MBA Decision Tracker: Monitor Application Status in Real Time

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1 year ago

@OrionVoss ! You’ve got good academic record and work experience in a global tech company, leadership creds can be a plus. With an expected GMAT FE score of ~625, you’re looking at an uphill climb. If aiming, Stern’s Tech MBA crowd tends to roll with higher scores, so if you can push that GMAT to 20, 30+ points, you’ll be in a much stronger position.

Now, let’s talk options. If you're set on tech and product management, you can broaden your list a bit and explore schools like McCombs, Scheller, Foster, which have tech pipelines and might be more forgiving on the GMAT.

Lead more projects, mentor junior folks, and show how you’re already thinking like a product manager. Also, nail your story: Why product management? Why now? Why an MBA? If you can package that into a killer application, you’ll be in a great spot. And seriously, if you can crank up that GMAT score, it’ll make things easier.

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Shantanu Sharma
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MBADecoder

If you look very specifically for "tech MBA" , it will be Stern tech MBA and Cornell Tech MBA- both programs have a heavy focus on tech and have a big PM pipeline . that said, you can apply to several MBA programs which will help you achieve the same career outcome.
Be mindful of your target GMAT score. A ~625 FE will be less if you are aiming for any of the top 25 MBA programs as well as the above two tech MBAs.
So, at the moment, in terms of your effort, your energy should go into GMAT prep

Namita Garg,
Founder, MBA Decoder
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Vashi99

Hey OrionVoss,

Vashi here from LilacBuds.

Your high CGPA (8.74/10) shows academic rigor plus your technical background (CS degree + multinational product-based tech company experience) is excellent for a tech MBA.
Strong leadership roles and extracurricular activities will help differentiate your profile. Make sure that your application essays reflect your strong professional experiences. Ensure that post-MBA goals are clearly depicted in your application essays.
Target score 625FE will be below the average for most strong tech MBA programs, especially in the US. Try aiming for 675+ for a better shot at strong programs.
If not, would suggest applying with a waiver specially with programs where the schools emphasize work experience and holistic evaluation over GMAT scores (Check out our results for Cornell-Tech + Michigan Ross & many more - Admit w/o GMAT).
A few schools to consider - Foster(Strong for tech & PM), UT Austin, CMU Tepper

We at LilacBuds would love to assist you and would therefore request more details about your profile. You can connect with our team for a detailed profile analysis at https://lilacbuds.com/services/mba-cour ... mpaign=GCV or leave a message on +91-84483 35484 for a direct reachout.

You can also share your CV on [email protected] .

Hoping to hear from you.

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Congrats on the Tuck and Kellogg interviews! Fingers crossed for more!
Seems like a great profile with high in demand demographics.
P.S. The school rank is not a huge deal for consulting so potentially considering places such as Fuqua, Yale, and Ross or even Darden and Tepper could bring some options for $$ 🤷‍♂️

Edam24

Thanks for the input! Would you advise considering Fuqua, Yale, and Ross in R3 as backup? I did well in the Tuck interview, but I guess we’ll know only in March.

Unfortunately around three is never recommended but if you are determined to go to school this year, you can throw your hat in. It’s just not a very productive round because a lot of the spots are gone and a lot of the financial aid is gone but there are exceptions, sometimes people even get admitted from waitlist with a scholarship so everything happens as long as you keep trying. I would probably see how your invitations go out For other programs. You won’t know in time so you can make this decision sometime in February. I would also say that your interview is more of a validation of a couple points and absolutely a very valuable component of your application but that’s not what we decide you getting in or not getting in. Sometimes you may have a bad interview and it may dinger application but even an awesome interview will not get you in if your application is lacking compared to other folks....

Applying in around three is also tough logistically because you have to pay deposit after around two decisions and then you’re not committing until you’ll get a decision in May or June and that’s really far down the road but at the same time people do it and survive. It’s just not optimal.

Hi BB! I'm on a tough spot right now. I'm only alive on Tuck and Kellogg, awaiting decisions (Tuck was secured interview). Duke is Feb20 deadline and awaiting interview invite. Darden is R3 so tough... I'm considering applying to Cornell, Mccombs, Yale for R3. I do want to go this year, as I'm already 32yo.
What do you think?
As a side note, I'm pretty sure mi low GPA has a lot do to with the 4 denies. It's 2.5ish.
Greatly appreciate your input.

Hi. You can see my reply above about round three.... I assume you are sending an optional essay explaining why your low GPA was an unusual circumstance?

If you are going to apply in round three, I would probably argue or say that perhaps more than your GPA is the hangup and I’m wondering if you should change your post NBA career goal to something less of a change and more aligned with your experience. That way in the eyes of the admissions, you will be leveraging your long experience rather than putting it aside and trying to break into a new industry. So think about what your safety option is and make that your primary goal and that may just help them see you as a stronger candidate ...

Thank you! Indeed, I sent an optional essay and has recently finished the MBA Math course, which I have sent to the ones I'm still alive.

That's a really good point... I really want consulting but maybe I should focus on technology or consumer electronics?
Of course, if Tuck or Kellogg accept me, I'll go to either one, but I'm really scared and want to have more backups.

Worst case scenario I would apply again next year, but worried about my age (just turn 32 a couple of days ago).

I did not say you should not go into consulting but what you do and what you put on the essays may not be the same thing.

What admissions committee does is they evaluate your likelihood of employment and if they see that it’s not high or they have concerns, they consider a candidate weaker as the result

Thank you BB! Final question, do you think my age will be a major negative factor when applying next year? I'm from march 1993.

accepted at Tuck BB!!!! Thank you so much for this amazing platform you ́ve created.

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Hi. Great profile. I think your GMAT is up there. While the average scores for these programs are fairly high, it’s kind of a side effect of the caliber of applicants, so I feel you are probably within the range already, so if there is other areas of your application that you can work on to improve your chances, you can focus on those but if the best use of your time is retaking the gym Matt, I think pushing it up 50 points would be a strong move.

Ideally for these programs you want to show a flurry of activity. It doesn’t have to be super cohesive but it needs to be purposeful and preferably have some kind of accomplishment or measurable goal or some kind of satisfying completion.

Failures are absolutely acceptable and expected. If you don’t fail you don’t learn so admissions love to ask about failures to see and evaluate your level of maturity. Only strong people are not afraid of speaking about failures and only mature people are wise enough to learn from them.

Comments 9 comments

ARINGO

Hey @Zhelen0401

I am Priyanka, Client Manager at ARINGO. Speaking about your profile, your 3.8 GPA is fantastic, and those 6 years at a global law firm, especially with a focus on real estate and energy, are pure gold for ESG consulting.

Targeting M7 programs and LBS shows serious ambition, but your unique background perfectly aligns with their focus on impact and leadership. Crushing the GMAT will definitely help – any target score in mind?

Showcase how your legal experience translates into consulting skills. Think analytical thinking, problem-solving, and client communication – all music to a consultant's ears. Don't forget to highlight your passion for ESG in your application, that'll be a game changer.

While your profile is rocking, navigating the application process for these top programs can be a jungle. Sharing your CV and connecting with us for a detailed profile review could be a game-changer. We can help you craft a compelling application that positions you for success at your dream schools.

Click here to contact us.

You can also email me your CV at: [email protected]
Good Luck!

ESG consulting is tricky but as someone with a legal degree you will have a leg up on other candidates.

Good luck on the GMAT! 655 is decent but ideally you want to touch the averages at these programs - which tend to be closer to 675 when translated into Focus terms.

bridgeric2

(not an expert here, just a reapplicant who wanted to help) Hey, as an international student who put down ESG consulting as a short-term goal, I struck out at all top 20 US schools last year. I would strongly, strongly advise you to reconsider your goals (at least for the application) because you are looking at a very niche industry in a bad economy. ESG firms don't hire many international students even in a good economy so you need to give the admissions committee some comfort. From my visits to the US schools, consulting/finance/tech are the safest industries for those needing sponsorship. Good luck, don't want anyone to make the same mistakes

Thank you for chiming in!
ESG is tricky for a few reasons (sorry, I did not finish) - it is competitive. A lot of people at the end of their career and in the midst decide they want to do something much more meaningful and so it is challenging to recruit with that much competition. Many do it pro bono sometimes for the satisfaction with organizations directly and there are not that many large organizations that are ESG friendly and able to support lots of consultants. This is a niche that everyone wants to get in but if you talk to people in the industry you realize it is tough and may cast you in a not-well-researched light even if you have done the research.

Ideally for best chances, you want to pick a boring and easy transition - e.g. RE and Energy Lawyer to RE or Energy consulting would be the most logical. Consulting in general is also a common pathway.

zhelen0401

Thank you both for the insights! Really helpful to realise that, in looking for a specific goal, I may have gone too specific. Energy consulting is genuinely part of what I am interested in, so I will def try to increase my chances

Got a 695 on the GMAT today (unfortunately I was too excited to remember section scores, I think Q85, V95, DI84) - does this improve my chances?

Hey zhelen0401,

Vashi here from Lilacbuds.

A 695FE is an excellent score which alongwith your 3.8 GPA makes you a very strong candidate. You are certainly targeting all top schools but with your 6 years of work ex in Energy law you will be a good fit for the ESG consulting industry. Not having a regular profile/ similar to major candidates gives you a leg up over others.
Make sure that you state your goals clearly in your essays & demonstrate your strengths which align with your profile plus give a clear indication of your passion for ESG. The right strategy for your applications and what narrative to give should be your major focus area across all applications.

We at LilacBuds would love to assist you and would therefore request more details about your profile. You can connect with our team for a detailed profile analysis at https://lilacbuds.com/services/mba-cour ... mpaign=GCV or leave a message on +918448335484 for a direct reachout.
You can also share your CV on [email protected] .

Hoping to hear from you.

webarebears

Hello. Can I ask you questions regarding the Sloan interview? Thank you!

Sure.

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