PolicyWonk wrote:
I recently applied to MBA schools R2 and can't really figure out if I am very strong applicant (will even get funding) or don't stand a chance. I was hoping to get some insight into my chances as if there is a strong likelihood I will get in to a school there are a lot of things I need to arrange with my current job as well as my wife's.
Age: 28M and married, no children.
Ethnicity: Hispanic (born and grew up in US, but also hold Guatemalan citizenship)
Test scores: I took the GRE instead of GMAT, since I was more familiar with the test 165/V 168/Q GMAT equivalent of 760.
Undergrad: I went to public university, 3.61 GPA Econ/Political Science
Grad School: Harvard Kennedy 2 yr MPP and have a 1yr diploma from Johns Hopkins SAIS in 09. GPAs at both was around 3.25.
Work Experience: A significant amount of contract/internship working and living abroad in Italy and South America in primarily energy. More recently worked in public sector in a variety of capacities including as a HS math teacher. Currently working as a successful entrepreneur in RE. Started as a hobby and went on to do it full-time.
I applied to a range of schools ranked from 1-12.
I think on about every area I differ a bit from the traditional applicant, even having taken the GRE as opposed to GMAT, so I don't feel using class profiles is meaningful.
I would truly appreciate any insight anyone can offer. It took a lot to apply to MBA now with my own family and business, and this uncertainty is a bit stressful on us all.
Well you have an awesome base - Hispanic, with international experience, graduated from HKS!!!! with a fantastic GPA and GRE. Not too shabby!!!
The one big mystery for me is your work experience - I don't get from what you wrote here exactly what you do, how successful you were, how long you have been working, whether you have been employed, whether RE is just personal investment or a real business, and so on.
Can you get into Top 12 schools? Probably. Three things will be very important for you - your essays, the way you present your work experience, and how much sense your goals make. and if all those three things are in order, you should have a good shot.
Best,
JF