Consultant Needs Profile Reviewed

Question

Hi All,

I was hoping to have my profile reviewed. My stats:

IT/Management Strategy Consultant
4 Years Work Experience
Have worked for both Booz Allen Hamilton & Accenture
Graduate of Virginia Tech, 3.0 GPA, Information Tech Major
-C's in my accounting and stat classes, but solid As & B+ in my IT Business classes.
Estimate a 650 for GMAT score

I was thinking of Darden, any advice where to apply? Targetting Fall '08 for entry.

PaulBodine · Answer

jimmyjamesdonkey,

Darden might be one of your long-shot schools, but you'll need strong leadership + impact stories in and outside of work given the profile and GMAT you gave me. You didn't mention goals, which are decisive in school selection, but generally speaking you would probably be competitive at schools like Wisconsin, Iowa, Washington Olin, Illinois etc.

Good luck,

jimmyjamesdonkey · Answer

Paul,

Thanks for responding to my post. I'm actually kind of surprised at the response. Is it the 650 GMAT score you believe would make Darden a long shot? My work experience at Booz Allen and Accenture are top-tier consulting firms, which I think would wow a selection committee. Darden only has a average GMAT score of about 677 last I checked. Would being a Virginia resident help?

Thanks.

PaulBodine · Answer

I actually don't think being a Virginia resident helps you that much and perhaps even hurts you a bit, because Darden sees itself, rightfully, as a national institution so it probably has a rough cap on the number of in-staters it takes. Like most schools it probably gives slight favor to people from more exotic places. Your BA and Accenture credentials are assets, but not sure in and of themselves they will "wow" Darden's adcom because consulting is a very common feeder industry for B-schools and Darden is a selective school so they see a large number of applicants from "name" companies like yours. If you were an underrepresented minority (in U.S. terms), from an unusual location, or perhaps even female your GMAT score would be competitive at Darden, but if you are not then you are probably somewhat under the "competitive" category IMO. The fact that Darden's selectivity rate is generous for a school of its caliber may help you. So if not a true long shot, Darden for you is definitely not IMO "money in the bank" (based on what you've told me of yourself). You may want to check out  Darden's admissions chats with Accepted.com.

Good luck,

pelihu · Answer

In terms of selectivity at Darden, they indicated in a podcast that applications were up 35% this past year (after increasing 10-15% each of the prior years) so admit rates will be down, and they indicated at Darden Days that average GMAT should be around 700 this year, which would be more or less equal to other similarly ranked schools.

PaulBodine · Answer

Pelihu,

Thanks for noting that. Darden has been a "value stock" for some time. It's good to know the market is catching back up with it.

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