Profile evaluation

Question

Please evaluate my profile below for full time MBA programs to start Fall 2010.

I am an early career applicant (will have 2 years of experience when I start):
3.5 undergrad GPA in Chemistry, minor in Econ from Dartmouth
760 GMAT (50Q/45V)
Will have 2 years of work experience in operations research consulting (analyst level) by the time I start next fall:
-managed large portions of projects
-helped create new consulting offerings for projects
-participated in sales work (presentations/conference calls)
-presented to executives/C-levels on engagements
-did some consulting gigs internationally

I'm looking into the schools below:
HBS
Stanford
Wharton
Kellogg
Booth
Sloan
Columbia
Tuck
Stern
Cornell
Yale

I know it's an uphill climb with only 2 years of experience. Any thoughts on my chances as I stand now, in terms of safety/reasonable/reach? As an aside, do you have any thoughts on my chances if I apply w/ 3 years of experience (by waiting an extra year)? I may be up for a promotion (senior analyst) if I stay an extra year. Do you think that would matter?

AlexMBAApply · Answer

If you don't have a lot of extracurricular leadership experience at Dartmouth or outside of work, HBS and Stanford are going to be a stretch to a long shot. Wharton would be a stretch. Other schools you should be in range, but maybe a little skinny on work experience (although this isn't an issue for HBS, Stanford or Wharton).

If you do have decent leadership activities in college and outside of work, then you'll have a stronger shot at HBS, Stanford and Wharton.

If you do have decent leadership activities in college and outside of work, then you'll have a stronger shot at HBS, Stanford and Wharton.

hello313 · Answer

Thanks Alex. I have okay extracurricular experience in college (spent a couple of years as one of the executive editors for a new publication at Dartmouth). No extracurriculars since college though.

Would it help to wait another year to apply/start doing extracurricular work now? I have interests that I wanted to pursue but it's been hard with my work schedule.

Also, I'm thinking of narrowing my list down to maybe 5-6 schools or so. Assuming I wait an extra year, would Harvard, Wharton, Sloan, Columbia, Tuck, and Stern be a healthy list chances-wise, or should I go more conservative than that?

AlexMBAApply · Answer

There's no such thing as instant leadership or instant accomplishments. You can't just say "I'm going to get leadership and achievements" and then voila! A few months later it'll be handed to you on a plate simply because you chose to participate.

Participation isn't the same as achievement. With only a few months to a year, you're more likely to only have the chance to sign up and participate. You can't just waltz in and knock off some achievements that you think will impress an adcom. Real achievements take years of cumulative involvement, commitment, sacrifice, and so forth - whether it's community service, arts, athletics, business or anything really.

If you're focused on more extracurriculars now because you didn't have much before, it's too late (at least to change your overall candidacy for b-school). Of course, for "life" it's never too late to get involved in something you really believe in right now -- but it should be with the idea that you would be doing this regardless of your b-school plans, so that your sustained level of commitment in that group activity/extracurricular is something you're doing for its own sake (and the byproduct being some notable accomplishments along the way, which more likely than not is a few years, not a few months away).

Again, if there's stuff you want to do outside of work, GO DO IT! But don't do it for the sake of b-school admissions because it's too late. Do it because you want to do it.

As for school choices, it's a decent range, but again my hunch is that HBS is most likely a long shot for you, Wharton a stretch, and the rest are sweet spots. Whether you dip below the top 16 or not is a personal decision.

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