Profile evaluation request

Question

Hi Alex,

Would appreciate your thoughts on my profile, and specifically on my chances for a top 7 school and H/S/W in particular.

Age: 26
Sex: Male
Ethnicity: Chinese-Canadian

GMAT: 770 (48Q/48V) on first practice exam - writing in 2 weeks
Undergrad GPA: 3.8
Undergrad Degree: Bachelor of Commerce (accounting)
Undergrad School: Mid-tier Canadian school

Work experience: 4 years in Big 4 audit. Top rated in my peer group, 1 year early promotion to manager, worked on the Canadian firm's largest and most high profile engagement. Managed teams and engagements 2 years ahead of norm. Letters of recommendation from a partner and multiple senior managers. Co-founded a small online clothing business on the side. Licensed CA, passed CFA level 2.

Extracurriculars: Extensive clubs leadership experience in undergrad, some work-related extracurriculars (office charity drives, mentoring articling students), limited community EC's after work.

Career goals: Banking (working to better define my career goals before applications).

Thanks very much.

AlexMBAApply · Answer

H/S/W - slim to none

Kellogg, Sloan, Booth, Columbia, Tuck - stretch, but worth at least giving 1-2 schools a shot

The rest of the top 16 (Duke, Mich, Darden, etc.) -- sweet spot

Outside the top 16 - safety

kdsvs · Answer

Hi Alex,

Thanks for your honest opinion. What do you think are the major weaknesses in my profile for Harvard, Stanford, Wharton, Sloan, Booth, and Columbia?

I do not plan to apply outside of the above schools. If I don't get into one of the above, I probably won't do an MBA. Therefore, I would sincerely appreciate your input on the weaknesses in my profile. Are they things like age, ethnicity, work background? Inadequate leadership experience through extracurriculars? Or is my main problem the lack of a specific post-MBA goal?

If I don't get in this year, I would consider re-applying if improving my extracurricular experiences and refining my post-MBA goals would make a significant difference. However, if things like my age, mid-tier undergrad school, and Big 4 audit background are deal-breakers, it would be very helpful to know early on.

Thanks again.

AlexMBAApply · Answer

It's not that you have any weaknesses - it's that there's enough people with stronger resumes than you have (bluer chip resumes and/or more unique achievements), which makes it more likely that you're on the outside looking in.

You need to focus on targeting schools where you have a realistic shot. Trying to "add leadership experiences" as if it were something you can pull off the shelf or just obtain like you would a flat screen TV from Best Buy isn't going to cut it. Most things that are *hard* to achieve aren't resume builders -- they are the culmination of years (or decades) of commitment and experience. You don't become a nationally ranked athlete or an accomplished musician overnight. You can't just assume substantive leadership positions in a nonprofit org AND leave a strong legacy of achievement in these orgs in a year - you have to earn it through years of commitment and conviction.

In short, if you wanted to be more competitive for these top schools, you need a time machine (don't do audit, go to a better undergrad like *ahem* McGill or Queen's or a school in the US, and be less conventional of an Asian).

Again, you have to put your ego aside and focus on schools where you have a shot. Forget about H/S/W unless you are willing to treat them as lottery tickets. Choose 1-2 from Booth, Columbia, Kellogg, Sloan or Tuck - where you may have a shot of getting in, and choose 3-4 from the rest of the top 16 (Haas, Michigan, Duke, Darden, UCLA, Cornell, Yale or NYU) where you will likely find the most love.

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