Adcom Selectivity @ Rhyme, Pelihu, and Hjort...

Question

Imagine you are a member of the adcom for XYZ b-school, a small, but recognized program that has a mean/median GMAT around 670 and you must select between the following two candidates:

Disclaimer: Both applicant are of the gender, nationality, have about the same amount of work experience and equally weighted LORs. 

Candidate A: GMAT score 690, AWA 4.0, GPA 3.0, solid domestic technical work experience, but average "one size fits all" essays.

Candidate B: GMAT score 640, AWA 5.5, GPA 3.8, dynamic international work/study experience, and downright  rezoning  essays.

rhyme · Answer

I think it would come to do the essays. Hope you realize this is a total crapshoot in terms of what would actually happen, but if forced to pick only on the information presented here, I'd probably pick Candidate B. Stronger GPA and international experience is interesting, and Candidate A sounsd like they have boring essays. I'd be concernced with the fact that Candidate B essays are about "rezoning" which I'm pretty sure is not the word he meant to use. That said, you realize this is completely impossible to accurately predict right?

GMATT73 · Answer

OK, how about " rivoting ?" Compelling, gripping, awe-inspiring, intriguing...

The point I am trying to make here is: B has really decided (and may be able to convince the adcoms) why XYZ school is a perfect fit. While A clearly has the stonger numbers, he is also guilty of shotgunning his essays. If XYZ wants to keep its GMAT mean high, therefore maintaining its regional competitive edge, wouldn't it be better off admitting candidate A?

lhmcjen · Answer

I wouldn't agree with the fact that "A" has higher numbers, it is 6 of one or half a dozen of the other.

agsfaltex · Answer

Is the school trying to increase in rankings by recruiting higher statistics? Also, if the yield is an issue then maybe the school would choose B or A. The point i'm trying to make is, its extremely subjective-on a case by case basis.

But if forced to choose, I would choose B as well

pelihu · Answer

I would say that in terms of academic qualifications, the 2 candidates are pretty much equal. If the average GMAT is 670, then A is 20 points over, and B is 30 points under. I will guess the average GPA is around 3.3, so A is .3 lower and B is .5 higher. The quality (and possibly name brand) of the undergrad institution will need to be considered, but is not mentioned. It's pretty much a wash, and I think both candidates should be in the mix for the school in question.

I agree with Rhyme that it will probably come down to the essays.

Also consider that we spend a lot of time talking about top 5 or top 15 schools, but lower ranked schools not only have lower stats, but also higher admit rates. So, having scores "in the mix" might mean a 20% chance of success at a top 5; but at lower ranked schools having average scores might mean a 50% chance of success or something.

Hjort · Answer

Could you tell us more about the candidates' undergrad background?

rhyme · Answer

If hte only goal of admissions was mantaining a GMAT average or raising it, then yes, sure. But theres so much more than this....

GMATT73 · Answer

Sure, 

Keep in mind that XYZ public b-school is not a top tier progam, but nevertheless still somewhat competitive. XYZ is regionally known for both its international biz and MIS (e-business) programs. 

The numbers:

Mean GMAT 670 (Middle 80% range 620~720)
Mean GPA 3.5 
Mean work experience ~65 months
Selectivity 40% (Yield ~85%)
Enrollment ~250


Candidate A has a BS in computer science from a tier two state school--  for example , Cal State University Northridge. He has pursued a career in the same region as a systems engineer with modest project leadership experience at a recognizable organization. He has strong quant abilities (690 GMAT breakdown is something like a Q50/V30). His is MSCE certified and also possesses a Cisco "black belt." Let's refer to him as the IT guru. 

Once again: GPA 3.0 and "one size fits all essays."

Candidate B has a BA in linguistics from a tier two national university--f or example  University of Oregon. He has a year abroad as a Fulbright Scholar, interned during this period, and returned to work with the same corporation (recognized as the world's leading Translation-Interpretation-Foreign Language Instruction organization). His quant is significantly weaker (GMAT breakdown is something like Q42/V35), but he is enrolled in a stats/calc course scheduled to be completed before enrolling. He possesses the highest foreign language skill certificate available in the country that he works in. Let's refer to him as the language guru.

Once again: GPA 3.8 and compelling essays.

**Keep in mind, neither candidate is from an underepresented ethnic background and neither is receiving company sponsorship. Both candidates are of the same nationality, gender, relatively the same age, and have equally weighted LORs and extracurricular/volunteer activities.

Hjort · Answer

With all of the normal caveats, from an academic perspective Applicant B seems to be a significantly stronger candidate. This is a very large difference in GPA (albeit in different fields), a more widely recognized undergrad institution, and a well known academic honor. However, I would need to see how B reconciled his/her post MBA goals with the work experience.

rhyme · Answer

Candidate B... much stronger.

pelihu · Answer

I'm gonna agree and say that the Fulbright Scholar distinction makes that candidate much stronger.

GMATT73 · Answer

Thanks for your objective feedback guys. Clearly there are many variables to gaining admissions other than just a high GMAT score (not that a high GMAT doesn't hurt). 

Hjort, as for your second question, if possible I would like to PM you that essay.

pelihu · Answer

GMAT is not the only thing, but the difference between the two candidates is only 50 points, both centered around an average score somewhere in the middle. The other elements of these hypothetical candidates are not equal and differentiate them more than their GMAT scores.

GMATT73 · Answer

I admire the way you elaborate on touchy issues Pelihu. However, I beg to differ with you here. Candidate A has the  exact  skills necessary to succeed in that rigorous first year core curriculum. His hard math/IT competency would contribute much more to his cohort projects in understanding complicated Decision Science, Stats, and Spreadsheet Accounting analyses and dicussions. He would also inevitably build on his soft skills throughout the program to better comport himself during presentations in year two. In short, candidate A would hit the ground running and comfortably jog through the second year. His high GMAT also lifts the mean for XYZ, thereby possibly nudging the school up one or two notches on the tier two rankings. From the adcoms perspective, I would stick with the IT guru.

Candidate B, on the other hand, would be crawling in year one. Whereas he would be expected to interact well amongst his diverse classmates through his international background, he wouldn't be able to add much value to the math intensive DS and Accounting classes in the first couple semesters. The language guru would surely add a dynamic element, but his subpar math abilities, exacerbated by occasional transpositional errors in financial accounting would cost valuable points on important group case study projects. 

Regardless of his group management experience and articulate presentation skills, all he could bring to year one would be an element of motivation. Candidate A might learn to walk and even jog by the end of that second semester, but wouldn't be sprinting until he could tap into the electives offered at XYZ that tailor to his strengths. 

From the adcoms perspective, I'd take the runner-jogger over the crawler-sprinter because XYZ has improved its standing in recent years primarily due to the competiveness of its student body, which seems to be best reflected in its higher mean GMAT scores. 

Incidentally, XYZ moved up from tier three to tier two five years ago, and is now about to break into the top 30 primarily because of its competitive numbers. So it does appear to be emphasizing the GMAT. Stellar essays just aren't reflected in Business Week rankings...

Hjort · Answer

I like the runner/jogger and crawler/sprinter concepts. However, I still feel that B would be the stronger academic candidate. Many schools, especally those with climbing the rankings ladder ambitions would gladly trade away 50 or 100 points to be able to mention "Fulbright scholar" in their promotional materials. 

Does Student B really have subpar math abilities? As long as he is reasonably numerate and has strong general academic skills I would not be too concerned.

Adcom Selectivity @ Rhyme, Pelihu, and Hjort...

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