Could an MSc in HEC Paris help me to get admission into a Top MBA?

Question

I got 5 dings w/o interview this year.

According to my advisor, my main weakness is the lack of educational pedigree. Foreseeing that, I applied the MSc in Sustainability and Social Innovation from HEC Paris.

Do you think having a pre-masters before my MBA could reinforce my academic profile or would it be smarter to just focus on the GMAT and getting more results in the professional arena?

I share my profile basics:

Age/Gender: 26/Male
GMAT Score/GPA: 680 (Q:49/V:33) / 85.7% Economics in a Top 5 Mexican Private College (not well known outside Mexico). TOEFL 114/120.
Work Experience: Renewable Energy Startup/1.5 years & Food Industry (Entrepreneur)/3 years. 
Location: Mexico.
Schools applied to: GSB, HBS, Sloan, CBS and NYU.

Thanks in advance GMAT Club nation!

bb · Answer

My understanding is that BSchools consider you in light of your opportunities and if you were the best/better than rest in a small place vs. average in a top school or closer to the bottom, they give a preference to someone who took advantage of the little resources they had at disposal than those who had more opportunities but wasted them. In other words, while undergrad matters, I think an MSc would make your story more confusing (one perspective perhaps).

I would perhaps get a second opinion from a decent consultant about the pedigree thing - I never heard of anyone being able to fix it with a masters.

I would perhaps get a second opinion from a decent consultant about the pedigree thing - I never heard of anyone being able to fix it with a masters.

greenzie · Answer

I am not an expert but I could totally see that your weakness is not only in your education. Your GMAT is also quite low considering you applied to the top schools, way lower than their average. The fact that you didn't even get interviewed at all in these schools probably means that you were still way off and maybe you should target lesser schools.

patodrums89 · Answer

Thanks a lot for your advice BB. I will be checking with other consultants.

patodrums89 · Answer

Hey  greenzie  !

Thanks a lot for your reply.

I know that my GMAT is one of my weaknesses but I think increasing it is something manageable. What I am worried about is having other weaknesses that might taker longer to address.

Of course I'm going to lesser my goals a bit in this year, but I would like to be at the best place possible.

greenzie · Answer

When your GMAT is 730+ then you might not need to worry that much about your unknown education I'd say. I was really surprised that your consultant didn't tell you that you probably had close to zero chance with your current GMAT and non-super special background in getting in those top schools? Maybe really time for a change of advisers...

patodrums89 · Answer

Hahaha my advisor was member of the adcom of one of the BSchools I applied and advised me for free. More than an advisor is a mentor.

Of course the GMAT was always a concern, but this person also knows two other applicants with a less appealing and competitive CV, one of them with lower GMAT and "awful" essays, who were ultimately admitted. Of course they both have pedigree: Ivy League undergrads and parents that are alumni.

So I think that more than a change of advisor I need to consult with different experts and see the consensus.

Thanks again  greenzie

greenzie · Answer

I mean sure you're probably not the worst applicant but say you're in the bottom 5%, how likely you will be admitted anyway? Those two examples are probably quite an anomaly. There were many more examples people coming from unknown colleges around the world entering top schools than those Ivies with awful CV and essays. Anyway, I'd say focus on the easiest: improve your GMAT and I think it will take you way further. Good luck!!

patodrums89 · Answer

You are right my friend! Is going back to zero again, focus on the GMAT and based on that selecting programs.

Thanks for the support!

Could an MSc in HEC Paris help me to get admission into a Top MBA?

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