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FusciaCricket
Joined: 02 Mar 2016
Last visit: 28 Feb 2023
Posts: 25
Given Kudos: 7
Location: United States (NY)
Schools: Stanford '22 (S)
GPA: 2.8
Updated on: 11 Mar 2016, 07:46
Originally posted by FusciaCricket on 02 Mar 2016, 19:21.
Last edited by FusciaCricket on 11 Mar 2016, 07:46, edited 1 time in total.
Last edited by FusciaCricket on 11 Mar 2016, 07:46, edited 1 time in total.
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09 Mar 2016, 23:30
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Hi FusciaCricket:
Sorry to hear about your mother. Speaking from personal experience, I know how tough your situation must be.
You seem to have the beginning of a very good story for business school - both HBS and Stanford. I am not saying this because of your mom's and your family's situation, but rather I am saying this because you seem like a very interesting person who has had to overcome some significant obstacles (and as someone who continues to address significant challenges in your daily life).
Your GMAT score is excellent, and I really do not think that getting another 20 points or so is going to move the needle at all. Sure, a 760 is better than the 740, but I look at the GMAT score is simply a hurdle you need to clear. Think of it like the high jump. You only really need to get a certain score to prove your prowess, and that is it. Once you are in the range that you are in, you are doing well enough. Of course, if you feel like you left money on the table on test day because of some sort of performance issue, then sure take it again. But if you have to choose between writing your essays, and studying for the GMAT, and the rest of your life responsibilities - focus on your essays and on your other life responsibilities. Your 740 is a great score and it is more than good enough.
Your 2.7 GPA needs to be explained in the optional essay, or anywhere else the application gives you an opportunity to explain the circumstances behind your "subpar" performance. While a 2.7 GPA will not win you any points (during the discussion of your file by the admissions committee), if you can clearly and succinctly layout many of the personal circumstances that took time away from your studies, You will probably be fine. What do I mean by "probably"? I mean that these decisions are pretty binary. The admissions committee can deal with it, then you are cool. If they cannot, then you are pretty much waste basket fodder.
The other issue is that as a younger applicant your GPA will be weighed more heavily in the equation. How much more heavily than someone who has been working for a few years? I cannot really tell you that. No admissions consultant can. But just know that they have fewer factors to measure, so the ones that they do measure will be scrutinized more closely – in this case your GPA. Now this does not mean that you are screwed. It just means that you have to come up with a very on point explanation for why you are 2.7 is not actually a 2.7. Do not try to pull on the admissions committee's heartstrings, do not try to wax overly emotional. Just get to the point. They do not need to know how hard it must be to go through the ordeal. They can readily assume or assess how bad your situation must be, physically, spiritually and emotionally. What you do need to spend most of your time on – that is, most of your explanation on describing – is very specifically where your time was spent, if it was not spent study hall or focused on your classes. If you had to drive back and forth to the hospital with your mom, and you had to do that five times a week And it took 90 minutes to get to the hospital and 60 Minutes take back home, then explain that. If you were your mom's primary caretaker, and that required you leaving school in the middle the day four times a week, then explain that. If you had to work a part-time job because the medical bills were onerous, and you needed the money to pay for your tuition or other types of ancillary expenses, then explain that in full detail. Again, none of what I just stated requires any type of drama. It is just the facts.
Your goals seem fine based on what I know about them and your background. I do not know exactly the full extent of your experience within entertainment or theater or film. Right now, at a high level, your goals seem aligned with your current experiences. The point is that you have to demonstrate passion for your goals, because at a very baselevel if you do not have passion and commitment to your goals – as demonstrated by your current experiences – then how on earth can you make the case that you actually want to change the world through your goals in the future? This is critical, because any goals that you stayed at Stanford and Harvard have to be aspirational. They have to be in line with changing the world. Now that might seem ridiculous, given where you are at in the process of applying. But I assure you, if you can come to the table at Harvard or Stanford would goals and have the potential to impact an industry a community or the world, and do not even bother. These two schools in particular are not handing out MBA degrees to people who just want to go from manager to EVP.
The next step in evaluating your fit with these two schools is to start examining the actual essay questions. You have to understand Stanford's "moral advantage" leadership mantra, as well as Harvard's quest for leaders they believe will do well within their case method learning environment. Basically Stanford wants Applicants who have adhered to their moral code, even when it has been tested. And because of that they have experience profound growth and have been pushed in a certain direction. These are the types of people that they believe understand the business can be used as a tool to advance society and ultimately change the world for the better. Harvard seeks a similar person, but I would say HBS places less emphasis on Moral advantage, and more on those young leaders who have the audacity to engage others not like them, or put themselves in positions where they are completely out of a comfort zone. They believe that these individuals Are those who truly know themselves, who truly understand what they are made of, and to ultimately find success because of that ability and aspect of their leadership. HBS also believes that these are the individuals who have the guts to do well in the case Method learning environment.
That is my initial assessment for you. I think you will do well.
If you would like to talk about your candidacy in a little more detail, please email me at [email protected]. Refer to this conversation, and I will be glad to talk to you within the next week.
Respectfully,
Paul Lanzillotti
Sorry to hear about your mother. Speaking from personal experience, I know how tough your situation must be.
You seem to have the beginning of a very good story for business school - both HBS and Stanford. I am not saying this because of your mom's and your family's situation, but rather I am saying this because you seem like a very interesting person who has had to overcome some significant obstacles (and as someone who continues to address significant challenges in your daily life).
Your GMAT score is excellent, and I really do not think that getting another 20 points or so is going to move the needle at all. Sure, a 760 is better than the 740, but I look at the GMAT score is simply a hurdle you need to clear. Think of it like the high jump. You only really need to get a certain score to prove your prowess, and that is it. Once you are in the range that you are in, you are doing well enough. Of course, if you feel like you left money on the table on test day because of some sort of performance issue, then sure take it again. But if you have to choose between writing your essays, and studying for the GMAT, and the rest of your life responsibilities - focus on your essays and on your other life responsibilities. Your 740 is a great score and it is more than good enough.
Your 2.7 GPA needs to be explained in the optional essay, or anywhere else the application gives you an opportunity to explain the circumstances behind your "subpar" performance. While a 2.7 GPA will not win you any points (during the discussion of your file by the admissions committee), if you can clearly and succinctly layout many of the personal circumstances that took time away from your studies, You will probably be fine. What do I mean by "probably"? I mean that these decisions are pretty binary. The admissions committee can deal with it, then you are cool. If they cannot, then you are pretty much waste basket fodder.
The other issue is that as a younger applicant your GPA will be weighed more heavily in the equation. How much more heavily than someone who has been working for a few years? I cannot really tell you that. No admissions consultant can. But just know that they have fewer factors to measure, so the ones that they do measure will be scrutinized more closely – in this case your GPA. Now this does not mean that you are screwed. It just means that you have to come up with a very on point explanation for why you are 2.7 is not actually a 2.7. Do not try to pull on the admissions committee's heartstrings, do not try to wax overly emotional. Just get to the point. They do not need to know how hard it must be to go through the ordeal. They can readily assume or assess how bad your situation must be, physically, spiritually and emotionally. What you do need to spend most of your time on – that is, most of your explanation on describing – is very specifically where your time was spent, if it was not spent study hall or focused on your classes. If you had to drive back and forth to the hospital with your mom, and you had to do that five times a week And it took 90 minutes to get to the hospital and 60 Minutes take back home, then explain that. If you were your mom's primary caretaker, and that required you leaving school in the middle the day four times a week, then explain that. If you had to work a part-time job because the medical bills were onerous, and you needed the money to pay for your tuition or other types of ancillary expenses, then explain that in full detail. Again, none of what I just stated requires any type of drama. It is just the facts.
Your goals seem fine based on what I know about them and your background. I do not know exactly the full extent of your experience within entertainment or theater or film. Right now, at a high level, your goals seem aligned with your current experiences. The point is that you have to demonstrate passion for your goals, because at a very baselevel if you do not have passion and commitment to your goals – as demonstrated by your current experiences – then how on earth can you make the case that you actually want to change the world through your goals in the future? This is critical, because any goals that you stayed at Stanford and Harvard have to be aspirational. They have to be in line with changing the world. Now that might seem ridiculous, given where you are at in the process of applying. But I assure you, if you can come to the table at Harvard or Stanford would goals and have the potential to impact an industry a community or the world, and do not even bother. These two schools in particular are not handing out MBA degrees to people who just want to go from manager to EVP.
The next step in evaluating your fit with these two schools is to start examining the actual essay questions. You have to understand Stanford's "moral advantage" leadership mantra, as well as Harvard's quest for leaders they believe will do well within their case method learning environment. Basically Stanford wants Applicants who have adhered to their moral code, even when it has been tested. And because of that they have experience profound growth and have been pushed in a certain direction. These are the types of people that they believe understand the business can be used as a tool to advance society and ultimately change the world for the better. Harvard seeks a similar person, but I would say HBS places less emphasis on Moral advantage, and more on those young leaders who have the audacity to engage others not like them, or put themselves in positions where they are completely out of a comfort zone. They believe that these individuals Are those who truly know themselves, who truly understand what they are made of, and to ultimately find success because of that ability and aspect of their leadership. HBS also believes that these are the individuals who have the guts to do well in the case Method learning environment.
That is my initial assessment for you. I think you will do well.
If you would like to talk about your candidacy in a little more detail, please email me at [email protected]. Refer to this conversation, and I will be glad to talk to you within the next week.
Respectfully,
Paul Lanzillotti
FusciaCricket
