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arcticTO
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Schools: Kellogg '20 HBS '20
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Healthcare Background Going Into MBA Updated on: 13 Apr 2018, 15:16
Originally posted by arcticTO on 30 Oct 2016, 10:40.
Last edited by arcticTO on 13 Apr 2018, 15:16, edited 1 time in total.
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Firstly thanks for your help in advance! I am in need of some help in selecting an MBA program(s) to apply for and my chances at them.

My background:
-Age 27
-Worked in a fortune 500 pharmaceutical company in marketing
-GMAT: 710

My long-term career goal is to be a
-C-level executive at a fortune 100 company ideally in pharma/biotech or MD at a Private equity firm
-Short-term: Get into one of the top 10 schools (or if not, one that best aligns with my background)
-Not sure if possibly an MBB or ibanking immediately out of B school to get some broader experience would be a good play (if you'd recommend it or an alternative I am all ears!!)
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PaulBodine
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Healthcare Background Going Into MBA 30 Oct 2016, 11:08
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arctictoronto,
If your goal is a top 10 MBA then, given your GPA, I would retake the GMAT if you have some evidence that you can raise the score. Your odds of admission will depend on factors you didn't mention such as evidence of fast-track career pace, depth of leadership at work, current extracurricular leadership, and/or an interesting/compelling personal story. Assuming your profile in strong enough for these schools, Wharton, Tuck, Duke, and Kellogg are the strongest healthcare MBAs in the top 10. I would not mention IB as a possible goal in your application because it's such a departure from your background and might make the schools worry whether they could place you. I would be glad to give you more feedback if you send me your resume: paulsbodine@gmail.com.
--Paul Bodine, Great Applications for Business School, www.paulsbodine.com/testimonials


arctictoronto
Firstly thanks for your help in advance! I am in need of some help in selecting an MBA program(s) to apply for and my chances at them.

My background:
-Age 27
-Graduated out of pharmacy school (Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy) from a top Canadian school UofToronto cGPA: 3.2/4.0 (3 years in undergraduate in a BSc life sciences program before that didn't finish the degree)
-Worked in a fortune 500 pharmaceutical company in marketing for 8 months then moved to payer marketing/health economics (for 2 years) (total of 3 years of work experience)
-GMAT: 710 (first attempt but thinking of redoing it to target for 740+? would that be worth it?)

My long-term career goal is to be a
-C-level executive at a fortune 100 company ideally in pharma/biotech or MD at a Private equity firm
-Short-term: Get into one of the top 10 schools (or if not, one that best aligns with my background)
-Not sure if possibly an MBB or ibanking immediately out of B school to get some broader experience would be a good play (if you'd recommend it or an alternative I am all ears!!)
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arcticTO
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Healthcare Background Going Into MBA 30 Oct 2016, 17:33
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Thank you PaulBodine, what should I be targeting for my GMAT?

Originally my first thoughts were HBS and Stanford (especially stanford given it's history with pharma and willingness to take lower GPA applicants from MBA DATA GURU )

Any thoughts on my %chances with HBS, Stanford and Wharton? or should HBS and Stanford not even be worth the time? thanks
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PaulBodine
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Healthcare Background Going Into MBA 30 Oct 2016, 17:45
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A 740 or higher would send a strong signal that your GPA is not indicative. The odds of gaining admission to HBS or Stanford given your GPA are small. How small depends on the details of your profile (i.e., diversity applicant? good reasons for low GPA? clear evidence that you redeemed these low grades later, etc.). If there are lower-ranked schools that you would be satisfied attending, then your time might be better spent focusing on them. If you send me your resume, I can give you better guidance on whether HBS and Stanford are worth trying.
--Paul Bodine

arctictoronto
Thank you PaulBodine, what should I be targeting for my GMAT?

Originally my first thoughts were HBS and Stanford (especially stanford given it's history with pharma and willingness to take lower GPA applicants from MBA DATA GURU )

Any thoughts on my %chances with HBS, Stanford and Wharton? or should HBS and Stanford not even be worth the time? thanks
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Healthcare Background Going Into MBA 31 Oct 2016, 00:16
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arctictoronto
Firstly thanks for your help in advance! I am in need of some help in selecting an MBA program(s) to apply for and my chances at them.

My background:
-Age 27
-Graduated out of pharmacy school (Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy) from a top Canadian school UofToronto cGPA: 3.2/4.0 (3 years in undergraduate in a BSc life sciences program before that didn't finish the degree)
-Worked in a fortune 500 pharmaceutical company in marketing for 8 months then moved to payer marketing/health economics (for 2 years) (total of 3 years of work experience)
-GMAT: 710 (first attempt but thinking of redoing it to target for 740+? would that be worth it?)

My long-term career goal is to be a
-C-level executive at a fortune 100 company ideally in pharma/biotech or MD at a Private equity firm
-Short-term: Get into one of the top 10 schools (or if not, one that best aligns with my background)
-Not sure if possibly an MBB or ibanking immediately out of B school to get some broader experience would be a good play (if you'd recommend it or an alternative I am all ears!!)

Hey dude, a Few thoughts here:

First of all the average GPA at Top 10 schools is about 3.7/3.6 so even with a higher GMAT you will not necessarily be the strongest candidate.

Secondly, your goals make little sense. You want to be an MD at a PE firm? And you have what experience in finance? And your background is totally something different. So, theoretically it could happen, but it would not likely be viewed as a realistic scenario by the AdCom, and will weaken your application significantly if you go with these goals.


So my advice:
Focus on biotech/pharma. This is your area of experience and actually a very good concentration as there are tons of great jobs out there for the right people and it is MUCH less competitive than MBB/PE/IB for which you are additionally not really qualified.

Secondly if you focus in on schools with healthcare strengths in the Top 20 you will find schools where you are competitive at and where you can make a good argument and application without having to retake the GMAT.

I hope this helps! And feel free to drop us a line for a free consultation.
Best,
JF