
I think you've got a really strong profile, so aiming for top schools like you've listed makes sense. Harvard will of course be the toughest, it is a reach for pretty much everyone, but you seem to have all the qualities they are looking for so it's worth a shot. My last piece of advice is to apply early, especially at Columbia where they have rolling admissions.
If you have more specific questions, feel free to reach back out or sign up for a free 30 min phone consult using the link in my signature.
Cheers!
Kate
Hansolo12 wrote:
Hello,
I would like to thank you in advance for evaluating my profile
27 y/o caucasian American
760 GMAT
GPA: 3.4 Lived in Europe with my parents and therefore studied at top 5 UK university with year abroad in Sweden (Stockholm School of Economics)
Extra - curricular: Set up a scheme to help the homeless by urging supermarkets and bakeries to give up the food they would otherwise throw away.
Also created a program that educates refugees to help them gain access to the working market in Europe.
Work experience: 2 years in a venture capital firm in Germany (English speaking)
Past 2.5 years I have been working on my startup (in technology sector). Startup has a valuation of around $3m and has a growing customer base.
I am somewhat unsure as to how schools will view my startup experience.
Schools I want to apply to:
CBS
HBS
Wharton
Yale
Thank you for any wisdom or advice.
_________________
Kate Richardson
mbaMission Senior Admissions Consultant
Chicago Booth Alum, over 80 5-star reviews on GMAT Club
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