kyling1008 wrote:
Hello
I'm working on application for MBA (2016 fall class) Here's my profile:
1) Full-time work experience in hotel industry
Promoted to Business Development position, top-performer in the team (13 months till now)
Sales data analysis & BD team coordination position in luxury hotel B (10 months)
Sales trainee: 1-year full-time training program in luxury hotel A between 2nd year and final year of the bachelor program (12 months)
In total, 23 months after graduation, 35 months including the 1-year training program (which was pretty solid)
2) GMAT
770 (99 percentile)
Q51 V44
IR: 8 AWA 5
3) College info:
Bachelor - university in Hong Kong, major in hotel management, GPA 3.68.
4) EC:
After graduation:
Co-founder of a P2P startup project, ranked 2nd in city startup competition, still working on the project
Help my friend with his startup project (headhunting) for 1 year
Keen on hiking
In university:
SIFE university team leader, community service program organizer
Volunteer English teacher for children in rural China
University innovative business competition finalist
etc.
5) Target programs.
I'm potentially looking at:
CBS, Stern (NYC)
Kellogg, Ross, Darden, Tuck, Fuqua
Tentative: YOM?
6) Application cycle:
Looking to apply to 3-4 in each cycle, R1 and R2. For matriculation in 2016.
7) Post-MBA goal.
I intend to remain in hospitality industry, but would like to realize functional switch from sales to brand management.
ST goal: join in the brand management division of a big hotel group (like Starwood or Hilton Worldwide.)
LT goal: go back to China and establish a niche consulting firm assisting local China hotels with brand management
Backup plan: consulting for hospitality & tourism industry...
8)Personal:
Female; Chinese (Hong Kong); Age: 25
Some questions:
1) I'm not sure whether I'm shooting too high when targeting those schools, and am wondering what safety schools would be.
2) Got suggestions that my career plan is too narrow if it's fixed in hospitality industry...Will it be better to put "luxury brand management" instead of "luxury HOTEL brand management"? My concern is that hotel is fairly different from traditional luxury products, I mean the retail products like Chanel & Gucci...
Your advice is much appreciated, thanks!
Hello there!
Well, with that fantastic GMAT and just as excellent GPA, you are certainly off to a good start!
Your work experience is a bit thin, but at the same time, since your goal is to remain in industry and move up, and an MBA would be perfect for it, I think you can make a very good case to the AdComs, you will just have to work on that story of what you want to do and why.
With your great numbers I think Top 10 schools, such as the ones you have listed are in order. But keep in mind that schools don't want JUST good numbers - they want balance and vision and personality too!
I would suggest adding Cornell to your list, since they a very famous hospitality school too, and maybe you can take a few classes through that program as well.
For safety schools, I'd say pick 1-2 schools in the 10-20 range. And you should be fine.
If you need any help with anything, or would like to chat with a consultant, just drop a line:
https://bit.ly/mbafcGCBest,
Jon