tcdmba2022 wrote:
Hi guys! I'm applying to Tuck in R2, and am very nervous. I don't have a typical Business background, and previously worked in the publishing and digital media fields. I currently serve as a consultant in digital strategy. Tuck is my number one school, and I'm worried my background (or lack thereof) will harm my application. Additionally, I'm not as strong in Quant as many others in this thread – and my GMAT score can definitely be higher. Taking the exam again in December and hoping for a 720+. I'm an international student (from the Caribbean). I'm also scheduled for my in-person interview next week on-campus. Any advice for me?
It's hard to provide a fulsome candidate evaluation without more information -- what is it that you'd like to do post-MBA? Long term? How do these goals sync with your prior professional experience as a consultant in digital strategy and academic success? What are your extracurriculars and how can they improve the community at Dartmouth? How do you plan to be involved in the Tuck community outside the classroom? All of these things and more make up your strategic positioning, the personal brand that you market yourself with to the AdCom. If you can get a 720 GMAT and you have and good undergrad GPA from a good school, strategic positioning is what makes-or-breaks you. It's also the only then you have 100% control over.
Top-tier U.S. Schools like Tuck generally aim for 30-40% international students, which means in general that it's harder for international applicants to gain acceptance than domestic U.S. ones. However, it's also true that international applicants come from several countries disproportionately: India, China, and Pakistan. The Caribbean is still considered "international" but it is not as over-represented as these countries are, meaning your chances of acceptance are a little bit higher.
If talking to an admissions consultant about how to articulate your strategic positioning in your essays may be helpful to you, feel free to reach out for a free consultation. Best of luck to you!