Thanks for sharing your profile @SillyWalk ! Sorry to hear about the MIT Sloan ding. It's a difficult moment, but it can also be a learning to your success, in other school applications. You have good work experience (7 years in supply chain/tech, the right functional depth for post-MBA SCM leadership) and a good 705 GMAT FE score that already places you in the competitive range for many strong programs. Your big barrier is the low undergrad GPA (2.36), this will be the single thing AdComs notice first. However, you’re already taking the right actions (post-grad coursework at Berkeley Extension + a planned GMAT bump to 725+), which, if executed and presented well, can materially mitigate GPA concerns and show academic readiness. With a 725+ and strong storytelling, you should be competitive at many target schools (Anderson, Tepper, McCombs, Scheller, Fuqua) and have a shot at reach schools (Booth, Stern, Columbia, Haas), though the very top programs remain selective. Success story with 710 GMAT

Trajectory & sponsorship, clarify the return-to-company plan: why MBA matters for your leadership trajectory within that company, and how the company role post-MBA will be materially different and higher impact. Use Berkeley Extension grades (and any other recent transcripts) to show quantitative capability and an upward academic trend. Schools place weight on recent college-level coursework to offset a weak undergrad GPA. Quantify scope (headcount managed, budgets, supplier dollars, cost savings, lead time reductions, KPI improvements). Admissions and recruiters need crisp metrics. International/cross-cultural value, highlight any global/supplier relationships, or work across geographies, this is a differentiator as an international applicant. In your optional / education section and short essay, explicitly say “recent coursework completed X term and grade Y to demonstrate academic readiness.” Schools accept this favorably when combined with a strong GMAT.

Lors: Direct manager who can quantify your leadership, sponsorship return plan, and readiness for senior-level SCM. Second recommender: cross-functional stakeholder (like product/engineering leader or supplier/customer exec) who can speak to your strategic impact beyond ops. Provide them with bullet points and metrics.

For Essays' core story: “Why an MBA, why now, why this school, why back to the company.” Because you’ll return to the same company, make the case that the MBA is not just credentialing but essential to take on a different scope (strategy, P&L, cross-border sourcing, digital transformation of SCM). Show concrete courses/clubs/faculty that will enable those skills. Use your Berkeley Extension and GMAT as evidence of readiness.

Networking & demonstrated interest: Have 3-4 good, meaningful conversations per school (students + recent alumni + career staff). Attend a school's virtual info session and brief classroom visits (where available). Request chats with students/alums who have supply chain/tech backgrounds. Ask for concrete info: which courses/experiences helped them, company recruiting trends, and 1-sentence advice you can quote in your essay.

If you attend an on-campus or local event, capturing photos or a short reflection note can be useful for an optional “interest” note to AdCom. Use the “Update/Interest” email channel (if school allows). Keep it short (2-3 sentences): mention the event you attended + 1 specific learning + a one-sentence reiteration of your intent to enroll if admitted. Don’t flood them; 1 substantive update per school should be enough.

You can take a look at this LOW GPA BLOG.How to handle the low GPA in essays / optional essay.

We've put together an article on the " Major reasons why your MBA Application got dinged. " It provides some understanding of mistakes you might have made and improve them next time. Take a moment to review it, reflect on what you can adjust, and get ready to put your best foot forward next time. You’ve got this!

If you'd like, please feel free to book a Profile evaluation session, and we can also do a Ding Analysis for your MIT Application

Feel free to register for our Upcoming ESSAY WORKSHOP on TUCK, YALE, and NYU Stern. Craft essays that shine: pick powerful stories, match your goals with each school, and showcase authentic leadership. CLICK HERE FOR MORE DETAILS

Cheers!
Shantanu Sharma
Founder and Admissions Consultant, MBA and Beyond