hoffeman wrote:
Program: MBA 2+2
Area of interest in MBA: General Management, Strategy, Finance
GMAT: prep scores around 710 but I am taking it in June so hopefully a better score than that.
GPA: 4.0 GPA - Bachelor of Science in Engineering - #1 ranked school in Sweden internationally
Work experience:
- Web master for a nonprofit organization, Production/Assembly in a medium-sized corporation, Quality assurance in a laboratory for a large corporation
Nationality: Swedish
Age: 22
Gender: Male
Extra-curriculars/community: Excellent in Undergrad, founded a case-studies group for students, various volunteering in students for students activites on campus.
Other: Exchange student in the US the year 2006/2007, Excellent score on Cambridge's international entrepreneurship assesment
Do you think I will stand a chance?
1. Is there a reason you are 22 and a junior in college, e.g.
23 at grad, and then after 2 years, 25 or 26 at matriculation to HBS, which is OK, but most 2+2 kids a bit younger?
2. HBS will like 4.0 at top school, esp. in Science. And assuming an OK gmat or gre score you would be in the running, and I cert. suggest applying.
3. Acceptance will turn on "X" factors: what they think of your jobs (not working for blue chip companies is issue), extra currics --webmaster for non-profit is better than nothing but really kinda lame for a techie, they prefer ACTUALLY DOING STUFF WITH OTHER PEOPLE, BEING CHANGE AGENT, WORKING W. SPECIAL NEEDS, POOR, LEPERS, MINORITIES, ETC.
4. I dont usually say this, b.c. it is not as true as I wish it were,
but in your case, outcome is going to depend on how you
spin or position all this into something that interests them, along lines of
business leader who makes a positive impact on society and evidence you HAVE DONE THAT and CAN DO THAT--esp. evidence you have done that: in story you tell above, there are seeds of that positioning, and maybe more which you did not include, but that, along w. solid gmat/gre is what you will need. As presented above, you are real smart and real nice guy who has never been too strategic about managing your resume or career. MEANING YOU ARE NORMAL. But HBS looks for connected kids who got the secret handshake about how to do good and look good earlier in life. You may pull this off, but it is going to take some strategy.