profile evaluation

Question

Dear Alex,

I`m kindly asking you to evaluate my profile.

I`m from Ukraine (Eastern Europe), 29 years old. Exp 5 years in Pharmaceutical industry, work for the company with 75 $ mln. annual turnover.

Current position: Chief Economic Development Officer.
Start position: Head of Economic department

Education:
Bachelor in Economics, GPA 3.85
Master in Economics, GPA 3.92
PhD in Economics

All education degrees were obtained at Ukrainian Universities.

GMAT 700 Q 49 V 35

Target schools: H/W/S (just dreaming??

); MIT, TUCK, HAAS

personally visited all of them.

Thank you very much for your time.

); MIT, TUCK, HAAS personally visited all of them. Thank you very much for your time.

AlexMBAApply · Answer

Biggest concern is all that education -- it can suggest that you are more comfortable in school than in the real world, and b-schools don't really like that.

In any case, my hunch is that you'll be a big stretch for H/S/W, and the other schools (MIT, Tuck, Haas) will be slight stretches, maybe even sweet spots. It really depends on how well you execute your applications and a bit of luck.

What you have to really stress in your applications is that you've got strong to exceptional *practical* skills, that you're great with people, that your accomplishments result from team/leadership skills -- all those things that suggest you aren't a bookworm academic whose head is in the clouds. That also has to come through in how you communicate in your writing and interviews - that you don't sound like a cerebral absent-minded professor.

serhio · Answer

Dear Alex,

Thanks a lot for your advice. Your idea is to balance my education degrees with proper working and social experiences? 
Could you please tell whether my social experiences are enough? 
- field supervisor at a strawberry farm im England (4 month, in charge of 60 person international team);
- participated in the Orange revolution as a leader of marketing department (6 month, in charge of 300 people);
- active participator of one of the political parties;
- took part in launching city oceanarium, helping the city Zoo; 
- I`m fond of mounting cycling, swimming, dancing and travelling.

thanks a lot for your clues.

Serge

AlexMBAApply · Answer

It's not listing a bunch of things -- it's more about HOW you say things. You have to show that you've got some personality, that you're not socially inept (again, think of the stereotype of the kind of person who is extremely academic and has spent their entire lives in school - maybe even some professors you may have studied with -- you gotta show that you're the opposite).

serhio · Answer

Ok, Alex - I`ll do my best.

thanks a lot for your help

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