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04 Aug 2023, 08:52
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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!
-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!
21 Aug 2023, 12:27
Kudos
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Hi dmeen21 - thanks for reaching out to Stratus! I'd be happy to answer your questions.
Thanks for being so thorough on your background--you've had a busy few years! Good luck on your upcoming GMAT, it'll certainly help with top 10 schools, though it's a good sign that you don't need to overcome a low GPA. I wouldn't even bother sharing an optional essay on a GPA over 3.5, unless your sophomore scores had Ds or Fs.
Yes, I'd mention you are sponsored by your employer. Schools like to know you'll be employed post-MBA, it helps with their placement stats.
Extracurriculars and recommenders sound solid.
Given your list of schools, I recommend getting 720+ on the GMAT, and crushing your essays. Yes, demographic-wise, you are coming from a crowded space. But it isn't something you can't overcome through powerful storytelling, and a nice spread of reach/target/safety schools.
If you want to reach out for a free consult, I or anyone on our Stratus team would be glad to explain more about the steps you should be taking to get to your best applications. I see some great, unique elements in your profile. Creating a compelling narrative is something we help our clients with every single day--connecting the dots from your past to where you want to go in your future will help the adcom determine how much they want to invest in you and your story.
Link to sign up for free consult is here: https://www.stratusadmissionscounseling ... sultation/
Thanks for being so thorough on your background--you've had a busy few years! Good luck on your upcoming GMAT, it'll certainly help with top 10 schools, though it's a good sign that you don't need to overcome a low GPA. I wouldn't even bother sharing an optional essay on a GPA over 3.5, unless your sophomore scores had Ds or Fs.
Yes, I'd mention you are sponsored by your employer. Schools like to know you'll be employed post-MBA, it helps with their placement stats.
Extracurriculars and recommenders sound solid.
Given your list of schools, I recommend getting 720+ on the GMAT, and crushing your essays. Yes, demographic-wise, you are coming from a crowded space. But it isn't something you can't overcome through powerful storytelling, and a nice spread of reach/target/safety schools.
If you want to reach out for a free consult, I or anyone on our Stratus team would be glad to explain more about the steps you should be taking to get to your best applications. I see some great, unique elements in your profile. Creating a compelling narrative is something we help our clients with every single day--connecting the dots from your past to where you want to go in your future will help the adcom determine how much they want to invest in you and your story.
Link to sign up for free consult is here: https://www.stratusadmissionscounseling ... sultation/
13 Dec 2023, 11:43
Kudos
Bookmarks
Hi all,
Just wanted to follow up on this post. Based on 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!
Just wanted to follow up on this post. Based on 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!
