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09 Jan 2017, 17:42
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I don't see many applicants like myself on these forums (or featured on schools' student profiles pages for that matter) so it's hard to know how within reach a decent MBA program is for me. A few quick facts:
Age (now and at matriculation): 27
Male, Caucasian, American
Applying in Round 3 (March/Feb rounds)
GMAT: Took full length computer adaptive practice test which estimated score between 720-770. ~85% quant and 95-100% verbal. Studying now for test in late Jan '17
Undergrad: Small liberal arts school in american southwest on the lower half of the top 100. Political Science. 3.63 GPA
The story of my professional life is a bit unconventional. I graduated in 2012 to a troubled economy and a very limited personal/professional network to tap into (Unlike my peers at undergrad, I come from really modest background). Having taken a couple classes on Chinese politics/society and having followed the rise of China closely in the news, I took a gamble and moved to an off-the-beaten-path city in China for a year of teaching English. My plan (I regarded it as more of a dream at that time) was to use this as a launching pad for an international sales career.
From here, I joined a media company based in Hong Kong. We produced country-branded business reports which were featured in the the most reputable local paper in the region. (Quite a big brand in Asia but, unfortunately, not well known at all in the states). My job was to spend 15 weeks in each country meeting directly with CEOs and marketing directors from firms of all sizes (blue chip to SME) and from all industries, selling them on buying article space in our country branded section. I consulted with each MD or CEO on how best to leverage the exposure to the very high level business audience of the newspaper. For instance, if we met with, say, a large international law firm in the UK, we would position the exposure as a way to invite partnerships with other complementary law firms in Asia as well as to attract corporate clients. This was a very dynamic role that involved deeply consultative sales as well as media production skills (as I also managed the production of each report through to publication). After about a year, I was promoted to the position of Project Manager and managed teams of 2-3 people in each country. During this time I lived in 6 different countries in Asia, Europe, and North America, spending 15 weeks in each.
After a little over two years, I hit a wall with this firm in terms of professional development (there was no higher position to be promoted to) and, frankly, traveling 100% of the time is tiring. From there, I pursued a more traditional media sales career and things went off the rails a bit. I worked for a very reputable british media brand (think Financial Times) in southeast asia. I managed a small sales territory for a small division of their overall business. It was not what I expected. The work was very mundane and repetitive and, worse, I wasn't learning anything. Despite the very valuable brand name, I left after only 6 months upon finding a more exciting position with a much less impressive international american media brand (the leading travel publication in the world) based in Thailand. In this, my current position, I manage advertising sales for a territory of 5 southeast Asian countries. Though I like this job, I can see the writing on the wall for this company. The great digital disruption has arrived in southeast Asia and I do not know if we are equipped to weather the storm.
Working for three media brands, each dealing with a rapidly and dramatically changing industry landscape in different ways, is what led me to pursue an MBA. I think I have a talent for corporate strategy and want the hard knowledge to back it up. My post-MBA goal is to find a strategy job in a large corporate or go directly into consulting. I'm intent on matriculating in 2017, which means applying in round 3
Here are the schools that I have in mind:
Johnson, Tepper, Foster, McCombs, Said (oxford), Judge (Cambridge), LBS (big reach?)
Would appreciate honest feedback. Do i have a decent shot this late in the game?
Thanks!
Age (now and at matriculation): 27
Male, Caucasian, American
Applying in Round 3 (March/Feb rounds)
GMAT: Took full length computer adaptive practice test which estimated score between 720-770. ~85% quant and 95-100% verbal. Studying now for test in late Jan '17
Undergrad: Small liberal arts school in american southwest on the lower half of the top 100. Political Science. 3.63 GPA
The story of my professional life is a bit unconventional. I graduated in 2012 to a troubled economy and a very limited personal/professional network to tap into (Unlike my peers at undergrad, I come from really modest background). Having taken a couple classes on Chinese politics/society and having followed the rise of China closely in the news, I took a gamble and moved to an off-the-beaten-path city in China for a year of teaching English. My plan (I regarded it as more of a dream at that time) was to use this as a launching pad for an international sales career.
From here, I joined a media company based in Hong Kong. We produced country-branded business reports which were featured in the the most reputable local paper in the region. (Quite a big brand in Asia but, unfortunately, not well known at all in the states). My job was to spend 15 weeks in each country meeting directly with CEOs and marketing directors from firms of all sizes (blue chip to SME) and from all industries, selling them on buying article space in our country branded section. I consulted with each MD or CEO on how best to leverage the exposure to the very high level business audience of the newspaper. For instance, if we met with, say, a large international law firm in the UK, we would position the exposure as a way to invite partnerships with other complementary law firms in Asia as well as to attract corporate clients. This was a very dynamic role that involved deeply consultative sales as well as media production skills (as I also managed the production of each report through to publication). After about a year, I was promoted to the position of Project Manager and managed teams of 2-3 people in each country. During this time I lived in 6 different countries in Asia, Europe, and North America, spending 15 weeks in each.
After a little over two years, I hit a wall with this firm in terms of professional development (there was no higher position to be promoted to) and, frankly, traveling 100% of the time is tiring. From there, I pursued a more traditional media sales career and things went off the rails a bit. I worked for a very reputable british media brand (think Financial Times) in southeast asia. I managed a small sales territory for a small division of their overall business. It was not what I expected. The work was very mundane and repetitive and, worse, I wasn't learning anything. Despite the very valuable brand name, I left after only 6 months upon finding a more exciting position with a much less impressive international american media brand (the leading travel publication in the world) based in Thailand. In this, my current position, I manage advertising sales for a territory of 5 southeast Asian countries. Though I like this job, I can see the writing on the wall for this company. The great digital disruption has arrived in southeast Asia and I do not know if we are equipped to weather the storm.
Working for three media brands, each dealing with a rapidly and dramatically changing industry landscape in different ways, is what led me to pursue an MBA. I think I have a talent for corporate strategy and want the hard knowledge to back it up. My post-MBA goal is to find a strategy job in a large corporate or go directly into consulting. I'm intent on matriculating in 2017, which means applying in round 3
Here are the schools that I have in mind:
Johnson, Tepper, Foster, McCombs, Said (oxford), Judge (Cambridge), LBS (big reach?)
Would appreciate honest feedback. Do i have a decent shot this late in the game?
Thanks!
11 Jan 2017, 10:15
Kudos
Bookmarks
Hi there,
Thanks for reaching out and sharing the detail of your work experience! Very cool and interesting career path. Your perspective on the rapidly evolving media industry will certainly be valuable in the classroom, as will your international work experience. I’m sensing that you don’t feel as positive about your professional trajectory as you would like. However, for the purpose of your MBA applications, I suggest focusing on the positive outcomes of your various jobs and the role they played in your professional development. The story you tell in your essays and resume should be one of growth. Remember, if you don’t believe in you, why should the adcom?
Your work experience combined with a 3.6 GPA and 720+ GMAT should make you competitive for all of the schools you listed, with LBS and perhaps Johnson as “reach” options. I like that you included a couple of “safer” options as well including Tepper and Foster. With that said, R3 is really tough at any of the top programs. Chances of admission for even the most qualified candidates go down simply because the classes have been mostly filled at that point and the adcom is in “refinement” mode, looking to fill any gaps in the diversity of the class and round out its final composition. And that’s way more art than science. I would say that the European MBA programs, namely Judge and Said, may be a little less challenging in the later rounds since application cadence across the pond tends to be a bit more even throughout the “application season”. But overall, your chances will be greater if you’re able to wait until R1 next year.
Bottom line – you might have a shot in R3 at most of your schools but you’ll be better off waiting until R1 next year if you can bear to stay in your job a few more months. If you apply in R3 and it doesn’t work out, then you risk being a re-applicant next year, which comes with the challenge of showing growth/progression in a few short months. If you’re set on trying for R3, I would prioritize Judge and Said, followed by Foster and Tepper. Have you also considered Emory given your interest in consulting?
Best of luck to you! Once you have your GMAT score in hand, we’d be happy to further discuss your strategy.
Kindly,
Melody
Thanks for reaching out and sharing the detail of your work experience! Very cool and interesting career path. Your perspective on the rapidly evolving media industry will certainly be valuable in the classroom, as will your international work experience. I’m sensing that you don’t feel as positive about your professional trajectory as you would like. However, for the purpose of your MBA applications, I suggest focusing on the positive outcomes of your various jobs and the role they played in your professional development. The story you tell in your essays and resume should be one of growth. Remember, if you don’t believe in you, why should the adcom?
Your work experience combined with a 3.6 GPA and 720+ GMAT should make you competitive for all of the schools you listed, with LBS and perhaps Johnson as “reach” options. I like that you included a couple of “safer” options as well including Tepper and Foster. With that said, R3 is really tough at any of the top programs. Chances of admission for even the most qualified candidates go down simply because the classes have been mostly filled at that point and the adcom is in “refinement” mode, looking to fill any gaps in the diversity of the class and round out its final composition. And that’s way more art than science. I would say that the European MBA programs, namely Judge and Said, may be a little less challenging in the later rounds since application cadence across the pond tends to be a bit more even throughout the “application season”. But overall, your chances will be greater if you’re able to wait until R1 next year.
Bottom line – you might have a shot in R3 at most of your schools but you’ll be better off waiting until R1 next year if you can bear to stay in your job a few more months. If you apply in R3 and it doesn’t work out, then you risk being a re-applicant next year, which comes with the challenge of showing growth/progression in a few short months. If you’re set on trying for R3, I would prioritize Judge and Said, followed by Foster and Tepper. Have you also considered Emory given your interest in consulting?
Best of luck to you! Once you have your GMAT score in hand, we’d be happy to further discuss your strategy.
Kindly,
Melody
02 Feb 2017, 09:22
Kudos
Bookmarks
VantagePointMBA
Hi there,
Thanks for reaching out and sharing the detail of your work experience! Very cool and interesting career path. Your perspective on the rapidly evolving media industry will certainly be valuable in the classroom, as will your international work experience. I’m sensing that you don’t feel as positive about your professional trajectory as you would like. However, for the purpose of your MBA applications, I suggest focusing on the positive outcomes of your various jobs and the role they played in your professional development. The story you tell in your essays and resume should be one of growth. Remember, if you don’t believe in you, why should the adcom?
Your work experience combined with a 3.6 GPA and 720+ GMAT should make you competitive for all of the schools you listed, with LBS and perhaps Johnson as “reach” options. I like that you included a couple of “safer” options as well including Tepper and Foster. With that said, R3 is really tough at any of the top programs. Chances of admission for even the most qualified candidates go down simply because the classes have been mostly filled at that point and the adcom is in “refinement” mode, looking to fill any gaps in the diversity of the class and round out its final composition. And that’s way more art than science. I would say that the European MBA programs, namely Judge and Said, may be a little less challenging in the later rounds since application cadence across the pond tends to be a bit more even throughout the “application season”. But overall, your chances will be greater if you’re able to wait until R1 next year.
Bottom line – you might have a shot in R3 at most of your schools but you’ll be better off waiting until R1 next year if you can bear to stay in your job a few more months. If you apply in R3 and it doesn’t work out, then you risk being a re-applicant next year, which comes with the challenge of showing growth/progression in a few short months. If you’re set on trying for R3, I would prioritize Judge and Said, followed by Foster and Tepper. Have you also considered Emory given your interest in consulting?
Best of luck to you! Once you have your GMAT score in hand, we’d be happy to further discuss your strategy.
Kindly,
Melody
Thanks for reaching out and sharing the detail of your work experience! Very cool and interesting career path. Your perspective on the rapidly evolving media industry will certainly be valuable in the classroom, as will your international work experience. I’m sensing that you don’t feel as positive about your professional trajectory as you would like. However, for the purpose of your MBA applications, I suggest focusing on the positive outcomes of your various jobs and the role they played in your professional development. The story you tell in your essays and resume should be one of growth. Remember, if you don’t believe in you, why should the adcom?
Your work experience combined with a 3.6 GPA and 720+ GMAT should make you competitive for all of the schools you listed, with LBS and perhaps Johnson as “reach” options. I like that you included a couple of “safer” options as well including Tepper and Foster. With that said, R3 is really tough at any of the top programs. Chances of admission for even the most qualified candidates go down simply because the classes have been mostly filled at that point and the adcom is in “refinement” mode, looking to fill any gaps in the diversity of the class and round out its final composition. And that’s way more art than science. I would say that the European MBA programs, namely Judge and Said, may be a little less challenging in the later rounds since application cadence across the pond tends to be a bit more even throughout the “application season”. But overall, your chances will be greater if you’re able to wait until R1 next year.
Bottom line – you might have a shot in R3 at most of your schools but you’ll be better off waiting until R1 next year if you can bear to stay in your job a few more months. If you apply in R3 and it doesn’t work out, then you risk being a re-applicant next year, which comes with the challenge of showing growth/progression in a few short months. If you’re set on trying for R3, I would prioritize Judge and Said, followed by Foster and Tepper. Have you also considered Emory given your interest in consulting?
Best of luck to you! Once you have your GMAT score in hand, we’d be happy to further discuss your strategy.
Kindly,
Melody
Thanks so much Melody! Your perspective was very helpful.
A quick update - I've taken the GMAT: 750 (Quant 47, Verbal 46) and revised my target schools a bit:
Kellogg, LBS, Johnson, Tepper, Foster, Judge, Said
Still trying to narrow this down the 4-5 most promising. Are there are that you think I should skip?
