mbaMissionMichael wrote:
Hello and thanks for your post.
The application process is truly holistic, and committees will look at your stats (GPA and GMAT), work experience, and extracurriculars.
Your GPA’s are strong, so that is a good start. Your GMAT is also strong, though compared to others in your demographic, it is about the average. If you haven’t already, I suggest taking it up to 3-4 times. You have nothing to lose since schools will only look at your highest score. And even a slight increase can boost your profile.
It is hard to gauge your work experience without knowing your accomplishments and impact you have made there. If possible, emphasize any leadership or initiatives on which you have taken. It will also be important to explain why you want your MBA, and to also illustrate the skills you already have which are transferable. Be sure your story makes sense, and is realistic and specific.
Regarding extracurriculars, unfortunately I would say that your research work is not considered ECs, but it will still be good to mention in your application.
If you continue to strengthen your profile, you do have a chance at a top 15 US MBA program, but they are extremely competitive, and each school simply does not have the room to admit all the world's qualified applicants. For that reason, I suggest apply to several schools, including reach, target and safety. Hopefully they will see that you have a compelling story and are someone who will add value to the classroom and community.
Good luck!
Thanks for your prompt reply Michael.
Regarding GMAT, I have taken the GMAT twice. Due to day job necesitties, I felt that I do not have enough time to prepare and improve on that score at this point of time. Instead, I chose to focus on other parts of application.I am aware of the competition that awaits me in the applicant pool, especially in my demographic. However, I am not aiming for the M7 colleges. I am very much interested in the next tier of schools, namely top 10-30 level schools, with a particular emphasis on Ross (Ann Arbor) and Tepper as I would like to remain in the tech domain and not looking for an industry shift.
Can you please opine on those choices of schools and maybe suggest me additional two or three schools that I should be looking at?
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