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patodrums89
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Joined: 25 Jul 2014
Last visit: 09 Oct 2017
Posts: 58
Own Kudos:
15
Given Kudos: 30
Location: Mexico
Concentration: Entrepreneurship, Sustainability
Schools: CBS '18 (D) Sloan '18 (D) HBS '18 (D) Stern '18 (D) Stanford '18 (D)
GMAT 1: 680 Q49 V33
WE:Business Development (Energy)
Schools: CBS '18 (D) Sloan '18 (D) HBS '18 (D) Stern '18 (D) Stanford '18 (D)
GMAT 1: 680 Q49 V33
Posts: 58
Kudos: 15
DINGED Profile Evaluation 22 Mar 2016, 21:19
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So far I got 4 dings without interview and I am still waiting to hear news from NYU but let’s face it, it will be a ding.

Age/Gender: 26/Male
GMAT Score/GPA: 680 (Q:49/V:33) / 85.7% Economics in a Top 5 Mexican Private College (not well known outside Mexico). TOEFL 114/120.
Work Experience: Renewable Energy Startup/1.5 years & Food Industry (Entrepreneur)/3 years.
Location: Mexico.
Schools applied to: GSB, HBS, Sloan, CBS and NYU.
Any consulting services used: No
#Interviews: 0
#WL: 0

Optional:
Which ding hurt the most and why?
MIT because I feel a complete fit with the institution and the program, and CBS because I think I did a great application.
Why the lack of success?
According to my mentor, my lack of pedigree and professional experience in the US (tons of Mexicans studying in Ivy leagues and working in the US) could have hurt me. Also I think my GMAT score didn’t help at all.
What next?
1. Re-take the GMAT.
2. Diversify my target schools. I think I aimed too high so I might apply this year to Sloan, CBS, Yale, Babson, HEC Paris, Oxford and ESADE.
3. Start working on my post-MBA goals right now.

If it helps I can share you my whole applications. Any comment will be welcomed no matter how harsh it is. Thank you!
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Admissionado
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Admissionado
Joined: 30 Nov 2009
Last visit: 26 May 2024
Posts: 9,229
Own Kudos:
2,075
 [1]
Given Kudos: 69
Location: Chicago, IL
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Schools: HBS - Class of 2005
Posts: 9,229
Kudos: 2,075
 [1]
DINGED Profile Evaluation 23 Mar 2016, 16:27
1
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patodrums89
So far I got 4 dings without interview and I am still waiting to hear news from NYU but let’s face it, it will be a ding.

Age/Gender: 26/Male
GMAT Score/GPA: 680 (Q:49/V:33) / 85.7% Economics in a Top 5 Mexican Private College (not well known outside Mexico). TOEFL 114/120.
Work Experience: Renewable Energy Startup/1.5 years & Food Industry (Entrepreneur)/3 years.
Location: Mexico.
Schools applied to: GSB, HBS, Sloan, CBS and NYU.
Any consulting services used: No
#Interviews: 0
#WL: 0

Optional:
Which ding hurt the most and why?
MIT because I feel a complete fit with the institution and the program, and CBS because I think I did a great application.
Why the lack of success?
According to my mentor, my lack of pedigree and professional experience in the US (tons of Mexicans studying in Ivy leagues and working in the US) could have hurt me. Also I think my GMAT score didn’t help at all.
What next?
1. Re-take the GMAT.
2. Diversify my target schools. I think I aimed too high so I might apply this year to Sloan, CBS, Yale, Babson, HEC Paris, Oxford and ESADE.
3. Start working on my post-MBA goals right now.

If it helps I can share you my whole applications. Any comment will be welcomed no matter how harsh it is. Thank you!
Show more

Hey dude,
Well first of all, I don't yet know enough about you or your application to be able to point my finger and say "this!" this was the problem. Feel free to give more detail, but without seeing your entire package, it's gonna be tough to figure out what went wrong besides the most obvious - which is that your school list makes no sense whatsoever with your GMAT.

You have applied to four very competitive schools in which your GMAT is quite low, esp for HBS/GSB. Which means that to get into those schools you would have to have something crazy insane good to even have a shot - like you're the son of the president or you have a multi-million dollar startup. Otherwise, with a 680, it was always close to impossible. And I think that the main error was in the discrepancy between the schools and what they are looking for, and the schools you aimed at. With a 680, you should have been applying to schools in the 10-30 range (we can finesse this, once we find out more details about you), but you applied in the 1-10 range without the necessary GMAT and got dinged. I'm afraid it's likely not more difficult than that. Don't get me wrong, there ARE exceptions. People who get into HBS with a 650. But they are very very rare. And usually when you see their profile it is very obvious why they got in.

So first things first: Retake the GMAT
And second: When you reapply, be more realistic with your school list.

Do those two things and make a great package, and you should have no problems this year.
Best,
Jon
User avatar
patodrums89
User avatar
Joined: 25 Jul 2014
Last visit: 09 Oct 2017
Posts: 58
Own Kudos:
15
Given Kudos: 30
Location: Mexico
Concentration: Entrepreneurship, Sustainability
Schools: CBS '18 (D) Sloan '18 (D) HBS '18 (D) Stern '18 (D) Stanford '18 (D)
GMAT 1: 680 Q49 V33
WE:Business Development (Energy)
Schools: CBS '18 (D) Sloan '18 (D) HBS '18 (D) Stern '18 (D) Stanford '18 (D)
GMAT 1: 680 Q49 V33
Posts: 58
Kudos: 15
DINGED Profile Evaluation 23 Mar 2016, 16:39
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JonAdmissionado
patodrums89
So far I got 4 dings without interview and I am still waiting to hear news from NYU but let’s face it, it will be a ding.

Age/Gender: 26/Male
GMAT Score/GPA: 680 (Q:49/V:33) / 85.7% Economics in a Top 5 Mexican Private College (not well known outside Mexico). TOEFL 114/120.
Work Experience: Renewable Energy Startup/1.5 years & Food Industry (Entrepreneur)/3 years.
Location: Mexico.
Schools applied to: GSB, HBS, Sloan, CBS and NYU.
Any consulting services used: No
#Interviews: 0
#WL: 0

Optional:
Which ding hurt the most and why?
MIT because I feel a complete fit with the institution and the program, and CBS because I think I did a great application.
Why the lack of success?
According to my mentor, my lack of pedigree and professional experience in the US (tons of Mexicans studying in Ivy leagues and working in the US) could have hurt me. Also I think my GMAT score didn’t help at all.
What next?
1. Re-take the GMAT.
2. Diversify my target schools. I think I aimed too high so I might apply this year to Sloan, CBS, Yale, Babson, HEC Paris, Oxford and ESADE.
3. Start working on my post-MBA goals right now.

If it helps I can share you my whole applications. Any comment will be welcomed no matter how harsh it is. Thank you!

Hey dude,
Well first of all, I don't yet know enough about you or your application to be able to point my finger and say "this!" this was the problem. Feel free to give more detail, but without seeing your entire package, it's gonna be tough to figure out what went wrong besides the most obvious - which is that your school list makes no sense whatsoever with your GMAT.

You have applied to four very competitive schools in which your GMAT is quite low, esp for HBS/GSB. Which means that to get into those schools you would have to have something crazy insane good to even have a shot - like you're the son of the president or you have a multi-million dollar startup. Otherwise, with a 680, it was always close to impossible. And I think that the main error was in the discrepancy between the schools and what they are looking for, and the schools you aimed at. With a 680, you should have been applying to schools in the 10-30 range (we can finesse this, once we find out more details about you), but you applied in the 1-10 range without the necessary GMAT and got dinged. I'm afraid it's likely not more difficult than that. Don't get me wrong, there ARE exceptions. People who get into HBS with a 650. But they are very very rare. And usually when you see their profile it is very obvious why they got in.

So first things first: Retake the GMAT
And second: When you reapply, be more realistic with your school list.

Do those two things and make a great package, and you should have no problems this year.
Best,
Jon
Show more

Hey Jon!

Thanks a lot for your reply.

I am well aware that the GMAT must have been a key factor, but I think it is something I can fix in the short term attaining a 720+.

What I am worried about is having other weaknesses that might take longer or that simply cannot be changed (my alma mater for example). Also I would like to spot issues in the execution of my application.

Of course I'm going to diversify my school choices but I still want to pursue Sloan and CBS, probably Yale as well.

If you like I can send you my CV and other application materials. Thanks again for your advice!
User avatar
Admissionado
User avatar
Admissionado
Joined: 30 Nov 2009
Last visit: 26 May 2024
Posts: 9,229
Own Kudos:
2,075
 [1]
Given Kudos: 69
Location: Chicago, IL
Expert
Expert reply
Schools: HBS - Class of 2005
Posts: 9,229
Kudos: 2,075
 [1]
DINGED Profile Evaluation 24 Mar 2016, 18:22
1
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patodrums89
JonAdmissionado
patodrums89
So far I got 4 dings without interview and I am still waiting to hear news from NYU but let’s face it, it will be a ding.

Age/Gender: 26/Male
GMAT Score/GPA: 680 (Q:49/V:33) / 85.7% Economics in a Top 5 Mexican Private College (not well known outside Mexico). TOEFL 114/120.
Work Experience: Renewable Energy Startup/1.5 years & Food Industry (Entrepreneur)/3 years.
Location: Mexico.
Schools applied to: GSB, HBS, Sloan, CBS and NYU.
Any consulting services used: No
#Interviews: 0
#WL: 0

Optional:
Which ding hurt the most and why?
MIT because I feel a complete fit with the institution and the program, and CBS because I think I did a great application.
Why the lack of success?
According to my mentor, my lack of pedigree and professional experience in the US (tons of Mexicans studying in Ivy leagues and working in the US) could have hurt me. Also I think my GMAT score didn’t help at all.
What next?
1. Re-take the GMAT.
2. Diversify my target schools. I think I aimed too high so I might apply this year to Sloan, CBS, Yale, Babson, HEC Paris, Oxford and ESADE.
3. Start working on my post-MBA goals right now.

If it helps I can share you my whole applications. Any comment will be welcomed no matter how harsh it is. Thank you!

Hey dude,
Well first of all, I don't yet know enough about you or your application to be able to point my finger and say "this!" this was the problem. Feel free to give more detail, but without seeing your entire package, it's gonna be tough to figure out what went wrong besides the most obvious - which is that your school list makes no sense whatsoever with your GMAT.

You have applied to four very competitive schools in which your GMAT is quite low, esp for HBS/GSB. Which means that to get into those schools you would have to have something crazy insane good to even have a shot - like you're the son of the president or you have a multi-million dollar startup. Otherwise, with a 680, it was always close to impossible. And I think that the main error was in the discrepancy between the schools and what they are looking for, and the schools you aimed at. With a 680, you should have been applying to schools in the 10-30 range (we can finesse this, once we find out more details about you), but you applied in the 1-10 range without the necessary GMAT and got dinged. I'm afraid it's likely not more difficult than that. Don't get me wrong, there ARE exceptions. People who get into HBS with a 650. But they are very very rare. And usually when you see their profile it is very obvious why they got in.

So first things first: Retake the GMAT
And second: When you reapply, be more realistic with your school list.

Do those two things and make a great package, and you should have no problems this year.
Best,
Jon

Hey Jon!

Thanks a lot for your reply.

I am well aware that the GMAT must have been a key factor, but I think it is something I can fix in the short term attaining a 720+.

What I am worried about is having other weaknesses that might take longer or that simply cannot be changed (my alma mater for example). Also I would like to spot issues in the execution of my application.

Of course I'm going to diversify my school choices but I still want to pursue Sloan and CBS, probably Yale as well.

If you like I can send you my CV and other application materials. Thanks again for your advice!
Show more

Hey there,
Well for a quick review drop a line to Claudia at: [email protected]. Send her all your stuff, and she will get you hooked up with a consultant. If you want a deep analysis on what went wrong can also ask her about signing up for a Ding Review.

Looking forward to hearing from you.
Best,
JF
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bloomaces
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Joined: 26 Nov 2013
Last visit: 26 Dec 2020
Posts: 22
Own Kudos:
6
 [1]
Given Kudos: 3
Schools: Yale '16 (WL) Tepper '16 (A) Ross '16 (WL) Kelley '16 (M$) Mendoza '16 (A$) Merage '16 (A$) Madison '16 (WL) Olin '16 (A) Cnsrtm-Kelley '16 (M$) Kellogg PT '17 (A)
GMAT 1: 700 Q43 V42
GPA: 3.44
WE:Marketing (Non-Profit and Government)
Products:
My Reviews
Schools: Yale '16 (WL) Tepper '16 (A) Ross '16 (WL) Kelley '16 (M$) Mendoza '16 (A$) Merage '16 (A$) Madison '16 (WL) Olin '16 (A) Cnsrtm-Kelley '16 (M$) Kellogg PT '17 (A)
GMAT 1: 700 Q43 V42
Posts: 22
Kudos: 6
 [1]
DINGED Profile Evaluation 24 Mar 2016, 19:34
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Kelley is actually actively trying to get more students from
Latin America. You should apply. You may be chosen for the IGOE program, which might include a fellowship and some special events just for IGOE students.
https://kelley.iu.edu/IGOE/About%20Us/Gl ... 17707.html