Hi, and thanks for writing! It sounds like you've had an impactful, progressive career to date. Scholarships are quite competitive and generally, are awarded to the top applicants in the pool (based in part on GMAT/GRE scores) so I would definitely encourage you to give it another try, though I understand that finding the time is difficult right now. Scholarship chances aside, with your current score I think that Kellogg, Tuck, and Berkeley would be a reach, but the other schools that you have listed are more within range. Regarding your lower undergrad GPA, you can address the circumstances you'd faced in your optional essay, but your graduate GPA will help offset it too.
In your application, you'll also want to make it clear why you want to get an MBA - why do you desire to switch to consulting/tech (choosing one of these tracks) based on your professional and perhaps personal experiences to date? What are the transferrable skills you'll bring to the role, and what are the skills/experiences you need from the MBA program in order to achieve your short and long-term post-MBA career goals?
In addition, you'll want to make clear on your resume the impact you've made in each of the roles you've held to date (within and outside of work), and make sure that your recommenders provide concrete, detailed examples that illustrate your strengths.
Hope that this helps a bit - best of luck!
MaliFri wrote:
PROFILE EVALUATION
Nationality: Brazilian
Age: 27 year-old
Undergraduate Degree: Law (converted GPA 3.316) – it is kinda low because I had to start working full time very early, since I discovered my dad had cancer - sadly, he has passed away - and I had to help with the finance back home (so I worked all day and studied during the night)
Graduate Degree: Business/Finance (converted GPA 3.7)
GMAT Score: 680 (Q42/V41 – IR 5 – AWA 6)
Desired schools: UVA Darden, Duke Fuqua, Tuck, Kellogg, Berkeley, Cornell
Desired industries: Consulting/Tech
Work experience:
Here in Brazil, if you want to work for the government, you need to apply to it through a test.
When I was in college, I discovered my dad had cancer and I needed to start helping with our finance. Because of that, when I was 19 y-o, I did a test to start working to the Court of Sao Paulo (the biggest Court in the world) and got 77/80 questions right, what took me to the 8th position among thousands of candidates.
So, I started working in 2013 (in the Court of Sao Paulo, where I work nowadays), during college (7,5y work experience) and:
- Got 03 promotions until now (well above the median);
- Was granted a prize given to me by the hands of the President of the Court because of “the relevant services to the Judicial Power”, since I got 90 million worth in negotiations (2019);
- I spent:
o 3,5y directly in operations (right after I graduated from college, I got promoted, so of this period, I was responsible for a team of ~4 people and for managing one judge’s office);
o 1,5y in consulting and public management (I was responsible for “giving” internal consulting to 60 cities);
o 2,5y in public management and negotiations (nowadays, I am responsible for a team of 20 people and work with negotiation skills, managing high value contracts and tight-budgets, as well as implementing innovation through rough scenarios).
Other experience:
- Approved in BAR equivalent exam (what we call “OAB” in Brazil) while still in college;
- Tutor of courses/classes given in the Court;
Referral letters: from 02 ex-bosses who I am totally sure that would say a lot of wonderful stuff about me.
When to apply: Early Round/Round 1 of Class of 2024 (so, between august and October of 2021)
Comments: as one can see, I have pretty good verbal skills, what does not happen with my math skills (and that concerns me in terms of my application). I am still thinking about retaking the GMAT (since I’d love to have a scholarship, because the Brazilian currency is SO depreciated right now), but it has been difficulty to dedicate a lot of time to study because, for the last months, my mom is passing through a hard time (depression and panic syndrome) and my new boss has been harassing me (because his boss told him I would be able, in the future, to occuppy his place). But I will REALY do my best to overcome that all and get a better grade! Even so, I'd like to know about my chances right now.
_________________
Nisha Trivedi
mbaMission Senior Admissions Consultant
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