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12 Feb 2013, 18:08
Kudos
Bookmarks
Hi,
I am a Canadian caucasian male aged 32 working in Canada as a senior analyst in corporate strategy consulting at a big 4 firm. I am planning to do an MBA to advance within the firm (unless something striking happens). My profile is as follows:
Academics - Entered a top Canadian Undergrad in BSc Life Sciences, but was pursuing a music career full-time. Grades suffered dearly as I was off for weeks or months at a time, sometimes withdrawing from full years of the program. I didn't even go to my labs (though I received top grades for work I actually submitted) or complete many assignments or examinations. Did a BBA at a verrrry non-target low-tier university in Canada several years later.
First Undergraduate GPA: 2.83 BSc in 11.5 credits (unfinished). Second undergraduate BBA GPA: 3.7 equivalent (my guess in conversion. scored a perfect 100 in first year stats to boost my confidence).
GMAT: 760 (Q50, V42) done in one shot in 2nd year of BBA program with 9 days prep. Can re-do, no problem if score expires.
Work Experience - Right out of high school I started tutoring pro-bono and switched to undergraduate admissions consulting both volunteering and for private school clients to support myself during school and my music career. Was the touring bassist and marketing/PR manager for a rock band for 7 years and was told by bandmates and others in the business that I should study commerce. In order to pay for it, I worked for 2.5 years in Canadian equivalent of TSA (worked to Management in 1.5 years), but gave up route to Operations Manager in order to start my BBA. Post-BBA, entered big 4 firm as an analyst. Might have had slight knock at top firms, but unreputable institution killed most chance of that.
Extracurriculars - As stated before, tutored and secured admissions and scholarships for many underprivileged students over the years. In my first undergrad I founded a Jazz Combo/Club, playing at local jazz hotspots. At the BBA undergrad, I founded the campus business council overarching all business groups and founded the consulting club. I also won some case competitions and ran GMAT tutoring sessions.
MBA Goals - I plan to either advance at my firm or secure a senior position at a higher-profile firm. I have an entrepreneurial tinge, though, so if something bites me, I will pursue that full-out, despite my age.
Concern - Fairly obvious: Terrible first go at reasonable undergrad. Unreputable second undergrad. Advanced age with arguably little advancement relative to age-cohort peers due to years in band.
Targets: As high as I can reach. Drive is no issue.
Thank you very much in advance.
S.
I am a Canadian caucasian male aged 32 working in Canada as a senior analyst in corporate strategy consulting at a big 4 firm. I am planning to do an MBA to advance within the firm (unless something striking happens). My profile is as follows:
Academics - Entered a top Canadian Undergrad in BSc Life Sciences, but was pursuing a music career full-time. Grades suffered dearly as I was off for weeks or months at a time, sometimes withdrawing from full years of the program. I didn't even go to my labs (though I received top grades for work I actually submitted) or complete many assignments or examinations. Did a BBA at a verrrry non-target low-tier university in Canada several years later.
First Undergraduate GPA: 2.83 BSc in 11.5 credits (unfinished). Second undergraduate BBA GPA: 3.7 equivalent (my guess in conversion. scored a perfect 100 in first year stats to boost my confidence).
GMAT: 760 (Q50, V42) done in one shot in 2nd year of BBA program with 9 days prep. Can re-do, no problem if score expires.
Work Experience - Right out of high school I started tutoring pro-bono and switched to undergraduate admissions consulting both volunteering and for private school clients to support myself during school and my music career. Was the touring bassist and marketing/PR manager for a rock band for 7 years and was told by bandmates and others in the business that I should study commerce. In order to pay for it, I worked for 2.5 years in Canadian equivalent of TSA (worked to Management in 1.5 years), but gave up route to Operations Manager in order to start my BBA. Post-BBA, entered big 4 firm as an analyst. Might have had slight knock at top firms, but unreputable institution killed most chance of that.
Extracurriculars - As stated before, tutored and secured admissions and scholarships for many underprivileged students over the years. In my first undergrad I founded a Jazz Combo/Club, playing at local jazz hotspots. At the BBA undergrad, I founded the campus business council overarching all business groups and founded the consulting club. I also won some case competitions and ran GMAT tutoring sessions.
MBA Goals - I plan to either advance at my firm or secure a senior position at a higher-profile firm. I have an entrepreneurial tinge, though, so if something bites me, I will pursue that full-out, despite my age.
Concern - Fairly obvious: Terrible first go at reasonable undergrad. Unreputable second undergrad. Advanced age with arguably little advancement relative to age-cohort peers due to years in band.
Targets: As high as I can reach. Drive is no issue.
Thank you very much in advance.
S.
18 Feb 2013, 15:26
Kudos
Bookmarks
Solidify,
Thanks so much for your question. I am happy to respond based on my nearly 10 years of MBA Admissions Counseling experience at Stratus Prep.
First, you should remain very optimistic about your chances of gaining admission to a top MBA program not withstanding your age and early academic foibles. In the last year, my colleagues at Stratus Prep and I have helped applicants significantly older than you (and one Canadian in an uncannily similar situation) into leading business schools, such as Wharton, MIT, and Chicago. I really admire your drive and am confident that if you put the same level of determination that you have put into every other aspect of your life into this process and are open to feedback from true admissions experts that you can be VERY successful.
Essays and recommendations are always enormously important in MBA applications, but, in your case in particular, I cannot stress enough how crucial they will be. The clear weaknesses in your profile are your age and your first attempt at an undergraduate program (as you already know). However, I believe that your strengths can outshine those weaknesses. Your GMAT score will back up the argument that you should make to the schools in an optional essay about your grades/first attempt at undergrad. You should leverage your unique musical background to help distinguish yourself from other applicants. View this as an extraordinary asset, especially at open-minded schools like HBS and NYU (where we have helped professional athletes and artists gain admission). Your entrepreneurial spirit should also be something that you emphasize as schools are really looking for those committed to entrepreneurship right now. You can demonstrate your entrepreneurial spirit through your work founding clubs and helping disadvantaged students win entry to the schools of their choice with scholarships.
You have a distinct story, and IF it is pitched correctly to the business schools you choose to apply to, I believe you have a very good chance of being accepted at an excellent institution as your abilities are quite apparent in your GMAT score and successful work at a Big 4 firm as well as your adaptability throughout your life. The MBA applications process contains a lot of potential pitfalls for you, but it is also full of opportunities that you can and should exploit.
There is no need for you to retake the GMAT since a 760 is sufficiently high for every school (even with your lower original GPA).
As for your age, my team and I at Stratus Prep have worked with many applicants age 30+ who have been accepted at schools like Wharton, Haas, Chicago and MIT, so do not let that deter you.
If you are thinking of working with an admissions counselor on your applications, I would get to work now. At Stratus Prep, we have already started working with about 40 applicants for Round 1. By starting early, we can address the weaknesses in your profile and develop the kind of full-proof admissions/essay/recommendation strategy that you absolutely will need to be successful in your MBA applications. We are offering a 10% off special through February 26th, just as an FYI.
If you would like to know more about how the team at Stratus Prep and I can help you, please email me at [email protected].
Thanks so much for your question. I am happy to respond based on my nearly 10 years of MBA Admissions Counseling experience at Stratus Prep.
First, you should remain very optimistic about your chances of gaining admission to a top MBA program not withstanding your age and early academic foibles. In the last year, my colleagues at Stratus Prep and I have helped applicants significantly older than you (and one Canadian in an uncannily similar situation) into leading business schools, such as Wharton, MIT, and Chicago. I really admire your drive and am confident that if you put the same level of determination that you have put into every other aspect of your life into this process and are open to feedback from true admissions experts that you can be VERY successful.
Essays and recommendations are always enormously important in MBA applications, but, in your case in particular, I cannot stress enough how crucial they will be. The clear weaknesses in your profile are your age and your first attempt at an undergraduate program (as you already know). However, I believe that your strengths can outshine those weaknesses. Your GMAT score will back up the argument that you should make to the schools in an optional essay about your grades/first attempt at undergrad. You should leverage your unique musical background to help distinguish yourself from other applicants. View this as an extraordinary asset, especially at open-minded schools like HBS and NYU (where we have helped professional athletes and artists gain admission). Your entrepreneurial spirit should also be something that you emphasize as schools are really looking for those committed to entrepreneurship right now. You can demonstrate your entrepreneurial spirit through your work founding clubs and helping disadvantaged students win entry to the schools of their choice with scholarships.
You have a distinct story, and IF it is pitched correctly to the business schools you choose to apply to, I believe you have a very good chance of being accepted at an excellent institution as your abilities are quite apparent in your GMAT score and successful work at a Big 4 firm as well as your adaptability throughout your life. The MBA applications process contains a lot of potential pitfalls for you, but it is also full of opportunities that you can and should exploit.
There is no need for you to retake the GMAT since a 760 is sufficiently high for every school (even with your lower original GPA).
As for your age, my team and I at Stratus Prep have worked with many applicants age 30+ who have been accepted at schools like Wharton, Haas, Chicago and MIT, so do not let that deter you.
If you are thinking of working with an admissions counselor on your applications, I would get to work now. At Stratus Prep, we have already started working with about 40 applicants for Round 1. By starting early, we can address the weaknesses in your profile and develop the kind of full-proof admissions/essay/recommendation strategy that you absolutely will need to be successful in your MBA applications. We are offering a 10% off special through February 26th, just as an FYI.
If you would like to know more about how the team at Stratus Prep and I can help you, please email me at [email protected].
