Cubsfan87 wrote:
Target Schools: Northwestern, Michigan, Duke, Texas, Emory
Background:
White male, 27 at matriculation
School:
-- Just inside top 50 nationally. 3.5 GPA (cum laude),Electrical Engineering with Business Minor
--(~3.8 junior and senior year)
-- GMAT: 700 (Q44/V40), retake in a month with a focus on quant, hoping to get to 720.
-- Club sports team member
Work Experience:
-- (Current) 4 years at matriculation- Systems engineer for a large defense contractor, (Lockheed/Raytheon/Northrop). Limitied managerial experience, led a team of 4 on an interim basis. Yearly Performance review in the top 25% every year. 1 promotion and have put in hard work and long hours that will come across in letters of recommendation, but lacking impressive individual achievements.
Volunteer:
--Team lead of 25 volunteers for weekend long charity event. Multiple years of service.
--Local food bank volunteer.
Goal:
To switch from engineering to management/strategy consulting.
I will probably have strong letters of recommendation, but would estimate I will end up with average essays, probably looking at you guys for help with that in the future. I need to solidify my story as to why I want to switch careers. Am I aiming too high with the schools I have listed?
Thanks for your time,
Mike.
Hey Mike,
You made me smile with the "would estimate I will end up with average essays". Dude, you are gonna have awesome essays, not mediocre ones.
Just needs a lot of work. And if essays are your main concern, then the best piece of advice I can give you: Start writing early! With time and hard work, you can make up for any writing talent you feel you don't have.
Now, on to your profile: Looking pretty good. Great GMAT, Great GPA. Fantastic industry. The base is there. You might feel you lack individual achievements, but my gut feeling is that we can pull a LOT more out of your profile and background than you think. the important thing that you have is the bases: GPA, GMAT, WE that are all great. From there, we can do anything. Yes, it will help if you get a higher GMAT. With a 700 though, a LOT of doors should be open to you anyhow, so no need to stress about it.
Your goals are totally reasonable, and I think Top 20 should be within range. The question is more: will it be top 20 or Top 10?
Best,
JF