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Get the inside scoop on what makes Emory’s Goizueta Business School great, learn how you can present a strong MBA application, and connect with an Admissions Director to get your questions answered.- May 01
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Kathmandu2013
GMAT 1: 700 Q44 V41
Posts: 126
14 Nov 2014, 18:02
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Hi Guys / Gal,
Long, long time reader (years in the shadows), infrequent poster. But now that my bschool application process has ended I felt obligated to tell my story. My hope is someone out there is / was in my position and thought a top 10 school was a fantasy - I know I surely did. I'll keep this brief, because... we all have better things to do than troll GMAT forums. Also, if you want any help / have any questions (that aren't dumb questions), shoot me a PM. Lastly, these are just my opinions, if you don't agree then... don't read
Part 1: Academics
I wasn't a good student. I was actually an average high school student in an average high school. I didn't get into any good schools and I was kind of at a lost. Not only that, I transferred. Not once, but twice - yes, three different undergraduate schools. The point here is this, if you went to an average or below average school, don't stress about it. Your undergrad-self and your current self are not the same. Admissions committees may argue that past performance is an indication of future performance (and it is to an extent), but they can't argue that point if you're a different person and if you explain that you're a different person, then it's a moot point. They want to know the person applying today, not 5 years ago. Worst case, take some MODs or courses at night at a community college. Take an intro to code, cook, care give, whatever, show you can handle a course today and you'll abate all fears.
Part 2: GMAT
My first score was a 580. No joke. The point is this, cognitive ability has no correlation with success, meaning that me, someone who is not academically gifted, can get a 700 on the GMAT if you're honest with yourself and dedicated. I literally spent 3-5 hours a day for 30 days straight to get that score (while working 60 hours a week.) Anyone can do that. You can do that. I'm trying to explain to the people reading this post that YOU can get that score. Be dedicated, be honest with yourself and make sacrifices. Nothing in life is free and during this time you have to decide what's most important. Get it done. Take care of business. I did and I promise you, you can do better than me.
Part 3: Work Experience
Purpose and passion. If you have those in your work experience you'll be fine (you're also probably not jumping up and down to go to bschool), but with that being said be passionate about what you do and have a purpose. Life is too short, if you're a cog in the machine your essays and resume will read like a cog in a machine. In my humble opinion, bschools do NOT want a cog from a machine. Point being, I worked at a large bank doing large bank stuff (code: pushing paper and being miserable.) What did I do? I left. I found something I loved and I chased it. When i'm interviewing (4 of 5 schools I applied to), i'm passionate about my choices. My choices had purpose. Do this. I'm older but know if I didn't have purpose or passion behind my work there was no chance I'd be good enough for any of the top 10 schools
Part 4: Out of the Office
Do you know how many rock-star bankers, consultants, tech gurus bschools get? The answer, more than they can handle. My point here is this, get out and do something exciting in your life. Volunteer at the exotic animal zoo if that's your thing. Go to a cancer hospital once a month to bring around the snack truck, do something that you care about. Why? Well, you should, pay it forward you bum, but on a serious note, you will leave feeling like a better person. You WILL get more out of it than you expect. It will make you appreciate the things you have AND it will make you 'want' bschool more because you'll realize what you CAN do.
Part 5: Do those annoying info sessions
I think there is some value extracted from the info sessions, meet and greats, ambassador programs, etc. However, I think it's minimal due to the information available online. With that being said, I know for a fact that it is EXTREMELY important to the business schools and they DO track those 'contact points.' I hate to say it, but be prepared to spend time. Go to info sessions, log into the webinars, reach out through the ambassador program. Schools say they take a holistic approach to your application, guess what one component is? Did this person make an effort or just throw together an app in a weekend?
I hope this helps. Cheers, have a great weekend.
Long, long time reader (years in the shadows), infrequent poster. But now that my bschool application process has ended I felt obligated to tell my story. My hope is someone out there is / was in my position and thought a top 10 school was a fantasy - I know I surely did. I'll keep this brief, because... we all have better things to do than troll GMAT forums. Also, if you want any help / have any questions (that aren't dumb questions), shoot me a PM. Lastly, these are just my opinions, if you don't agree then... don't read
Part 1: Academics
I wasn't a good student. I was actually an average high school student in an average high school. I didn't get into any good schools and I was kind of at a lost. Not only that, I transferred. Not once, but twice - yes, three different undergraduate schools. The point here is this, if you went to an average or below average school, don't stress about it. Your undergrad-self and your current self are not the same. Admissions committees may argue that past performance is an indication of future performance (and it is to an extent), but they can't argue that point if you're a different person and if you explain that you're a different person, then it's a moot point. They want to know the person applying today, not 5 years ago. Worst case, take some MODs or courses at night at a community college. Take an intro to code, cook, care give, whatever, show you can handle a course today and you'll abate all fears.
Part 2: GMAT
My first score was a 580. No joke. The point is this, cognitive ability has no correlation with success, meaning that me, someone who is not academically gifted, can get a 700 on the GMAT if you're honest with yourself and dedicated. I literally spent 3-5 hours a day for 30 days straight to get that score (while working 60 hours a week.) Anyone can do that. You can do that. I'm trying to explain to the people reading this post that YOU can get that score. Be dedicated, be honest with yourself and make sacrifices. Nothing in life is free and during this time you have to decide what's most important. Get it done. Take care of business. I did and I promise you, you can do better than me.
Part 3: Work Experience
Purpose and passion. If you have those in your work experience you'll be fine (you're also probably not jumping up and down to go to bschool), but with that being said be passionate about what you do and have a purpose. Life is too short, if you're a cog in the machine your essays and resume will read like a cog in a machine. In my humble opinion, bschools do NOT want a cog from a machine. Point being, I worked at a large bank doing large bank stuff (code: pushing paper and being miserable.) What did I do? I left. I found something I loved and I chased it. When i'm interviewing (4 of 5 schools I applied to), i'm passionate about my choices. My choices had purpose. Do this. I'm older but know if I didn't have purpose or passion behind my work there was no chance I'd be good enough for any of the top 10 schools
Part 4: Out of the Office
Do you know how many rock-star bankers, consultants, tech gurus bschools get? The answer, more than they can handle. My point here is this, get out and do something exciting in your life. Volunteer at the exotic animal zoo if that's your thing. Go to a cancer hospital once a month to bring around the snack truck, do something that you care about. Why? Well, you should, pay it forward you bum, but on a serious note, you will leave feeling like a better person. You WILL get more out of it than you expect. It will make you appreciate the things you have AND it will make you 'want' bschool more because you'll realize what you CAN do.
Part 5: Do those annoying info sessions
I think there is some value extracted from the info sessions, meet and greats, ambassador programs, etc. However, I think it's minimal due to the information available online. With that being said, I know for a fact that it is EXTREMELY important to the business schools and they DO track those 'contact points.' I hate to say it, but be prepared to spend time. Go to info sessions, log into the webinars, reach out through the ambassador program. Schools say they take a holistic approach to your application, guess what one component is? Did this person make an effort or just throw together an app in a weekend?
I hope this helps. Cheers, have a great weekend.
14 Nov 2014, 18:19
Kudos
Bookmarks
Congrats! Stats and WE? Also what schools were you deciding between!
Posted from my mobile device
Posted from my mobile device
