cpetro29 wrote:
Hi Paul, et al.
I'm applying to business school this fall for Fall 2007. I was wondering if you would review my profile.
Caucasian female
Age: 27
Work Experience: Consulting at top tier firms and a year on my own (successfully), 5 years now, 6 years upon program start.
Undergrad: 3.2 at Yale in History
GMAT: 680, but I've been testing on GMATprep and others between 730 and 760. I expect to get 700 at the very least and have typically tested much better than 680.
Volunteer: organize, lead and manage a volunteer event 1-2 times/month within my firm, appointed as a member of a council within my firm to liaise with non-profits to place board members, allocate funds, and organize grass roots, initiated other volunteer events within my firm. Regular volunteer for animal rights (outside of work).
Leadership: Co-founder/officer of a diversity group wtihin company.
Other: Political experience on campaigns, run marathons, I'm also gay, which I don't plan on writing about in my essays, but it should be fairly obvious from some of my volunteer/leadership roles. I would think that in this millenium this question would be ridiculous, but I'll ask it anyway: is this a hindrance to my application?
I was also a nationally ranked high school athlete (injuries halted my college career my sophomore year), ran a business in college, and held class office in high school all four years (ended with Class President). These things will probably only be mentioned in passing since they were 10+ years ago.
I've been successful in my career: I was able to go on my own and work from my own list of clients. When I came back to a consulting firm (strategy), I had worked with several Partners in the firm from when I was self-employed. Because of this, I was offered the same salary and title that is offered to MBA grads. Basically, I'm one of, if not the youngest at my level.
I'm going back to school to get more breadth and to possibly transition my career into the political realm. I'm interested in strategy and policy in the public sector. For this reason, Harvard is my first choice (Kennedy School classes).
Please advise on my chances, where I could improve my application and possibly provide me with other schools I should consider. Because of my position within my company, the short-term benefit of the MBA is minimal, so I really am only interested in some of the top programs.
Thanks for your advice!
cpetro29,
You have a very strong and distinctive background in several respects, so if you could get that GMAt up above 700 you may have a shot at HBS. I say this because of the many distinctive plusses in your background (some more important than others, of course): female, Yale graduate, history major (unusual), clear leadership profile in several parts of your life (and especially in your career), impressive story about striking out on your own in strategy consulting and succeeding, unusual post-MBA goals, and being gay (I regard this as a strength because it sets you part). For HBS, you need to emphasize leadership, leadership, leadership and project an ambitious post-MBA vision.
Good luck!