35+ Waitlisted at Berkeley and Fuqua. Admits from McCombs and ISB

Question

Hello Everyone,

I have been waitlisted by Berkeley and Fuqua. I am looking for guidance to covert these waitlists.

1. GRE 327 (Q168,V159, AWA:4)
2. Work exp: 14 years total. Entrepreneur for 11 years. Worked with a US-based market research firm and an Australian gaming company. 
3. Country: India
4. Present status: Admits from McCombs and ISB (India). Waitlisted at Berkeley and Fuqua. Berkeley is my target school
5. Post MBA Goal: Product Management (Tech)

I think my AWA school or the quality of apps might be an issue. Besides that, I am among the older candidates.

Admissionado · Answer

newton2 :

It's great that you have been accepted by two excellent programs!

Despite what you may read, there isn't a ton you can do to get off a waitlist. Follow the instructions provided to you by each school. If possible, you should get in touch with the AdCom at Berkeley and Fuqua. They may even offer application specific feedback and possibly a 1:1 with an AdCom member. If that is a viable option, that could give shed insight into how (if at all) you can improve your profile. Most people submit a letter of continued interest. If either school allows it, you must absolutely do it.

It could be the AWA score (unlikely, since a 4 is fine) in which case you could theoretically retake the GMAT. It could be your age, though you would be likely rejected not waitlisted since there's nothing you can do to change this biographical fact. The point is, you need to try your best to identify which areas are weaknesses and if there's an opportunity for you to close the gap.

Lastly, have patience. People get off the waitlists usually after each round of admission has concluded and then when deposits are due. If you really want Berkeley or Fuqua, you might even have to wait throughout the summer. Make plans to attend ISB or McCombs, but be flexible in case your number is called!

Good luck,
Admissionado

TheIvyLeagueEdge · Answer

Admissionado  is quite right, and it is prudent to hope for the best (Haas Admissions), but also be prepared for the worst, which itself is not so bad (WL does not convert, and you go to McCombs/ ISB instead). 
That said, I would like to add two minor points:
1) Despite the low chances of your efforts, in your shoes, it would have frustrated me to just wait it out without being able to do much. Despite a low chance therefore, I would still favour putting in your full efforts (without seeming desperate). Given you already have two admits, you can negotiate if you play your cards well. 
2) Your experience, entrepreneurial journey and your scores together give you appropriate credentials for applying for 1 year Fellow programs with top schools, including MIT & Stanford as well. Important to consider, because the benefits of networking with those in comparable roles and positions over your lifetime would be much better than with most who are younger, and probably not in comparable roles. Most importantly, given your confirmed admits to two schools, you can take that as an exercise, which can only results in gains.

Please ping on my LinkedIn to connect, conduct a detailed analysis and a 1-to-1 discussion of your profile, and to answer your questions.

bb · Answer

Thank you everyone for your tips and thoughts.
Moving this topic into the more appropriate sub-forum.

Thank you.

rianaamy · Answer

Hey BB please create a separate thread for admitted candidates with 12-14 years of work experience after covid at full time MBA programs in the US so that we can get to know more schools who are readily admitting older candidates.

Thanks
Riana

Thanks 
Riana

bb · Answer

Thank you for the suggestion. 
You can poke around the decision tracker to see older applicant performance has been.

In general, I have seen mostly schools outside of the top 20 admit more experienced applicants and definitely outside of top 10.

PS. For anyone reading, Schools don’t really care about your age but rather about years of work experience. And as you can see from the topic, a more experienced candidate will actually face some headwinds in recruiting and not only in the applications.

PPS. I will see about creating a dedicated chat group for the more experienced older applicants specifically

rianaamy · Answer

I know Wharton and Columbia admits older candidates, in Wharton coffee chats, couple of years back, I saw full time student with 18 years work experience but native, US current student, not international. In this forum, I found many Africans with 120 months WE with admits in Fuqua and probably Darden, can’t recall exactly.

Regards
Riana

Regards 
Riana

Archit3110 · Answer

is there a chat group for people with more than 12 years work experience applying for R1 ?

bb · Answer

That sounds very specific but pretty interesting. You are welcome to start one if you think you will be active

I think it is a good idea - I have seen lots of questions from older folks.

35+ Waitlisted at Berkeley and Fuqua. Admits from McCombs and ISB

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