Ask Stacy Blackman

Hello there-

Hope you don't mind doing another evaluation - I'm planning to apply to NYU, Columbia, Baruch, Chicago, and HEC Paris. I'm afraid I'm aiming too high - I'd really appreciate some honest feedback before I fork over the cash/time!

Profile:
-3.4 GPA, English major, Barnard College (NY)

-7 years of work experience. I've held the following titles within ad/business ops divisions for 2 fairly well-known media/entertainment companies:
ad traffic manager
project manager
business analyst (current)

I had NO quant/econ coursework in college, but have spent the last 6 years working in business/analytical capacities: creating P&Ls, digital ad delivery reports, inventory/pricing analytics.

I've yet to take the GMAT, but have scored ranging from 620-670 on practice tests.

No leadership/business extracurriculars - just French/Spanish classes (I'm hoping to work abroad after the MBA program).

I do volunteer work periodically in the city, and spent 2 weeks in Eastern Europe last year (thru a US org) working in an orphanage.

Sidebars:
-fluent Chinese speaker
-have lived/studied in Taiwan, London, Spain.
-I have a bad fear of public speaking but have been actively striving to overcome it by taking improv/acting classes, and accepting small public-speaking engagements. Should I avoid mentioning this phobia in any of my essays?

Hi Nona,

That's an interesting background, and I actually think your public speaking phobia is a great essay - because you can show how you have been working to overcome it. Addressing your weaknesses is a great quality.

Baruch is definitely reasonable. Depending on what your GMAT score actually is, I think it's worth trying for the other schools also. I think a mix of some "reach" schools and schools that you think will be slightly less competitive for you is a great strategy.

Good luck!

Amy

Thanks for your quick reply.

Is it even worth my time/money to apply to all of the higher-tier schools I've listed (NYU etc), even if I break 700 on the GMAT?

Or would you consider all of them (except Baruch) "reach" schools for me, given my background?

I realize you have limited info to work with, and can't guarantee anything in any case -- but I'm honestly uncertain if I should balance the list out a bit and look for lower-ranking schools.

Hi Nona,

I don't think Baruch is a reach school for you. Without full information it's hard to tell you precisely, but it sounds like you have an interesting work background, volunteer experience and decent academics.

I would suggest applying to a mix of schools if you are concerned about the chances of admission, but I do think (especially if you score 700+ on the GMAT) that it's worth at least trying for the other schools.

I understand the cost of applications seems high right now. However, considering the time and effort you are putting into the process, not to mention the cost of tuition, I think it would be a mistake to choose not to apply to a school you are interested in because of the application fee.

Good luck!

Amy