Please assess my schools and strategy

Question

Please evaluate prospective chances at the below schools:

I want to determine how to best spend my time on apps...if I need safeties etc.

Profile- at time of application:

24, White Gay Male (is the sexuality something that I should even bring up or could it be negative/positive?)
3 Yrs Work Experience- Top 5/6 Strategy and Management Consulting Firm

Undergrad GPA: 3.90 Summa Cum Laude
Honors- Finance, Marketing Double Major; Political Science Minor
Top 25 Undergrad Business School

GMAT- 750 (49-Q, 42-V) 6.0 AWA

Post-Undergrad Extracurriculars:
Role in nationwide firm internal government structure
Actively volunteer for head start (youth education)
Leadership role at local level of a Political Organization (conservative-moderate)
Marathon runner, Skydive etc.
Avid Traveler (Europe, Brazil, Australia)

Schools:
Stanford
Harvard
Cornell
Dartmouth
Berkeley
Virginia
Northwestern
Chicago
U. North Carolina

Thanks

Accepted.com · Answer

You are a competitive applicant at all the above programs. Since most schools are interested in increasing the percentage of LGBT students, your sexual orientation would add a diversity element to your profile and would almost certainly help you.

I would be able to better suggest where to focus your energies if I knew what you want to do after your MBA and when you intend to apply. Could you clarify?

Thanks,
Linda Abraham

irish200 · Answer

Hi Linda,

Thanks for the prompt response. Does it seem as if I should have a lower-ranked school on the list as well (I am somewhat interested in Georgetown or Notre Dame).

I plan to apply in fall 2011 and matriculate in fall 2012. 
I currently wish to pursue an MBA to advance in my consulting practice, however, I also desire the experience to enhance my knowledge of managerial process improvements, the health care field, and possibly the government.

I have ambitions of going into PE/VC and eventually, politics.

I ask the sexuality question because I know it can be a divisive issue and I risk the chance that the person reading my application does not understand or views the situation unfavorable. However, I don't wanna leave anything on the table that may help me. Perhaps, it is school-by-school decision.

Accepted.com · Answer

If Georgetown or Notre Dame have programs that appeal to you, don't take them off your list -- certainly not yet. At the same time, given your PE/VC goals, I think you will probably be accepted to higher ranking programs that feed those industries.

I would encourage you to apply to  Harvard ,  Stanford ,  Wharton ,  Haas ,  Tuck ,  Columbia ,  Chicago . Georgetown would be a safety, and a good one if you want to go into government-related work. You may also want to check out  Duke for its healthcare connections.

As I said in my earlier post, most schools are trying to increase the LGBT populations. At the same time, it is wise to see if the schools are recruiting LGBT, if they have student groups for LGBT, etc. If not, you may not feel comfortable at the school, but you probably would then be wise not to raise the subject. You also can contact the LGBT student organization and ask about the environment on campus.

Best,
Linda

Please assess my schools and strategy

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