livehard wrote:
Age: 29 (White American Male)
GMAT
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770 (50Q 44V 6 AWA)
Education
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BS in Computer Engineering: 3.61 at top regional engineering school
MS in Computer Science: 3.77 at same school
Work Experience
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5 years as a Software Engineer.
Team leader with responsibilities for product development, in-house and external presentations, technical strategy, and the management of ten employees.
Technical leader for multiple projects with budgets ranging from three hundred thousand to one million dollars.
Leader in broadening the company’s focus from solely military contracts into the commercial sector. Key role in the in the proposal, client interaction, top-level design, and final demonstration of the company’s first two successful commercial projects.
Initiator and organizer of cross-team technology sharing sessions that have been a catalyst for improving teaming relationships and company culture while enhancing the quality and timeliness of software products.
Presented technical papers at several international conferences.
Professional Goals
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I would like to leverage the MBA to start a career in high-tech product management and eventually work as a Vice President of marketing.
Community Involvement
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- Volunteer soccer coach and head referee
- Taught computer literacy courses
- Powerlifting Club founder and president
- College Dormitory President
- Local jazz band saxophonist
- Spent time in 5 continents
- Muay Thai
Target Schools
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Stanford, Wharton, Sloan, Kellogg, Haas, Ross
Do you think I can overcome my weak extracurriculars, common profile, and above average age? Thank you very much for your help, I am seriously considering using your services for my applications.
livehard,
I don't see your age as a big negative, and your extracurriculars are average, not weak. You clearly have done everything you could to overcome the management job title limitations of the IT industry, gathering a fair amount of leadership for someone who is "only" a software engineer. And your GMAT score is awesome. However, I think the common profile you referred to (lack of true distinctiveness) and the relative lack of formal leadership will hold you back at schools like Stanford, Wharton, and Kellogg. Of course, you could always apply to one or two of them as longshots but I see Sloan and especially Ross as more doable for you. I place Haas in a category somewhere between these potentially doables and true long-shots. So I would probably recommend you lower your sights from the peak, pick 3 or so of these schools, and add a few more more realistic schools like Carnegie Mellon, UNC, and Texas.
Good luck,
close
13 Oct 2007, 02:02
