Hi
Draples,
Thanks for reaching out to us with your profile. Overall I think you've got a strong profile. While a 3.4 is a bit below average at some of these top schools, being from Northwestern + the engineering focus + the upward trend should help you. You're also pairing that with a great GMAT score. A 45Q is a little lower than I'd like to see, but hopefully you can show quant skills elsewhere.
Your work experience shows leadership at a high level, progression, selectivity, good judgment, and work ethic/dedication. All great things. I do think the F18 aviation experience is an advantage, though make sure you are "educating" the admissions reader on what that means and how selective those opportunities are (your resume and recommendation letters are typically the best place to boast about things such as that).
It's also nice that you have some activities outside school/work, which I know can be less typical of military applicants who may have all their activities within their division.
You do have a selective list of schools but I think with well executed applications, you've got a shot at them.
Regarding your recommender, I think it depends on how weak the skills are. If the letter will lack clarity, excitement for you, and details of your work, then that would a red flag. But if it's enthuasiastic and detailed, just not written in the best way, that should be fine. They are not judging your recommender's writing style after all, as long as the info they need gets through. Do you know if this person has written recommendations for others pursuing grad school? That may be worth finding out before you make the final call. If you do not choose your current supervisor, that's fine, but you'll need to explain why.
Hope that helps, and good luck!
Kate
Draples wrote:
Demographics:
-White
-29
Education:
-Northwestern University
-Mechanical Engineering, BS
-3.4 GPA. Upward trend. 3.8 senior year
Other coursework or post-undergraduate education:
-Some graduate level classes in mechatronics
GMAT or GRE (include section breakdown):
-730 (45 Quant, 45, Verbal, 6 IR)
Work experience (highlight amount of work experience, industries, roles, promotions, special accomplishments, international exposure):
-8 years US Naval Officer
-F18 Aviator, ~1,000 hours
-Multiple leadership roles, culminating with managing a 60+ person division
-Deployments and real missions
-1 year NATO section head
Extracurricular activities (highlight notable undergraduate and post-undergraduate ones):
-President of freshman dorm
-Founded fraternity
-Big Brother Big Sisters of America mentor
-SPCA volunteer
Post-MBA goals:
-Aerospace R&D department head at a company like SpaceX
Target schools:
-HBS
-Wharton
-Kellogg
-Yale
-Columbia
Any specific questions you would like answered by our team:
-One of my recommenders is not particularly strong in English, but he is my current supervisor. Should I find someone else?
-Does F18 aviation give me any sort of advantage, or is that just hubris?
(Also, thank you so much for you time!)