mbaMission Admissions Consultant
Joined: 19 Apr 2018
Posts: 222
Given Kudos: 0
Re: Profile Review Request - Thank you!
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26 Oct 2021, 22:47
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 is solid, and hopefully you did even better in your more quantitative classes. Your GMAT is also strong, though it is about the average of the schools you mentioned such as UVA and Duke. 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. This is especially important because your GPA is a bit below the average. You may still want to illustrate to the schools that you have the academic ability to succeed in the classroom: you could showcase your quant ability in your resume, your recommenders could do the same in their recommendations, or you could even take a supplemental course such as stats or calculus – though that is not a priority and you don’t have time if you are applying to schools in two months.
It is hard to gauge your work experience without knowing your accomplishments and impact you have made there. My biggest advice is to show you have made an impact and demonstrated leadership there. You clearly have the technical skills, but you will need to prove that you have leadership potential as well. Ideally this will be supported by strong recommendation letters. 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, make sure to really emphasize your leadership roles you have taken on, such as your role as a leader in the church group, or anything else you have been a part of.
Schools like UVA and Duke are probably reaches, but you definitely have a chance if you execute a really strong application, with strong essays and resume. UNC and Georgetown will be competitive too, so I am glad you are applying to several schools overall. Hopefully the admissions committee will see that you have a compelling story and are someone who will add value to the classroom and community.
If you would like to discuss your story or anything else in greater detail, please sign up for a free consultation.
Good luck!