Where should I apply? (with case studies)

1. What is your post-MBA goal?

a. What job function do you see yourself doing?
b. Which industry do you want to work in?
c. Where (which country/city/environment) do you want to live?

2. Which schools support your goals?

a. Are the companies you would like to work for recruiting for the functions/industries you would like to pursue at your target school?
b. Do your target schools offer clubs and extra-curricular activities in your desired field (and if not, is it possible for you to start your own club)?
c. Does the school’s curriculum offer a major, concentration, or adequate coverage for your particular interests and goals?
d. Are there professors who have done or are currently doing research in your area of interest or in a field where you want to acquire expertise?

3. What are your qualifications?

a. Are you academically competitive? (Take a look at your GMAT/GRE score, transcript, additional courses, etc.)
b. Do you have impressive work experience, qualitatively and quantitatively?
c. Do your community service activities show additional skills and character traits (like initiative, leadership, responsibility, and teamwork)?

4. Choose your 4-8 schools to apply to

Joe

1) Wants to go into Management Consulting at elite strat consulting firm
2) Schools to consider: HBS, Stanford, Kellogg, Tuck, Darden, Chicago, Wharton, MIT, Columbia, Haas, NYU Stern, Ross
3) Qualifications

a. 740 GMAT
b. 3.7 GPA from Princeton. Majored in econ and graduated in 2009.
c. Interned for boutique consulting firm in college.
d. Captain of tennis team at Princeton.
e. President of fraternity.
f. Joined army and served as an officer in combat. Should be discharged this June.
4) Where should he apply? HBS, Stanford, Wharton, Kellogg, and Tuck. Will apply to Darden, Haas, and Ross R2 if not accepted anywhere R1.

Jane

1. Wants to go into marketing with focus on digital marketing and then maybe start her own company. Prefers to live in South Eastern US.
2. Schools to consider: Kellogg, Cornell, Haas, Duke, UNC, Ross, UCLA, Emory, UT, MIT, CMU Tepper
3. Qualifications

a. 680 GMAT with 65% on Quant. Highest score after 3 attempts. Taking MBAMath and several quant classes at local college to boost math skills, counteract low quant score, and prepare for quant demands of b-school.
b. 3.4 GPA from public ivy. Majored in econ and history. Graduated in 2007
c. Works as law firm manager in 20-lawyer office. Has been in charge of publicity and social media for firm which has seen tremendous growth from that channel. Started as a clerk after college and worked her way up.
d. Married has one child. Husband can work from anywhere.
e. Active in church and alumni association. Runs 5 and 10K races. In college was officer in sorority.
f. Wants to apply R1 for 2014.
4. Where should she apply? Duke, UNC, Darden and Kellogg for R1. Kellogg is a stretch, but she really likes its strength in marketing and collegial culture. Will include as a stretch. Will apply to UT and Emory round 2 if not accepted anywhere R1.

Ajay

1. Has high tech product ideas and wants to start own business, if not immediately after MBA, then within five years after MBA. Attracted to design thinking.
2. Schools to consider: MIT, Haas, Stanford, CMU Tepper, UT Austin, UCLA, USC Marshall, Duke, Ross, Cornell Johnson, UNC, Babson, Rotman
3. Qualifications

a. 700 GMAT (51 quant; struggles with verbal). Took previously and had 660 and 680. Doesn’t want to retake again.
b. Has 7.2/10 CGPA from IIT Madras. B. Tech. Graduated in 2008
c. Has been working for Tata Consulting on software consulting projects for last 3 years in the UK and Europe. Previously worked for Infosys as a programmer for two years in India. Can show increasing responsibility at work.
d. Was active in college, but hasn’t done much since outside of work. Likes to play guitar and cricket.
e. Wants to apply in 2013-14
4. Where should he apply? Will apply to Darden, UCLA, UT Austin, and Duke R1. Will apply to UNC, USC Marshall, Babson, and Rotman if not accepted R1. Also considering Ross’ MS in Entrepreneurship.

Jack

1. Wants to go into R/E development/ finance and grow family business. Really prefers East Coast.
2. Schools to consider Harvard, Stanford, Wharton, Chicago, Columbia, NYU, Haas, Kellogg, Duke, Cornell, Rochester, Georgetown, UNC, UCLA, USC, LBS
3. Qualifications

a. 730 GMAT, balanced.
b. 2.9 from Georgetown. Class of ‘09 (Immature freshman year; Illness sophomore year; upward trend in last two years; dean’s list as a senior) Majored in math; minored in Asian history. Has passed all 3 levels of CFA. Took a few business classes (accounting, stats for business, finance) online and got straight A’s
c. Financial analyst program for 2 years. Then joined family property management business (outside NYC) for two years. Handled 2 8-figure property acquisitions.
d. Had been active in Romney campaign and in local Republican politics.
e. Wants to apply in 2013-14
4. Where should he apply? Will apply to Columbia, NYU Stern, Wharton, and Duke R1. If not accepted, will try for Chicago, UNC, UCLA, and Georgetown round 2. May substitute LBS for one of the last four.