{"id":62032,"date":"2024-03-06T13:23:29","date_gmt":"2024-03-06T20:23:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/who-gets-into-stanford-gsb\/"},"modified":"2024-03-06T13:23:29","modified_gmt":"2024-03-06T20:23:29","slug":"who-gets-into-stanford-gsb","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/who-gets-into-stanford-gsb\/","title":{"rendered":"Who Gets into Stanford GSB?"},"content":{"rendered":"<\/p>\n
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You may have seen this article<\/a> on Poets & Quants, which shared some eye-opening data from our peer firm, Fortuna Admissions, about who gets into Stanford GSB and Harvard Business School. In a nutshell, the article proved that, while these two uber competitive programs tout their diverse class compositions, in reality they show a clear preference for certain backgrounds. Well, that\u2019s disheartening, huh?<\/p>\n

Yes, it certainly can feel a bit unfair.  At this stage in the game, you can\u2019t change where you went to college, and you may or may not have time (or the desire) to switch jobs. So, does that mean you should give up on your dream of attending one of these top programs? We\u2019re not in the business of sugarcoating things \u2013 the chances of getting into HBS or the GSB are small for even the most qualified applicant.<\/p>\n

We are in the business, however, of helping applicants increase their chances. And we think this research can be used to help you do exactly that. Here are our four actionable takeaways from the research about who gets into Stanford GSB and HBS:<\/p>\n

#1 \u2013 Successful applicants have a proven track record of outperformance. If you can\u2019t do this through the selectivity of your undergrad or employer, find another means to demonstrate you are the \u2018best of the best\u2019.<\/h4>\n

Perhaps the most notable takeaway from this analysis is that a disproportionate number of HBS\u2019 and Stanford\u2019s classes attended a small subset of highly selective US undergraduate institutions. For instance, 53% of Stanford\u2019s class studied at just 19 institutions (Ivies and similarly competitive public and private institutions). Further, the employer names on your resume matter, a lot. Half of HBS\u2019 class worked for one of 20 companies (MBB, bulge bracket banks, big tech) or the military. <\/p>\n

So, what if you didn\u2019t go to an Ivy League school or work at McKinsey? Fair or not, admissions officers are using such credentials to determine which candidates consistently excel relative to an intensely talented peer set.<\/p>\n

The key is to think about times (note we said times, plural) where you stood out from the pack and make sure these are highlighted in your application. Maybe you were a standout competitor in a college sport while maintaining a stellar GPA, for instance. Or you work at a slightly less impressive firm but rose through the ranks more quickly than anyone at your level has before. These types of accomplishments should be reiterated across your resume, essays, and recommendations (as appropriate).  <\/p>\n

#2 \u2013 International applicants who have never studied or worked in the US bear an additional burden of proof to show they\u2019ll fit in and be competitive at HBS or the GSB.<\/h4>\n

Another takeaway that, frankly, surprised even us was that many (33%-50%) of the \u2018international\u2019 students in HBS’ and Stanford’s classes had studied in the US for undergrad. Amongst the remainder, only select international universities (Cambridge, McGill, the IITs, etc.) had more than one admit per class.<\/p>\n

If you are an international applicant without US-based college or work experience on your resume, the bar is just higher, plain and simple. Take great care to highlight any and all cross-cultural work or extracurricular projects you\u2019ve been involved with, notably those that required communicating in English. Beyond just participating in such projects, demonstrate that you had a material impact on the outcome, influenced other stakeholders, etc.   <\/p>\n

#3 \u2013 For overrepresented groups, differentiation versus peers becomes the name of the game. That will usually come from stories outside of work.<\/h4>\n

This is not all to say that, if you went to Princeton and work at Goldman Sachs, you are automatically one of the lucky few who gets into Stanford GSB or HBS. A big, yet unavoidable shortcoming to this analysis is that the authors have no way to know what the pool of applicants looked like. It\u2019s possible that those with MBB experience are overrepresented in the class because<\/em> they were overrepresented in the applicant pool.<\/p>\n

We\u2019ve worked with a lot of management consultants and private equity associates \u2013 trust us when we say that the hardest part of the application journey for these individuals is differentiating themselves from equally qualified peers who have worked on similar cases or deals. Telling a story about how you flawlessly led a workstream on your latest case is unlikely to set you apart.<\/p>\n

In our experience, the difference makers for those from overrepresented groups are twofold \u2013 the stories you tell in your essay(s), which should overwhelmingly come from outside of work, and the quality of your recommendations. Successful essays (the writing of which deserves an entirely different article) present a clear and coherent picture of who you are, NOT what you\u2019ve done. They also strike a tone of humility, collaboration, and impact. <\/p>\n

When it comes to who gets into Stanford GSB and HBS, particularly amongst candidates with similar resumes, we cannot stress the letters of recommendation component of your applications enough. Make sure your recommenders highlight what differentiates you from other people at your level (9 times out of 10, perhaps more, this is NOT the quality of your analytical output, for example). These differentiators should feel authentic to you and be supported by strong, specific examples. It is hard and takes real investment to write a stellar recommendation \u2013 above all else, make sure you choose recommenders that will take this to heart.<\/p>\n

#4 \u2013 Carefully think about when to apply, considering whether another year of experience would put you in the sweet spot for HBS \/ GSB given your background.<\/h4>\n

Lastly, and particularly for those from a crowded space like management consulting, give real thought to when you apply. Fortuna\u2019s research showed that schools like HBS may not be as reticent to admit older applicants as common industry knowledge suggests.<\/p>\n

In our experience, candidates who have fewer than average years of work experience (4.7 years is HBS\u2019 average at matriculation, for reference) can have more difficulty coming up with defining leadership stories and articulating a nuanced vision of the change they plan to drive in the future.<\/p>\n

We\u2019ve found that year two on the job after college is when people begin to get a sense for where their passion lies and\/or what their \u2018superpower\u2019 is. Consciously trying to gain experience in a focus area or leveraging a unique ability during their third year in the workforce can make all the difference when it comes time to writing your HBS and GSB essays (and can also strengthen the quality of your recommendations). Again, this isn\u2019t an exact science, just something to consider as it relates to your own profile.<\/p>\n

If you\u2019d like an honest assessment of whether your profile aligns with who gets into Stanford GSB or HBS, as well as advice on optimizing your chances, reach out to request a consultation<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The post Who Gets into Stanford GSB?<\/a> appeared first on Vantage Point MBA<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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