Profile Review Request

Question

Hi there, I’m looking to get into a top 10 MBA school and to begin applying for Round 1. Curious to know your thoughts on my qualifications. Thank you in advance!

-Demographics: 27, male, white, US citizen

-Current GMAT is 690 Q46/V38 and I plan to retake it at end of the month. I honestly think the highest I could score is a 700-720 for the next test before apps are due (though of course always prepping to achieve higher). Highest I’ve gotten in practice tests has been a Q48/V38.

-GPA: 3.73/4.00 with a Bachelors in Finance and minors in Econ & Psychology from a not so well-known college. My Sophomore year gpa was lower due to family circumstances and a shift in Major.

-Employment: 5 years of work experience at an a fortune 100, asset mgmt firm, working in investment management and strategy consulting type of roles that are high profile, high budget, and high impact. I also plan to return to my employer who would pay for the schooling (so not sure if I should put that in the application?)

I have also had three major promotions over five years with another promotion expected soon.
First Role - 2 years: Leadership rotational program —> roles revolving around client experience, corporate governance, and corporate strategy departments
Second Role -1.5 years Chief of Staff for Head of Investment Mgmt —> helping to run the operations of a multi-trillion dollar global shop
Third Role (current) - 1.5 years: Investment Management Strategy Consultant (soon to be senior) —> biggest project has been leading major change management initiative that impacts $2 trillion in global assets under management and hundreds of global employees across multiple divisions

-Recommenders: One of them is my former boss from my time as Chief of Staff. Former boss is high profile exec in the company and an HBS Alumn. The other recommender is my current boss.

-Extracurriculars: Spend 100 hours a year on the alumni volunteer council for my college fraternity as acting treasurer, as well as provide finance/math tutoring to the current undergrads. I also spend about 50 hours a year helping at a local children’s community center / food bank.

-Short-term & Long-term goals, which are tailored to returning to my current employer:
Short term goal is to lead an operational delivery team or lead a corporate strategy team.
Long-term goal is to lead a major functional area of my corporation, ideally one that is looking to scale its operations globally.

Just a reminder I also plan to return to my employer who would pay for the schooling (so not sure if I should put that in the application?).

Ideal Schools: Booth, Kellogg, Columbia, Ross, Haas, Fuqua (to name a few). I think HBS, GSB, and Wharton would be a huge reach given demographic and gmat score, but would be willing to apply.

Appreciate any suggestions or advice you can give!

TheMBAEdge · Answer

Hey dmeen21 , Thanks for sharing such detailed information, it helps in providing a more objective and realistic assessment of your profile. Couple of quick comments: -Unfortunately you will be clubbed the in the overrepresented pool of applicants and hence you need to be a bit more pragmatic about you chances wrt to your current profile standing -GMAT: As you may have already realized that it is well below the median GMAT score of most top tier programs let along the super ambitious MBA cohorts which will have a median GMAT over 50points your current score. If you intend to retake the exam by end of the month, I would suggest you postpone your plans to Round 2 and focus solely on retaking the exam so as to enhance your chances of a better score. -Academics: You have an above average GPA which is a positive. If you are concerned about your sophomore year grades, one way to combat the same will be through a good GMAT score -Work experience: Your work ex looks a healthy mix of leadership and quant focus work which will be a good addition to most MBA cohorts. Further, a sponsorship from the current employer is a big positive from an application point of view. -Career Goals: I think you can build a solid case around returning to your former employer and leveraging your skills and experience to pivot your career into a leadership trajectory within the firm. -Recommender: The choices are good, just focus on showcasing more personalized instances where you have added value to your team/organization through their lens. Hope that helps? Do feel free to reach out at info@thembaedge.com if you have any further queries. All the best!

Businessconquerer · Answer

Overrepresentation hurts, am I right? Been there buddy.
Anyhow, good list of schools. Certainly seems like you are going for the top 10 there. Speaking of we do have a top 10 or refund challenge you can apply to -  Challenge link . Anyhow, coming to the point, I would not rule out H/S/W but you are right about it.

Given the GMAT increase to 720-730, I can see Fuqua being a good fit. And other schools being in competitive range. If you are planning to go back to your employer, why not go for Columbia J-term with current score and later report increased score before interview, of course?

I don't know I have so many follow up questions, you can schedule a call here if you want to-   Book a free call

I don't see why not. Yes, it will put a little pressure on you to describe why MBA but that we can help you address. I do think it adds value instead. Your employability will not be in question post-MBA. (One metric less to worry about). Besides MBBs do it all the time. You should be fine.

MBAGuide · Answer

Hi dmeen21 Employer sponsorship is an important affirmation of your abilities and evidence of your employer's unwavering confidence in your potential. When formulating your goals, surely emphasize this encouragement from the employer, especially in your short-term goals. Regarding your long-term goals, I would say you must add some more meaning beyond the numbers. MBA essays are all about passion; they are about how ready you are to change some problem in the world or to seize an opportunity that will have a significant impact on an industry. To answer this question well, your passion has to reflect through your goals narrative. Aside from the GMAT, I think all other aspects of your application are very good. Your work experience in the finance domain and strategy consulting is impressive and would have made up for a sub-700 overall score had it not been for the low quant score (which adcoms at the extremely competitive schools on your list would be concerned about). If you feel you can improve your GMAT, you should try if you still want a chance at HWS. Feel free to connect should need candid advice. Aanchal Sahni (INSEAD alum, ex INSEAD MBA admissions interviewer) MBAGuideConsulting LinkedIn |WEBSITE: https://mbaguideconsulting.com/ | Message: +91 9971200927| email- mbaguideconsulting@gmail.com

TheIvyLeagueEdge · Answer

Hi  dmeen21 
Strengths: 
1) Decent GPA
2) Excellent Career Trajectory, with an addition of Leadership Rotational Program
3) Great examples of demonstrated Leadership, and quant through your work profile and experience. This really appeals to top schools. So, play it to your advantage
4) Played well, your plan to return to your employer, and being sponsored for schooling can be positioned very well. And yes, that can position you to benefit from the Columbia J-term 
5) The ECs can also strengthen your overall candidature

Challenges (at least for the schools targeted): 
1) Current GMAT of 690 Q46/V38 (and even a higher score of 700-720): Try to improve your overall score, to a 730+ and you have a fair shot at HSW (of course with a compelling application)
2) the low brand college name may bring the overall weightage down; the family circumstances and a shift in Major will need to be drafted well to explain the low Sophomore year gpa. 
3) Your Over-representation will also add to the challenges

With the current scores, Booth, Kellogg, Columbia etc would likely be dream schools, but improve your scores to 730 and all M-7 should also be in your reach, including Ross, Haas, Fuqua. For the likes of HBS, GSB, and Wharton, I would be more comfortable with a score of 750 or above. 
Hope that helps.

MBAandBeyond · Answer

Hello dmeen21 , I hope you are doing well. It seems like you've put a lot of thought and effort into your MBA application strategy. Starting with your academics, a 3.73 GPA in Finance with minors in Economics and Psychology is solid, and it's great that you've maintained a strong GPA despite the challenges you faced during your sophomore year. While your GMAT score is decent, improving it to the upper range of your target schools' averages would enhance your chances. A 700-720 score aligns better with your competitive profile and could make your application more appealing to top-tier programs. Coming to your strong work experience, your experience at a Fortune 100 asset management firm is impressive, especially with the high-profile roles you've held. The significant promotions and the impact of your projects demonstrate leadership, responsibility, and a track record of accomplishment. Your career progression is a strong point. Going from a leadership rotational program to Chief of Staff to Investment Management Strategy Consultant, all in a span of 5 years, shows your adaptability and growth within your organization. The change management initiative you led, affecting $2 trillion in assets and hundreds of employees, is a remarkable accomplishment that showcases your leadership, strategic thinking, and ability to drive organizational change. Your extracurricular activities are meaningful, but if you can demonstrate leadership or deeper engagement in these activities, it would add more dimension to your profile. Having strong recommendations from both your former boss and your current boss, especially when one is an HBS alum, is a valuable asset. They can attest to your skills, accomplishments, and potential. Mentioning that your employer will sponsor your MBA in the application can be beneficial. It demonstrates your strong connection to your current employer, which aligns with your long-term goals. Your goals are well-aligned with your current employer and your career trajectory. Be sure to connect the dots between your current experience, the skills you aim to develop during the MBA, and how those skills will contribute to your future roles. Remember, the admissions process is holistic, and while your GMAT score is just one component, your professional experience, leadership, and overall story are equally important. Tailor each application to the specific school and demonstrate how you would be a valuable addition to their community. Good luck with your applications! We offer a limited number of complimentary profile evaluations each week . We match you with the students and alums of top B-Schools according to your background and target schools. In this call, the experts will try to dig out your USP for top B-schools and provide you with honest feedback on your profile and chances to your target schools. Book a free profile evaluation call now! Neha Hadke Strategy Manager Testimonials Meet our Panel of Consultants. Email: neha@mbaandbeyond.com MBA and Beyond

dmeen21 · Answer

Hi all,

Just wanted to follow up on this post. Based on the advice of improving a low GMAT score I ended up taking the Executive Assessment (EA) over the summer. I scored a 159 (13Q, 13V, 13IR), putting me in the 94th percentile. I applied to the four full-time schools that took an EA - Columbia, NYU Stern, UVA Darden, and Duke Fuqua. I received interview invites at all four schools, and can excitedly say I got waitlisted at Duke and accepted into CBS, Stern, and Darden!

So for others out there, there is other paths beyond a GMAT score to help you get accepted and hope that I can be proof of that.

Cheers!

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