Chances at a top MBA from a Fine Arts Background?

Question

Hello,

I'm very new to this process so any help I can get would be much appreciated. Could you let me know what you think my chances are at the following schools?

Top3: Harvard, Stanford, Wharton
Second 3: Tuck, Booth, Kellogg (3 yr jd/mba)

Me: 24 yr old asian american female

GPA: 3.63/4.00 from a top Ivy (HYP) in fine arts
GMAT: 750 V-96%tile M-85%tile
GRE: 1590/1600 V-800 M-790

Job-Art Director
- I design museum exhibitions for cultural institutions such as the New York Public Library, Yale School of Art, Acquavella Galleries (a powerdealer in the art world)
- I also design company identities and marketing campaigns for clients such as Oxford University Press, and have done rebrandings for a series of architecture and non-profit organizations
- I also work with prominent contemporary artists, architects and critics as well as museums like the Guggenheim, the Museum of Art and Design (NYC), and the Museum of Fine Arts (Houston) to design catalogues and books

What I want to do: I want to start my own design/marketing firm post-MBA which would focus on rebranding and updating existing marketing campaigns.

I work in a very small firm--by industry standards it is a prestigious place to work because of all the awards its won. Because of its size, I have been given exposure to all aspects of the business, and the opportunity to actually watch my designs happen. However, it doesn't pay very well for all the time and responsibility that's required of me and I haven't gotten a chance to manage a lot of people because my boss has wanted to keep the designs "exclusively ours".

Will adcoms look down on this? Will my artistic background hurt me?

shaselai · Answer

i think you are competitive for the top schools. if you look at harvard:https://www.hbs.edu/mba/perspectives/class-statistics/ it has a breakdown of pre mba profiles which gives you an insight. Dont give up hope!

ThomasD · Answer

I think you have everything going for yourself - or at the very least I'd say you have much more going for yourself than the 'average consultant' applying to the top schools. You have WE with business exposure, yet you will add an entirely different point of view to class discussion based on your underrepresented background. Asian American may even give you a minority bonus point. You pursue an MBA for the right reasons, you are young and your test scores are above average. With top essays, I do not think you have to worry about admissions for your second choices at all. HSW are challenges for everyone, but based on the little 'snippet' you provide here, I still feel you have a good shot at them.

shalva · Answer

IMO your background is absolutely amazing. You really stand out from the crowd and that's what really matters for the top schools. It seems that you have thorough knowledge of quite specific industry and so you bring some unique perspective to the table.

Go for the top schools.

Dawgie · Answer

I think the unique and diverse background will help you! Nice profile you have a good shot at those schools. Good luck!

leilalu86 · Answer

Ahh! Thank you all for your responses. You have no idea how scared I've been. I've heard opinions all over the board, mostly saying art will hurt me because I don't come from a quant background.

But reading this, I feel a little bit better. Hopefully my essays won't be a major failure.

I have heard from some b-school friends that I'm really "young" in terms of work experience. I've only worked two years at my job and have had two internships, even though I feel like I've gotten a lot accomplished. The thing is I don't know how else to comp for this... I am who I am and there's no way I can have more years of work experience than I do atm.

Do y'all think that this lack of quant experience and # of years worked will hurt?

Do y'all think that this lack of quant experience and # of years worked will hurt?

Thanks again for all the help!

shalva · Answer

Well, lack of quant expertise may be a major drawback for Booth.

Regarding work experience - show adcoms that this is the right time for you to pursue MBA and you'll be OK. I know, it is easier said than done. Conveying right message in essays is perhaps the toughest part of application process; but let's not forget, some get admitted with no work experience at all. It can be done. And it seems to me, you have the great background to start with.

ThomasD · Answer

Well look at this way, you have 7 replies to your post here. Now go and look at the first page of this subforum. Do you see anyone else with that many replies? Nope, most people have 0 or 1. Well I can only speak for myself, but I believe that is because they have boring profiles. Something I read and than don't feel the urge to reply to. Your case was/is different. Your story grabs ones attention and you need to utilize this in your essays. You do that successfully and the B-School is yours to pick. 
Concerning WE, I'd say quality goes over quantity. Again, something you can convey in both your resume and essays. As for the quant experience, your test scores say you can handle it. And heck, you are going to B-School to learn about it - no need to have developed mathematical models for a hedge fund.

Again, I think you are in stellar (!) shape.

leilalu86 · Answer

Thanks so much for the input. They've given some much needed direction in my apps. I've locked myself up in my apt this weekend to work on the essays... Here goes nothing...

Chances at a top MBA from a Fine Arts Background?

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