InitechFPA wrote:
Hi Jon,
I'm currently in a pickle between pursuing a full time or part time MBA. One of my biggest questions is what programs my profile qualifies me for.
Profile:Area of interest in MBA : Strategy/General Mgmt/Consulting
GMAT: 710 (48Q/40V) <-- Can definitely improve this.
GPA: 3.7 Finance/Econ Major Private New England Uni (Top 50 undergrad for business/finance)
Work experience(WE): Will be 3.5 years in Corporate Finance Leadership development program with rotations at F150 tech company. Multiple promotions and diverse rotations.
Nationality: white
Age: 25
Gender: Male
Extra-curriculars/community: Good, involved in multiple groups and honor societies at school. Executive Committee of investment fund in school. Good volunteering abd fundraising credentials after school.
I'm thinking if I'm going to do a FT MBA I'll shoot high, so my main goal schools would be HBS, Sloan, Tuck, Yale, and Fuqua.
I assume I may be unqualified for some of these. My main question should be what could I do to legitimately improve my chances. Stay in work longer, improve GMAT, etc.. Obviously, those would increase my odds, but would they put me in the realm of realistic for say Tuck or Yale?
Let me know if there is anything else to add or if you have any additional questions for me.
Thanks!!
Well, First of all you may be selling yourself short. You h ave excellent grades, an excellent GMAT, an excellent job. Only thing missing is maybe the Ivy League UG school, but that is pretty forgivable if you can make up for it in other areas, And all of this together + fantastic essays should make you eligible for Top 20 FT programs (So yes, Tuck or Yale should be possible).
The consideration to do a FT or PT program should be more in terms of what you want to get out of it rather than where you can get in. PT is good if you don't want to change industries, or companies, but do want that MBA, and makes even more sense if your company is willing to sponsor you for it. FT is more if you want a career change/jump or to explore new possibilities.
If you have good volunteer work and good ECs there's not really much more you need to DO to make your profile more attractive other than working on those essays and getting to know the schools really well. A GMAT retake is frankly unnecessary, but maybe if you are totally sure you can get 30 points more… it can't hurt. But I wouldn't spend tooo much effort on it, cause a 710 is pretty much good enough to et you in anywhere.
Happy New Years dude!
Best,
JF