Should I even bother applying to GSB? (Profile Eval Request)

Question

Hi guys,

Would love to hear your thoughts on whether GSB is worth applying to with my profile...
 
- Undergrad: HYPS class of 2012
- 3.8 GPA and 770 GMAT score
- Pre-med during college, switched to business my junior year
- Work experience:  
Investment banking out of college (1 year), 
Strategic planning at Disney (2 years), 
Healthcare startup for 2 years by time of matriculation 
- Extracurricular: 5 years of volunteering for nonprofits related to education for disadvantaged youth (as a volunteer tutor and junior board member)
- Career goal: Finance & strategy at mid/late-stage healthcare startups (long-term goal is to be CFO heavily involved with operations and strategy)
- I am a reapplicant - applied to H/ S/W for the 2015 matriculation cycle; got into W and interviewed at H; ended up taking my current job instead of going to W

Last time, I applied to business schools with the goal of working for a healthcare startup post-MBA - in hindsight, a story I imagine not making much sense coming from a guy working for Disney. Somehow I still got into Wharton! But since my post-MBA goal was to work at a healthcare startup, and since I got an offer from a healthcare startup I was really excited about, I decided to work for the healthcare startup than go to Wharton. Now that I've been here for a year, I know I still want to attend business school but for different reasons (focus on interpersonal development and management rather than a career transition).

Since I am really interested in interpersonal development rather than learning financial theory or analysis, I am heavily leaning towards GSB / HBS over Wharton, and I'm potentially not going to reapply to Wharton this time around.

PersonalMBACoach · Answer

I know I've already talked with you but for the benefit of others who read the forums, definitely apply! You have a strong profile and while there is a change in your direction with Disney, it shouldn't keep you out of the top schools. Hands down go for it.

I'm sure you'll get a few other opinions here as well to compare with mine.

Best,
Scott

VeritasPrepEdison · Answer

Thanks for sharing.

You have a strong profile, it is worth applying. Define what you expect from the MBA program and how it will help you. Sharing some specifics on the initiatives you want to push and how your MBA programs fits with these and your overall personal development should help.

All the best!

VanessaGilMBA · Answer

Hello, 
Thanks for your Email. You have some very strong elements upon which to build your application. Your GMAT score and grades are strong, and certainly in range for Harvard and Stanford. Your interest in healthcare goes back a long way, to your forays into pre-med study…would be good to get additional understanding on why you departed from that path, and why healthcare still fascinates you.
However, in your current re-application strategy, my advice would be that you help the AdCom understand: 
a) How you have changed/developed since your last application (both personally and professionally);
b) Why it’s important for you to attend Harvard or Stanford now, after 1-2 years at a healthcare start-up;
c) How you will contribute to the MBA community… what you feel you can bring to your peers at Harvard or Stanford – what are some of the insights you bring that will expand the knowledge-base and strategic acumen of your fellow students?
Your non-profit work will also provide a boon to your application, particularly if you can skillfully express the ‘why’ for your involvement (beyond just that you know its helpful for applications).

With an acceptance rate of approximately 6%, Stanford GSB is a reach for the vast majority of MBA applicants. However, there are some approaches that have proven helpful to my clients in the past. I would find it useful as well to learn more about how you prepared and performed at your HBS interview; you were very close there, so it’s worthwhile to ascertain what the missing link (or links) might have been. Additionally, I would review your previous applications, to assess what other missteps were made in the process, and how those can be confronted and overcome in this next, hopefully successful, application!

Wishing you the best of luck.

Best, 
Vanessa

CriticalSquare · Answer

You've definitely put yourself in the conversation at GSB, so definitely recommend going after it this season. If you'd like our perspective on your profile and how you can appeal to the GSB AdComm we'd love to chat. Feel free to sign up for a free consultation below! In the meantime check out  our free resources  to get you started for your R1 preparation. Best of luck this season!

StratusDonna · Answer

I'll jump in to say that you have a great profile and that while GSB takes only 6%, you could be one of them. Part of this is believing you can be, doing everything you can to inhale what the school has to offer- talk to students, faculty, read about extracurriculars. Go visit the school, make connections. Do your best and know that you have given it your best shot!

Would love to hear your thoughts on whether GSB is worth applying to with my profile...
 
- Undergrad: HYPS class of 2012
- 3.8 GPA and 770 GMAT score
- Pre-med during college, switched to business my junior year
- Work experience:  
Investment banking out of college (1 year), 
Strategic planning at Disney (2 years), 
Healthcare startup for 2 years by time of matriculation 
- Extracurricular: 5 years of volunteering for nonprofits related to education for disadvantaged youth (as a volunteer tutor and junior board member)
- Career goal: Finance & strategy at mid/late-stage healthcare startups (long-term goal is to be CFO heavily involved with operations and strategy)
- I am a reapplicant - applied to H/ S/W for the 2015 matriculation cycle; got into W and interviewed at H; ended up taking my current job instead of going to W

Last time, I applied to business schools with the goal of working for a healthcare startup post-MBA - in hindsight, a story I imagine not making much sense coming from a guy working for Disney. Somehow I still got into Wharton! But since my post-MBA goal was to work at a healthcare startup, and since I got an offer from a healthcare startup I was really excited about, I decided to work for the healthcare startup than go to Wharton. Now that I've been here for a year, I know I still want to attend business school but for different reasons (focus on interpersonal development and management rather than a career transition).

Since I am really interested in interpersonal development rather than learning financial theory or analysis, I am heavily leaning towards GSB / HBS over Wharton, and I'm potentially not going to reapply to Wharton this time around.

I know I've already talked with you but for the benefit of others who read the forums, definitely apply! You have a strong profile and while there is a change in your direction with Disney, it shouldn't keep you out of the top schools. Hands down go for it.

I'm sure you'll get a few other opinions here as well to compare with mine.

Best,
Scott

AugustAcademy · Answer

Go for GSB!

Should I even bother applying to GSB? (Profile Eval Request)

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