I believe I have a UNIQUE PROFILE. Please evaluate!

Question

Bryant, huge thanks in advance for any feedback on the below. I feel I have a peculiar and interesting story to tell, but would like to understand any potential weaknesses in my profile, especially for applications at my desired B-schools.

Age:  23
 Citizenship:  India
 GMAT score:  710
 TOEFL:  110/120

About Me:

Education: 
- Currently a 2nd year Bachelor in Finance & Accounting student in a top business school in Poland  
- Golden Key Academic International Honors for Academic merit, Dean’s List.
- Semester abroad (during time of application) at University of Mannheim, Germany.

Story: 
- After completing school, worked for 3 years in my own NGO: for education of underprivileged kids in India.
- Afterwards, I moved to…Ukraine. Launched a startup (a small consulting firm focusing on business plans). Was invited to TEDx conference in Ukraine as the youngest and only foreigner speaker. Lived in Ukraine for nearly 2-3 years.

Other details:

- Summer internship at German Stock Exchange, Frankfurt in Summer 2015.
- Founder, NGO. Active since 6 years, more active recently.
- Co-founder, an Indie Apparel and Art Company based in Poland. (Since 2015)
- Founder/Editor, a major online youth newspaper in Russian language, biggest in CIS countries.
- Winner, International Essay Competition on Diplomacy & International Relations, organized by Russian Center of Science and Culture and Rossiskaya Gazeta

Languages: 
 English, Hindi, Urdu: Native/Fluent
 Russian: Advanced Proficiency
 Ukrainian, Spanish: Conversational
 German, French: Beginner

Why MBA/Masters?:  After some work ex in social sector and start ups, I am looking forward to breaking into top positions in Finance industry. 
 Career interest:  Banking/Management Consulting, with later focus on Private Equity.
 Career location:  Highly prefer in being in Europe (London) for next 5-10 years, with somewhat interest in US possibly.

Applications:

R1 for all the schools below in year 2015.
Interested in starting immediately after Bachelors.

Aiming for:

Harvard Business School 2+2 program MBA
Wharton MBA
Stanford MBA
INSEAD MBA
London Business School MBA
MIT Sloan MBA
NYU Stern MBA
London Business School Master in Management/ Master in Finance
HEC Paris MBA / Master in Management / Master in Finance 
UC Berkeley MBA
University of St. Gallen Master in Management

I'd request you to evaluate my profile, and suggest which schools I can break into?

bryantmichaels · Answer

I am confused about your profile. You are 23 and currently in college, yet you say "after you graduated," you worked for several years for an NGO and then 2-3 years with your own startup. Can you clarify?

aFocus5 · Answer

Ok, let me rephrase it - after completing my high school, I started working for an NGO in India for 3 years. Then I moved to Ukraine, and launched my startup which I later sold. A year later, I started my undergraduate degree there - completed year 1, and owing to the political conflict (which I saw first hand), moved to Poland. I will be completing my Bachelor in 2016.

I hope I clarified it better this time.

I hope I clarified it better this time.

bryantmichaels · Answer

Ah I see. It's an interesting path, and could potentially be a detriment or an advantage depending on how you couch it in your applications. Some schools might view your educational detour as a lack of drive, but if you spin it as having pursued your passions first and avoided economic calamity etc., having come out with a new "lease" on life, and a clear vision which ties in your achievements to your future plans, you could make it work. You will definitely need the high GMAT score and good recos, however. You likely won't get attention from HBS 2+2, for example, as programs like that are favoring more "traditional" students who are also at the very top of the pile (GMAT, perfect GPA, top tier undergrad institution, etc.). I would say go ahead and give it a try since you are qualified as long as you are still a student, but I wouldn't get my hopes up too high. There are some "early career" MBA options going now at schools like Wharton and Chicago, who might find an older candidate of interest even though they don't have a ton of post graduate experience.

bryantmichaels · Answer

Ah I see. It's an interesting path, and could potentially be a detriment or an advantage depending on how you couch it in your applications. Some schools might view your educational detour as a lack of drive, but if you spin it as having pursued your passions first and avoided economic calamity etc., having come out with a new "lease" on life, and a clear vision which ties in your achievements to your future plans, you could make it work. You will definitely need the high GMAT score and good recos, however. You likely won't get attention from HBS 2+2, for example, as programs like that are favoring more "traditional" students who are also at the very top of the pile (GMAT, perfect GPA, top tier undergrad institution, etc.). I would say go ahead and give it a try since you are qualified as long as you are still a student, but I wouldn't get my hopes up too high. There are some "early career" MBA options going now at schools like Wharton and Chicago, who might find an older candidate of interest even though they don't have a ton of post graduate experience.

aFocus5 · Answer

Bryant, thanks so much for your kind words and enthusiasm. As an applicant, one tries to differentiate themselves as much as they can, and I reckon that my profile might garner more attention from Adcom.

Hiatus between my high school and university is due to the fact that I decided to be involved with social work and explore what I truly want first, instead of just joining the race. Sounds odd, and even quite idealistic, I know - but it has definitely given me a clearer understanding of what I want to do. As you correctly pointed out, I need to emphasize upon this point more craftily. In fact, wording my application and polishing it further is something I know I'll need assistance with, and I look forward to using admission consultancy services for that.

I am currently contemplating whether to apply and focus on Master in Management program from LBS/LSE etc, work some years, and then get an MBA from top-tier schools, or does it make more sense to aim hard for an MBA from a top 15 B-school right now. Which strategy would be more beneficial for me in the long run? I'm still somewhat confused about it and your suggestion on this would be very helpful.

I am aiming for a 750+ GMAT, and have already started preparing for it. (I'll take the test around July)

HBS 2+2 is definitely on my wishlist, although I am fully aware of the fact that with my no-name (at least for the US) school, it might be a long shot. Still, will try. I am also keen on applying for Yale Silver Scholars,as I found out this is another dedicated program for college seniors.

You mentioned some "early career" MBA options - can you mention some of these options that I might want to add to my list?

bryantmichaels · Answer

Yes in addition to Wharton and Chicago which I already mentioned, Georgia Tech has a program called Pathways to secure college seniors in the MBA program at SCheller who will go work for two years first. As to your other question, you definitely would not benefit from both MBA and MSM degrees--you should pick one or the other and historically, the MBA has a much better ROI. If you get that nice, fat GMAT score you seek, you will have a shot at a really good two year program and the additional details you have given about your path tells me that it can definitely pitched as intentional and not circumstantial, which I like to see. Being intentional demonstrates passion and forethought and dedication to a path, etc. Schools will enjoy a different story which involves your breaking from the status quo to chase your passions. Let us know if we can help you further when the time comes. We have specialists who graduated from all your target schools. If it were me, I'd focus on MBA programs and not MSM programs for sure.

bryantmichaels · Answer

By the way, if you are really interested in rolling right into another degree program, Duke now offers a Masters in Management Studies for college grads with little to no work experience. It's designed to give you an edge in your early career and then come back later for an MBA. Check it out on the web.

I believe I have a UNIQUE PROFILE. Please evaluate!

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