Improving B-school app profile

Question

Hi everyone,

I'm trying to get into a elite b-school or better after graduation, but after looking at some prospective profiles of others I find that mine is severly lacking. I promise myself a high GMAT, and an improved GPA (hopefully in the 3.4-3.5 range). But I don't have any real business work experience (part time retail doesn't mean much I figure), and I feel like I have a strong personal profile either of activities. I'm just very involved with my church, and play/coach/ref various teams & levels of ice hockey.

I'm kinda looking for ideas on what I could get involved in that would greatly help me in my application process. To start at the time of the app I know is too late, so the sooner I can get involved, the better off I would be. Thanks for all the advice/suggestions/help.

-NACMav

jordanhendrix · Answer

Ec's sound OK, You have to have min 2 years WE at most of the top schools. The schools that don't require that are extremely competitive. Cornell for example takes in a handful of students w/o real WE every year but they are usually business majors from Cornell.

If you're young the best thing is to get some real work experience so you will be competitive and also able to contribute meaningfully to a group that contains some people with 10 years of experience.

What's the rush? Dont burn your b-school ticket now, get a job and come back to it AVG age at most schools is 27-28

NACMaverick · Answer

Well, when I graduate undergrad I'll be roughly 26. I putzed around for awhile and got a very late start. My undergrad degrees are going to be Finance and Accounting. So my thought was to join Beta Alpha Psi, to help get an accounting job right out of college.

Like I said, I want to make sure I have a very strong profile, because I want to be very competitive.

Last thing I'm considering; my professor runs a non-profit tax preparation society for low income families around the area. I thought the community service would be beneficial for my job search and for b school profile. Can't hurt, right?

Posted from my mobile device

VictoryMBA · Answer

How much do graduate grades offset undergraduate grades? I went to a top 3 pub and got a 3.27 (humanities), and now have a 3.7 graduate gpa (professional degree, non-engineering/quant) at an ivy.

estreet · Answer

Something that I've heard at a lot of admissions events is "Don't spend too much time worrying about your undergraduate record, you can't change it now." 
You obviously have that luxury, so try to finish on a high note. I would also go for BAP. There are honor/recognition sections on the apps that need filling and it immediately helps answer "can he/she do the work?"

"I putzed around for awhile and got a very late start." If you figure out the themes from this period, you can make decisions now that can reinforce/complement/overcome however they might be viewed by admissions.

Looking at just the applications I've submitted so far (so take with a grain of salt), it's easier to write about things that you actually care about. It's also easier to do those things, which results in you doing them more and working harder at them, which leads to more, etc. 
"I'm just very involved with my church, and play/coach/ref various teams & levels of ice hockey." 
Sounds like that is what you have here. I figure someone else will always have a more exotic pastime than me, but the playing field starts level when it comes to commitment.

"Last thing I'm considering; my professor runs a non-profit tax preparation society for low income families around the area. I thought the community service would be beneficial for my job search and for b school profile. Can't hurt, right?" 
It would actually be beneficial for the families. This is a good opportunity to develop/demonstrate your professional skills and do something nice. Are you planning on the CPA exam? This will make the REG section much easier.

Improving B-school app profile

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