Any thoughts?

Hello,

I completely understand that rejection is a painful experience. However, it’s not the end of the road for you as you can work on your weaknesses and apply next year with stronger applications. Though GPA is the red flag in your application, it cannot close the doors of B schools for you. The schools take a holistic view of the application; they do not penalize the applicants if other parts of the application are strong and if the reasons for the low GPA explained in the optional essay are convincing.

Sometimes the applicants may have a stellar profile, but they may not be able to present their story convincingly. Essays, the most critical component of the application, showcase who you are as a person and as a professional. Next year, in addition to improving your GMAT/GRE and taking online courses, I would strongly recommend spending more time brainstorming your personal and professional stories and presenting them most effectively and convincingly in your essays for various schools.

For more details, you may email me for a free consultation.

Thank you,

My gmat breakdown(if i remember correctly) was following:

700(48Q, 37V) IR 5
710(47Q, 39V) IR 7

I also had 2 other scores one with very high Q and low V and the other one with very high V and very low Q ( one 690 and one 680, 680 had 40V and 42Q(just bombed math that one time). Basically if you combined the best V/Q, it would be equivalent of 740

GPA: I explained that since I immigrated from a different country, I was an ESL student and initially had to enroll into remedial reading classes before starting college, but my reading score on gmat was equivalent of 41(from enhanced report). I basically said that this demonstrated improvement in my english skills. I also did some coursework on financial theory at work(our work offers in-house classes on option theory). In my classes, I crushed the courses and my recommender mentioned this in the rec letter

I wrote excellent essays. I hired an editor from Stacy Blackman consulting who edited my essays and multiple people have said i had excellent essays(people who are MBA alum, friends who work at MBB, editors). I wrote my essay about living in poor economic conditions and how I eventually want to move back and work in emerging market impact investing. I also wrote how i helped/mentored other international students while i was in college.

One more thing, not sure if matters a lot. At the time I was applying I was working at a small HF that went under, so was unemployed at the time of applications but 2 months after that I basically got an Pre-MBA internship that will last till July/Aug at another very well known name(Not going to say the name, but it is the most well known finance firm out there). So unless I get into b school, I am f*** because I will also be out of a job in 6 months. I updated all the schools that I got a job at this firm.

I am not sure if that is over, but I still have not heard(no interview invite yet) from SOM/Darden/Stern(3rd round). I just can't comprehend. I also interviewed at tuck(self initiated interview). I will also hear from Wharton this Thur. But my gutt reactions is telling me that If if could not get an interview at Fuqua and have not received interview invites at SOM and Darden, I have no shot at Wharton.

I know people from my country who got into Duke with 680 who I thought had way worse profile than mine. I get it stats are not super high, but I thought sick essays, ivy undegrad, good WE will help, I also had alum make referrals at Yale, Wharton, Booth, etc. Why I cannot get an interview at duke or darden?

Harvard REJECTED
CBS REJECTED
Booth REJECTED
Duke REJECTED
Tuck Final decision March 12th(interviewed on campus)
Wharton Interview decision this Thur.
Yale No interview received.
NYU No interview received.
Darden No interview received

All 2nd round. NYU R3.

Do I need to pack my bags for this year?

Also, I am a double citizen. US citizen and other tiny country. My country usually send 1 student per class to booth, wharton, hbs. I know some countries report # of countries represented in their stat. Not sure how helpful is that.