I need advice

Question

Hey everyone,

I need some advice on which b-school to choose. I was dinged at Darden, my top choice, after an interview. I am choosing between Kenan-Flagler (half tuition) and McCombs (no $). I am also debating whether or not to reapply to Darden next year. A little about me:

2 years 8 months teaching experience through Teach For America. 760 GMAT, 3.8 GPA undergrad, and a 4.0 GPA in my MEd program, which will be complete at the end of May. I am interested in marketing after my MBA and non-profit management in the long term.

I am also on the wait list at Ross and Yale, though I am not holding out hope for those to come through.

Which school would be best for my career goals? Should I wait a year and reapply? Any and all advice is appreciated.

jjoeteller · Answer

If you dont have a demographics problem (Indian IT male, or older than 31), then I really think you should reapply nextnyear to top 10 schools. Your profile seems goos enough for any school.

bb · Answer

Yes, quite a strong profile. 
UNC is a top 20 school, so not a poor choice at all. It probably depends a bit too if you can wait another year (some applicants can't as joe mentioned above). One suggestion would be to get smarter about apps (get some books or a consultant to help you) and plan ahead.

Based on your profile, you can gain quite a bit by waiting for the next season (assuming you can tell your story well and get some interest from Adcoms)

P.S. is Darden your top choice? You would not go to Kellogg or HBS for example?

beckettma · Answer

Thanks for the replies. Darden is my top choice. I loved the campus and the case method in particular. I am a legacy at HBS and Stanford GSB, but I do not want to attend either of those schools. What other schools would you recommend for marketing? I'm not sure if there would be much economic benefit to waiting a year, though I am open to the idea if necessary.

If I do choose to wait a year, what suggestions do you have to strengthen my candidacy? It seems that my inexperience (I am only 24) is holding me back at this point.

If I do choose to wait a year, what suggestions do you have to strengthen my candidacy? It seems that my inexperience (I am only 24) is holding me back at this point.

AnarchyBunny · Answer

I think your list sounded about right given your profile, goals & preferences, so if you went through next year I wouldn't necessarily change that list, unless you perhaps added Haas. If you were outright dinged at Darden I'd have a hard time believing you would stand out much in the early round, but I may be mistaken about that. You're probably on to something in thinking about your age & relative WE, so if you're going to go through it again, find a job or an experience that speaks to your commitment & aspirations, and you may have to get another 1-2 years of professional experience.

Also, as much as prospective students fall in love with a particular school, when the process is as selective as it is, you should really be thinking 2-3 great equivalents you would also be happy with. I think you more or less did that, but don't necessarily get hung up on Darden as a must-have. I run into this problem frequently in my line of work.

method · Answer

Maybe I'm naive, but I can't fathom this profile capping out with a half ride at UNC.

Step 1: Cut a hole in a box = have a consultant or MBA expert review your application strategy
Step 2: Put your junk in that box = follow the advice and suggested school list received
Step 3: Make her open the box = reapply next year

And that's the way you dooooo it.

cheetarah1980 · Answer

Did you seriously just modify the D!ck in a box instructions for MBA application strategy? I can't. I just CAN NOT!

woggy987 · Answer

are you for real? legacy at hbs and stanford gsb? i'm curious what advice your parents have on this topic

or any of their well connected friends should have plenty of advice.

method · Answer

Welllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll.

https://cache.thisorth.at/00000/00166/116.460x325.jpg

Blackfoliage · Answer

I think the main issue here is your story since you have great stats. You did Teach for America then went for a masters in education. So did you want to be a teacher? What changed your mind? Now you want an MBA to do marketing I'm confused.

For now think hard about whether UNC or Texas can get you where you want to go?

I think the best plan would be to spend some time at a great education non-profit or something like that and reapply for fall 2014 (not 2013). I also think you are not really sure what you want to do with an MBA. This time would help you figure out what you want to do and if an MBA is really what you need. With more experience and a clearer idea of your goals you should have no problem with Darden or more prestigious schools.

You could also re-apply next year with a better spin on your story and advice from a consultant but I think you would be better off with some work experience and time to figure things out.

method · Answer

A masters in education is usually completed during TFA.

Blackfoliage · Answer

Ok that makes more sense. I still stand by my advice though

.

krzt · Answer

I lol-ed. :D

BACK TO BUSINESS (harhar). I have a similar profile (2nd yr TFA, MEd., yaddayadda), though my stats are not as high. I'm assuming you applied Darden R1 and the others R2? Or have you been sitting on this decision for months now? I'm currently waiting on R2 decisions now (we'll know come Tues/Wed!). I think that if you were a bit heartbroken about Darden, which I'm sure everyone feels a little of after a top choice ding, it might be worth it to wait for next year. I know that your intent was to start bschool fall'12, but it also sounds like you'd be willing to wait. Your stats are already good, it'd probably be just tailoring and focusing your vision.

In terms of figuring out what to do with that year, it probably makes sense to find something marketing oriented to get your feet wet and strengthen your focus. TFA central office hires a lot of alumni and I know The New Teacher Project (TNTP) does a lot of TFA recruiting as well (I have 3 friends who are working for TNTP straight out of TFA and one is working in their marketing department). Those two options are easy ones that come to mind because you'd already have your foot in the door and wouldn't have to spend inordinate amounts of time researching/applying/interviewing for a job you'll only potentially be at for a year.

beckettma · Answer

I applied to Darden, Yale R1, Michigan R2, and UNC, Texas, Cornell R3

Darden offered me an invitation to interview one week after I submitted my application. As I was dinged, I expect that my interview exposed my youth. That said, I feel that I would still be a strong candidate next year.

As far as career goals go, I want to work in a marketing position for a tech company for a while and ultimately transition into a marketing role at a company such as Global Partnerships or Kiva International, which specializes in microfinance. I don't know that my vision can get much clearer than that.

The question is whether or not it would be worth it to put off my MBA for another year or two. From the standpoint of net present value, it makes little sense, even if UNC isn't as highly ranked. However, I feel that there is a lot to be said about the case method.

Blackfoliage · Answer

I think you can reasonably expect to get into a top 15 school if you re-apply next year if you can strengthen your application a bit. Also don't give up on the wait lists.

The key question is can UNC or Texas get you where you want to go. What companies do you want to work at and do they recruit on campus. Talk to current students and visit the school and see if you can get the job you want at those schools. If it seems unlikely that those schools will put you in a position to do what you want then I would not hesitate to re-apply at your age.

In terms of reapplying it may just be about standing out from your application cohort. There is a limited number of slots that are going to go to TFA types. So you can think about how you can differentiate yourself from that group.

There also could be questions marks about your career plan. It may be difficult to transition into tech marketing from TFA, so there are other TFA candidates that could be a safer bet to admit.

In terms of Darden specifically I think you will have a chance to get feedback on your application this summer to see why you didn't get admitted and what you can do to improve your application. I'm not sure if you can get feedback before you would need to decide on your other schools. It couldn't hurt to explain your situation and ask.

xzeppelin · Answer

I think your age is the limited factor here. The median age at most of the schools you applied for is 27/28. Your GPA and GMAT are obviously impeccable, but I can't help but imagine that a year or two of actual marketing or non-profit experience would go a million miles to getting you into any of those schools you listed. I know that programs like TFA are very well regarded by B-schools, but I think the schools might be worried that you are still too young to gain the type of position that you want when you graduate. Are you still working for the program? Would it possible to move into a marketing or even an administrative position and re-apply next year? I'd think that kind of transition within the org. would like awesome on your resume.

beckettma · Answer

Congratulations on your acceptance to Darden. If you don't mind me asking, what are your career goals? What were your stats? How was the interview and what did you talk about? Will you be attending Darden?

I'm just trying to pick up on some themes from successful applicants for next year. Again, congrats.

krzt · Answer

beckettma, I just pm-ed you!

I need advice

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