Unexpected high GMAT - Try to make the R2 deadline for HBS?

Question

Hi everyone, I'm needing a little help deciding whether I should try to make the R2 deadline for HBS (or potentially some other top 10 schools). Here is my profile:

GMAT - 750 (just retook a couple weeks ago)
GPA - 3.8; Major in Finance from a large public university
Work experience - 5 years in strategy and management consulting and was just promoted to manager this year; Work has been focused on business strategy and technology, specializing on the finance/CFO organization of F500 companies

I'm weak on extracurriculars and I was would guesstimate my LORs are average. My focus all Fall has been on Tuck as I thought it would be a good reach for what I was capable of on the GMAT. Now that I retook and scored a 750 I'm wondering if I should aim higher or potentially try to improve my background (extracurriculars, volunteer, leadership) and just apply R1 next year. With the deadline just about 4 weeks away and cutting across the holiday season, I'm mostly concerned about being able to get another set of LORs and my essays completed in a high quality manner. Thoughts?

Comments are greatly appreciated!

VeritasPrepDozie · Answer

Thanks for sharing your profile. You will certainly have the credentials to take a shot at HBS. The major question is whether you believe you can put together a comprehensive application package in that time. 4 weeks is plenty of time for one additional application, especially given HBS only has one essay. I would get your LORs prepped first so that is not a concern and get moving on the application!

PersonalMBACoach · Answer

Thanks for your note and congrats on the GMAT. With your stats and experience (consulting firm unknown so that may sway me in one direction or another), you could definitely apply in round two. We have a little under a month that is plenty of time to do some apps if you have a plan and are aggressive. As a former management consultant, I send a lot of consultants with stats worse than yours to top schools every year so send me a note if you want to chat further. Since you are a manager there really isn't any reason to wait longer to apply. Your profile won't get any better next year. scott@personalmbacoach.com Best, Scott

MBAPrepCoach · Answer

Well that's kind of a difficult question. First of all congratulations on your test score, that is wonderful. I'm sure that represents a lot of work. So Harvard does like younger applicants, so if you are you in your upper twenties then I would probably say go for it if you basically have recommenders waiting to catch the ball on the other end of the field and run with it. Your essay must articulate the unique contribution you could make, represent your brand, reflect a habit of leadership, and just be overall compelling. So that's a little bit difficult to pull off if you aren't sure what you're going to do like right this second. And as far as a letter of recommendation I like to have people submit talking points are anecdotes, so in some ways that's like two other essays. If you did a great job with that gor Tuck, then that would be a green light but if you need to coach your recommenders and get all that lined up then that's going to be difficult around the holidays I'm not going to lie. And right now I'm working on the HBS application responses of candidates and they're no joke either, they need to be tight and crisp, so it's a it's a good bit of work, if you can't take two weeks off at Christmas I would just go for next year. The other advantage of going for next year is that you would really be able to apply to some other schools that are in that same consideration set, tuck is fantastic, but you might want to go for other programs as well where the GMAT is higher.

Farrell Dyan Hehn, MBA
Admissions Consultant & Verbal Strategist MBAPrepCoach.com

Farrell Dyan Hehn, MBA
Admissions Consultant & Verbal Strategist MBAPrepCoach.com

leemalk · Answer

Thanks for the replies everyone! I went ahead and submitted my application today so we'll see what happens.

CriticalSquare · Answer

Best of luck! Let us know how it goes!

Unexpected high GMAT - Try to make the R2 deadline for HBS?

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