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29 Jun 2020, 12:06
Kudos
Bookmarks
ApplicantLab
Good morning! (well, at least, it's morning over here in foggy Los Angeles!) -- let's jump in...
Ok, so the GPA is college isn't quite what would be considered competitive -- of course, the Indian university grading system is different than here in the US, but if a "2.7" means that you were near the bottom of your class (e.g. bottom half, bottom 25th percent), then it's not strong. The one silver lining is that it was in Math, which is more difficult and thus more "forgiveable" than, say, a 2.7 in interpretive dance.
Usually, folks needing to compensate for their university performance need to do extra-well on the GMAT -- that is, an above-average GMAT can compensate for a below-average GPA.
Your Quant score is solid, but the lower Verbal score brought the overall score down a bit. Did you take the test multiple times, or was this just the first time? If it was the first time, do you think you could do considerably better if you were to try a re-take in the next month or two?
You know, this is a teeny smidge on the young side. If you were my kid sister, I'd tell you to:
1) Wait a year -- get some solid accomplishments at the family business under your belt first
2) Use that time to re-take the GMAT or switch to the GRE
I say this because the statistical modeling work, while certainly intellecutally challenging, I'm sure -- probably did not really give you much of an opportunity to lead others (?) or to demonstrate general managerial / business leadership skills?
I am a little concerned then, that applying with an "IQ" heavy, but "EQ" light, work experience may not be the strongest thing.... vs. if you work like crazy for the next year, help the family business grow / expand / survive Covid, etc. then a year from now, your resume might have more "ooomph" to it?
note: if, honestly, your family business is NOT one that you think you could help dramatically improve, then nevermind
I'm a litttttttle worried about the GMAT / GPA combo for these schools. Yes, your score is roughly at their averages, but like I said above, if the undergraduate record was not strong, then you'd need an above-average GMAT to be more competitive.
I like the story about moving to the family business....
... but, to go back to the family business, and THEN go into consulting from there, does not sound realistic. While yes, large consulting firms do at times hire people "From industry", it's FAR more common to get into those firms directly from business school. I'm not sure that a few years at a family business post-MBA would then lead to a job at Accenture, etc.
If anything, put that as your post-MBA goal, and switch it, so that the long term is to take over the family business in 10+ years.
As mentioned above, I think the family business IS the long-term story. If its revenues / profits are enough to help you pay back the student loans you may need to take (US$150 - $200k), then make that the main career story so they will not worry about your ability to get employment that will help you cover the cost of the loans. I do not recommend going with the "I want to start my own consulting firm" in the long run story, and I absolutely do not recommend saying "I'll go back to the family business post-MBA and THEN try to miraculously get a job at AT Karney".
I think you could go ahead and apply this year, but perhaps cast a wider net, just to be safe. I do think that your GMAT would be considered, not "low" in absolute terms but "relatively" low, especially if it needs to compensate for college GPA concerns. Maybe in R1 you focus on the schools above, and then after you submit, you can start prepping some applications to schools with more generous acceptance rates, just in case you end up needing to submit them in R2?
Thanks!
Ok, so the GPA is college isn't quite what would be considered competitive -- of course, the Indian university grading system is different than here in the US, but if a "2.7" means that you were near the bottom of your class (e.g. bottom half, bottom 25th percent), then it's not strong. The one silver lining is that it was in Math, which is more difficult and thus more "forgiveable" than, say, a 2.7 in interpretive dance.
Usually, folks needing to compensate for their university performance need to do extra-well on the GMAT -- that is, an above-average GMAT can compensate for a below-average GPA.
Your Quant score is solid, but the lower Verbal score brought the overall score down a bit. Did you take the test multiple times, or was this just the first time? If it was the first time, do you think you could do considerably better if you were to try a re-take in the next month or two?
You know, this is a teeny smidge on the young side. If you were my kid sister, I'd tell you to:
1) Wait a year -- get some solid accomplishments at the family business under your belt first
2) Use that time to re-take the GMAT or switch to the GRE
I say this because the statistical modeling work, while certainly intellecutally challenging, I'm sure -- probably did not really give you much of an opportunity to lead others (?) or to demonstrate general managerial / business leadership skills?
I am a little concerned then, that applying with an "IQ" heavy, but "EQ" light, work experience may not be the strongest thing.... vs. if you work like crazy for the next year, help the family business grow / expand / survive Covid, etc. then a year from now, your resume might have more "ooomph" to it?
note: if, honestly, your family business is NOT one that you think you could help dramatically improve, then nevermind
I'm a litttttttle worried about the GMAT / GPA combo for these schools. Yes, your score is roughly at their averages, but like I said above, if the undergraduate record was not strong, then you'd need an above-average GMAT to be more competitive.
I like the story about moving to the family business....
... but, to go back to the family business, and THEN go into consulting from there, does not sound realistic. While yes, large consulting firms do at times hire people "From industry", it's FAR more common to get into those firms directly from business school. I'm not sure that a few years at a family business post-MBA would then lead to a job at Accenture, etc.
If anything, put that as your post-MBA goal, and switch it, so that the long term is to take over the family business in 10+ years.
As mentioned above, I think the family business IS the long-term story. If its revenues / profits are enough to help you pay back the student loans you may need to take (US$150 - $200k), then make that the main career story so they will not worry about your ability to get employment that will help you cover the cost of the loans. I do not recommend going with the "I want to start my own consulting firm" in the long run story, and I absolutely do not recommend saying "I'll go back to the family business post-MBA and THEN try to miraculously get a job at AT Karney".
I think you could go ahead and apply this year, but perhaps cast a wider net, just to be safe. I do think that your GMAT would be considered, not "low" in absolute terms but "relatively" low, especially if it needs to compensate for college GPA concerns. Maybe in R1 you focus on the schools above, and then after you submit, you can start prepping some applications to schools with more generous acceptance rates, just in case you end up needing to submit them in R2?
Thanks!
Thank you so much for your response!
I understand that these schools will be quite competitive for me given my academic stats, but I've already deferred my admission at UNC to Fall 2021, so I do have a safety net of sorts. This cycle, I want to focus on dream/reach schools. I've already taken the GMAT twice so I'm really reluctant to give it another try (especially now that I have an admit in hand). Applying with a year's experience at my family business would certainly be ideal, however, I'm really intent on matriculating in 2021.
As for my goals, like you suggested, one approach would be to include the family business story in the short and long term; this would also make it easier to explain why I decided to quit my job/start a new one a year before my MBA (should I get into a school). However, I might not be able to sufficiently convey enough motivation/passion for this.
My true goal is to work for Accenture/Kearney in the ST and start my own consultancy focused on helping small struggling companies in the LT. Since I already have consulting experience (albeit in a very different field), the consulting goal makes sense and I might be able to provide sufficient explanation for this. The only concern would be to explain why the family business now, which I can frame as me wanting to broaden my horizons/get a little more exposure to business as a whole which would help me in my LT goal of becoming an entrepreneur? Would that work?
I applied last fall with goals that were not in line with my past experience so I don't want to make the same mistake. As it says in the Lab, I'd like to take the more practical approach this time.
Looking forward to knowing your thoughts!
Thanks!
29 Jun 2020, 12:11
Kudos
Bookmarks
Autumn997
ApplicantLab
Good morning! (well, at least, it's morning over here in foggy Los Angeles!) -- let's jump in...
Ok, so the GPA is college isn't quite what would be considered competitive -- of course, the Indian university grading system is different than here in the US, but if a "2.7" means that you were near the bottom of your class (e.g. bottom half, bottom 25th percent), then it's not strong. The one silver lining is that it was in Math, which is more difficult and thus more "forgiveable" than, say, a 2.7 in interpretive dance.
Usually, folks needing to compensate for their university performance need to do extra-well on the GMAT -- that is, an above-average GMAT can compensate for a below-average GPA.
Your Quant score is solid, but the lower Verbal score brought the overall score down a bit. Did you take the test multiple times, or was this just the first time? If it was the first time, do you think you could do considerably better if you were to try a re-take in the next month or two?
You know, this is a teeny smidge on the young side. If you were my kid sister, I'd tell you to:
1) Wait a year -- get some solid accomplishments at the family business under your belt first
2) Use that time to re-take the GMAT or switch to the GRE
I say this because the statistical modeling work, while certainly intellecutally challenging, I'm sure -- probably did not really give you much of an opportunity to lead others (?) or to demonstrate general managerial / business leadership skills?
I am a little concerned then, that applying with an "IQ" heavy, but "EQ" light, work experience may not be the strongest thing.... vs. if you work like crazy for the next year, help the family business grow / expand / survive Covid, etc. then a year from now, your resume might have more "ooomph" to it?
note: if, honestly, your family business is NOT one that you think you could help dramatically improve, then nevermind
I'm a litttttttle worried about the GMAT / GPA combo for these schools. Yes, your score is roughly at their averages, but like I said above, if the undergraduate record was not strong, then you'd need an above-average GMAT to be more competitive.
I like the story about moving to the family business....
... but, to go back to the family business, and THEN go into consulting from there, does not sound realistic. While yes, large consulting firms do at times hire people "From industry", it's FAR more common to get into those firms directly from business school. I'm not sure that a few years at a family business post-MBA would then lead to a job at Accenture, etc.
If anything, put that as your post-MBA goal, and switch it, so that the long term is to take over the family business in 10+ years.
As mentioned above, I think the family business IS the long-term story. If its revenues / profits are enough to help you pay back the student loans you may need to take (US$150 - $200k), then make that the main career story so they will not worry about your ability to get employment that will help you cover the cost of the loans. I do not recommend going with the "I want to start my own consulting firm" in the long run story, and I absolutely do not recommend saying "I'll go back to the family business post-MBA and THEN try to miraculously get a job at AT Karney".
I think you could go ahead and apply this year, but perhaps cast a wider net, just to be safe. I do think that your GMAT would be considered, not "low" in absolute terms but "relatively" low, especially if it needs to compensate for college GPA concerns. Maybe in R1 you focus on the schools above, and then after you submit, you can start prepping some applications to schools with more generous acceptance rates, just in case you end up needing to submit them in R2?
Thanks!
Ok, so the GPA is college isn't quite what would be considered competitive -- of course, the Indian university grading system is different than here in the US, but if a "2.7" means that you were near the bottom of your class (e.g. bottom half, bottom 25th percent), then it's not strong. The one silver lining is that it was in Math, which is more difficult and thus more "forgiveable" than, say, a 2.7 in interpretive dance.
Usually, folks needing to compensate for their university performance need to do extra-well on the GMAT -- that is, an above-average GMAT can compensate for a below-average GPA.
Your Quant score is solid, but the lower Verbal score brought the overall score down a bit. Did you take the test multiple times, or was this just the first time? If it was the first time, do you think you could do considerably better if you were to try a re-take in the next month or two?
You know, this is a teeny smidge on the young side. If you were my kid sister, I'd tell you to:
1) Wait a year -- get some solid accomplishments at the family business under your belt first
2) Use that time to re-take the GMAT or switch to the GRE
I say this because the statistical modeling work, while certainly intellecutally challenging, I'm sure -- probably did not really give you much of an opportunity to lead others (?) or to demonstrate general managerial / business leadership skills?
I am a little concerned then, that applying with an "IQ" heavy, but "EQ" light, work experience may not be the strongest thing.... vs. if you work like crazy for the next year, help the family business grow / expand / survive Covid, etc. then a year from now, your resume might have more "ooomph" to it?
note: if, honestly, your family business is NOT one that you think you could help dramatically improve, then nevermind
I'm a litttttttle worried about the GMAT / GPA combo for these schools. Yes, your score is roughly at their averages, but like I said above, if the undergraduate record was not strong, then you'd need an above-average GMAT to be more competitive.
I like the story about moving to the family business....
... but, to go back to the family business, and THEN go into consulting from there, does not sound realistic. While yes, large consulting firms do at times hire people "From industry", it's FAR more common to get into those firms directly from business school. I'm not sure that a few years at a family business post-MBA would then lead to a job at Accenture, etc.
If anything, put that as your post-MBA goal, and switch it, so that the long term is to take over the family business in 10+ years.
As mentioned above, I think the family business IS the long-term story. If its revenues / profits are enough to help you pay back the student loans you may need to take (US$150 - $200k), then make that the main career story so they will not worry about your ability to get employment that will help you cover the cost of the loans. I do not recommend going with the "I want to start my own consulting firm" in the long run story, and I absolutely do not recommend saying "I'll go back to the family business post-MBA and THEN try to miraculously get a job at AT Karney".
I think you could go ahead and apply this year, but perhaps cast a wider net, just to be safe. I do think that your GMAT would be considered, not "low" in absolute terms but "relatively" low, especially if it needs to compensate for college GPA concerns. Maybe in R1 you focus on the schools above, and then after you submit, you can start prepping some applications to schools with more generous acceptance rates, just in case you end up needing to submit them in R2?
Thanks!
Thank you so much for your response!
I understand that these schools will be quite competitive for me given my academic stats, but I've already deferred my admission at UNC to Fall 2021, so I do have a safety net of sorts. This cycle, I want to focus on dream/reach schools. I've already taken the GMAT twice so I'm really reluctant to give it another try (especially now that I have an admit in hand). Applying with a year's experience at my family business would certainly be ideal, however, I'm really intent on matriculating in 2021.
As for my goals, like you suggested, one approach would be to include the family business story in the short and long term; this would also make it easier to explain why I decided to quit my job/start a new one a year before my MBA (should I get into a school). However, I might not be able to sufficiently convey enough motivation/passion for this.
My true goal is to work for Accenture/Kearney in the ST and start my own consultancy focused on helping small struggling companies in the LT. Since I already have consulting experience (albeit in a very different field), the consulting goal makes sense and I might be able to provide sufficient explanation for this. The only concern would be to explain why the family business now, which I can frame as me wanting to broaden my horizons/get a little more exposure to business as a whole which would help me in my LT goal of becoming an entrepreneur? Would that work?
I applied last fall with goals that were not in line with my past experience so I don't want to make the same mistake. As it says in the Lab, I'd like to take the more practical approach this time.
Looking forward to knowing your thoughts!
Thanks!
Hi there -- re: the career goals, this is exactly why I gave the advice above that I did! I do not think that the consulting ST / starting own consulting firm story makes sense.
Also, I did not realize that you were a re-applicant this year. That does complicate things a little. What you would have to say for any schools you are re-applying to is that, you've been talking to your family about joining the business for years, COVID gave you a real reason to do it, and NOW that you have had some experience you realize that this is what you want to do with your career instead.
This is because they will compare your essays from last year to this year, so you need to talk about the reason for the switch.
The LT goal, as I stated above, should also be to go back to the family business. You need the MBA to guide the business to an amazing new growth opportunity, such as e-commerce, self-driving cars, geographical expansion, or something like that.
Hope this helps!
-Maria
Quote:
Hi there -- re: the career goals, this is exactly why I gave the advice above that I did! I do not think that the consulting ST / starting own consulting firm story makes sense.
Also, I did not realize that you were a re-applicant this year. That does complicate things a little. What you would have to say for any schools you are re-applying to is that, you've been talking to your family about joining the business for years, COVID gave you a real reason to do it, and NOW that you have had some experience you realize that this is what you want to do with your career instead.
This is because they will compare your essays from last year to this year, so you need to talk about the reason for the switch.
The LT goal, as I stated above, should also be to go back to the family business. You need the MBA to guide the business to an amazing new growth opportunity, such as e-commerce, self-driving cars, geographical expansion, or something like that.
Hope this helps!
-Maria
Also, I did not realize that you were a re-applicant this year. That does complicate things a little. What you would have to say for any schools you are re-applying to is that, you've been talking to your family about joining the business for years, COVID gave you a real reason to do it, and NOW that you have had some experience you realize that this is what you want to do with your career instead.
This is because they will compare your essays from last year to this year, so you need to talk about the reason for the switch.
The LT goal, as I stated above, should also be to go back to the family business. You need the MBA to guide the business to an amazing new growth opportunity, such as e-commerce, self-driving cars, geographical expansion, or something like that.
Hope this helps!
-Maria
Thank you so much for the advice!
