Hi folks,
I wanted to get an initial review of my overall application and get a realistic view of how attractive I will be to the adcoms at MIT. My score right now on the GMAT practice tests is around 690-710 and I have one month more to prepare. So assuming I score around a 720 what will my chances be to make it into a top 10 program.
School stuff - Graduated in 2008 from ASU with a computer engg. degree with a GPA of 3.8, youngest in my class.
- Chosen as an Undergrad researcher only 20 out 300 students, worked on a digital agent that was showcased on discovery channel
- Member of Tau beta pi
- Dean's list
Work Background - 4 yrs work ex at an insurance company working on IT side of things.
- Improved some set of processes and automated some boring things
- Lead some efforts on a variety of projects
- Mentored interns
- Trained non-tech work folks so that they can be proficient in learning a programming language
- Piloted new Msft tools that havent been introduced in the company yet. My team will be piloting it.
- Submitted an idea for a Mobile app via a company wide competition, only 4 teams chosen. Pitched my idea to business leaders, did market research, CBA, blah blah. Idea in the process of being implemented.
Outside work- Volunteering at Goodwill and some donations.
- Managing my portfolio on Scottrade. Made some good bets with double digit returns.
- Pitched the idea of a restaurant to my Undergrad Entrepreneurship professor (now director of Entrepreneurship). Currently in the process of pitching the idea to a local business leader who owns a string of restaurants.
Setbacks and Personal failuresI think this is what sets me apart from the rest. I consider myself driven by a strong sense of purpose. I have had a string of failures which led to a complete mindset change (Carol dweck termed it as going from a fixed mindset to a learning mindset). The most notable failure was making it to the fourth round of interviews for one of the toughest tech companies in the world, which was also my dream job, which led me to question my goals and strengthen my resolve to pursue my MBA. Additionally, I want to be my own man and work for myself and I have a couple of ideas that I have pitched to peers and family that seem to hold potential. My goal out of my MBA is to learn the skills necessary to test the viability of an idea and execute it. I am also looking for a team of people who are as driven as I am and are willing to work with me. Obviously, I still have to develop a lot of leadership and entrepreneurial skills which is why I am aiming for the top schools.
App essays and reccosI have an outline for what I am going to write here and I have jotted down a couple of ideas in my Evernote diary. Furthermore, my manager and my peers have rated me as one with the most potential and this is going to be the crux of their reccos and my app essays.
Whew! That got a bit longer than anticipated. Anywho, I know I am asking folks to rate me before I have given my GMAT but what I need from you is whether I have a chance to get in to a top 10 if i nail down an average GMAT score between 710-720 or do I need to develop myself more and thus postpone my application till next year. If i apply this year I will be 25 at matriculation.