|
|
GMAT Club Daily Prep
Thank you for using the timer - this advanced tool can estimate your performance and suggest more practice questions. We have subscribed you to Daily Prep Questions via email.
Customized
for You
Track
Your Progress
Practice
Pays
Not interested in getting valuable practice questions and articles delivered to your email? No problem, unsubscribe here.
17 Dec 2025, 07:02
Kudos
Bookmarks
I have applied to the flexible track at ESSEC MiM Round 2
Bocconi Undergrad 3.3/4 gpa
GRE 316, 161 V 155 Q 4.0 AWA
Work Experience:
2 internships in product operations and operations at Tier 1 tech companies, faang level
2 internships in the music industry in management and project management
Total time: 17 months of internships
Career goal and reason for MiM: to shift from operations to strategy roles, with an ambition for product management at entertainment-tech companies, aiming for the Digital Disruption Chair at ESSEC.
Extracurriculars:
School Radio
Co founder of film association: grew it to 160+ member, had a panel with a Disney+ VP
Referees: two professional ones, both managers, from one of the two tech companies.
I understand my academics are not top tier at all, they are probably bottom half if not worse in both gpa and gre–although in all strategy and management courses I do have high grades and Id say the verbal is one of the highest in the pool–and especially my quant is terrible, but what do you think.
Bocconi Undergrad 3.3/4 gpa
GRE 316, 161 V 155 Q 4.0 AWA
Work Experience:
2 internships in product operations and operations at Tier 1 tech companies, faang level
2 internships in the music industry in management and project management
Total time: 17 months of internships
Career goal and reason for MiM: to shift from operations to strategy roles, with an ambition for product management at entertainment-tech companies, aiming for the Digital Disruption Chair at ESSEC.
Extracurriculars:
School Radio
Co founder of film association: grew it to 160+ member, had a panel with a Disney+ VP
Referees: two professional ones, both managers, from one of the two tech companies.
I understand my academics are not top tier at all, they are probably bottom half if not worse in both gpa and gre–although in all strategy and management courses I do have high grades and Id say the verbal is one of the highest in the pool–and especially my quant is terrible, but what do you think.
17 Dec 2025, 08:02
Kudos
Bookmarks
It is clear you have a very realistic grasp of your profile. You are what admissions officers often call a "spiky" candidate—you have significant weaknesses in one area (standardized testing and GPA) and significant, elite-level strengths in another (work experience and clarity of purpose).
Here is an analysis of how your application likely sits in the ESSEC Round 2 pool.
The Academic Hurdle
Your 316 GRE and 3.3 GPA are undeniably below the ESSEC median. In a vacuum, a 155 Quantitative score is a "red flag" for a top-tier French Grande École because their curriculum is famously rigorous in finance and economics. However, your Bocconi background helps mitigate this. Admissions teams know that a 3.3 at Bocconi is harder to achieve than a 4.0 at many other institutions. They also see that you performed well in strategy and management courses, which suggests your "low" GPA might be a result of the high curve rather than a lack of ability.
The "FAANG" and Industry Advantage
This is where you likely save your application. While many applicants come with 6 months of "shadowing" experience, you have 17 months of high-level internships.
Employability: ESSEC cares deeply about their ranking, which is driven by placement stats. Having "Tier 1 Tech" and "FAANG" on your resume before you even start the program makes you a "safe bet" for their career center.
The Music/Tech Niche: Most MiM candidates are generalists. You are a specialist. Your focus on the music industry combined with operations experience makes you a perfect fit for the Digital Disruption Chair. Schools love candidates who have a "story" that makes sense, and yours is incredibly cohesive.
Extracurriculars and Leadership
Your co-founding of a film association is a major asset. Scaling an organization to 160+ members and landing a Disney+ VP for a panel shows "Grandes Écoles" spirit: initiative, networking capability, and professional maturity. This reinforces the idea that while your Quant GRE is low, your "Soft Skills" and "Leadership Potential" are in the top 5% of the applicant pool.
The Strategy Behind Your Referees
Choosing two professional managers from a top tech firm rather than professors was a smart move. It signals to ESSEC that you are already operating at a professional level. Their testimony will likely focus on your ability to deliver results in the real world, which can often outweigh a standardized test score in the eyes of a holistic reviewer.
The Verdict
You are a high-risk, high-reward candidate.
The Risk: You might be filtered out if the round is exceptionally crowded with high-test scorers.
The Reward: If you make it to the interview stage, you are in a very strong position. ESSEC interviews are famously conversational and personality-driven. Your "Entertainment-Tech" narrative is far more interesting to an alum or professor than another candidate with a 330 GRE and no clear career path.
Here is an analysis of how your application likely sits in the ESSEC Round 2 pool.
The Academic Hurdle
Your 316 GRE and 3.3 GPA are undeniably below the ESSEC median. In a vacuum, a 155 Quantitative score is a "red flag" for a top-tier French Grande École because their curriculum is famously rigorous in finance and economics. However, your Bocconi background helps mitigate this. Admissions teams know that a 3.3 at Bocconi is harder to achieve than a 4.0 at many other institutions. They also see that you performed well in strategy and management courses, which suggests your "low" GPA might be a result of the high curve rather than a lack of ability.
The "FAANG" and Industry Advantage
This is where you likely save your application. While many applicants come with 6 months of "shadowing" experience, you have 17 months of high-level internships.
Employability: ESSEC cares deeply about their ranking, which is driven by placement stats. Having "Tier 1 Tech" and "FAANG" on your resume before you even start the program makes you a "safe bet" for their career center.
The Music/Tech Niche: Most MiM candidates are generalists. You are a specialist. Your focus on the music industry combined with operations experience makes you a perfect fit for the Digital Disruption Chair. Schools love candidates who have a "story" that makes sense, and yours is incredibly cohesive.
Extracurriculars and Leadership
Your co-founding of a film association is a major asset. Scaling an organization to 160+ members and landing a Disney+ VP for a panel shows "Grandes Écoles" spirit: initiative, networking capability, and professional maturity. This reinforces the idea that while your Quant GRE is low, your "Soft Skills" and "Leadership Potential" are in the top 5% of the applicant pool.
The Strategy Behind Your Referees
Choosing two professional managers from a top tech firm rather than professors was a smart move. It signals to ESSEC that you are already operating at a professional level. Their testimony will likely focus on your ability to deliver results in the real world, which can often outweigh a standardized test score in the eyes of a holistic reviewer.
The Verdict
You are a high-risk, high-reward candidate.
The Risk: You might be filtered out if the round is exceptionally crowded with high-test scorers.
The Reward: If you make it to the interview stage, you are in a very strong position. ESSEC interviews are famously conversational and personality-driven. Your "Entertainment-Tech" narrative is far more interesting to an alum or professor than another candidate with a 330 GRE and no clear career path.
