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Nontraditional Profile Evaluation Please!

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dval29 Just gettin' started! Default Avatar
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06 Jun 2010
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Nontraditional Profile Evaluation Please! Post Thu Mar 15, 2012 3:49 pm
First, thanks so much for taking the time to read this. Second, if I do apply this coming fall I very well may hire a consultant to help mold the application. Thirdly, here it goes!

-24yo white male (none of these at b schools)

-3.6+ at Harvard that went up every year (I.E. last 2 years were around a 3.8 GPA) in psychology. Wrote a senior research thesis that received awards and ended up granting me highest honors in field (English honors, not Suma). I've taken the GMAT once and received a 720 HEAVILY weighted in verbal (45v 44q). I ran out of time and panicked on the math- I'd like to think I could study, retake, and improve the math score if this is holding me back.

-Work experience includes one year of psychology research out of college to see if I wanted to go on and get a PhD in the field. It was interesting research (brain research on hardened criminals in the prison system) and I did well within the lab, but in the end not the career path for me. I went from that directly into a medium-sized business that specializes in community service travel for students (decades old with tens of millions in yearly revenue). Was hired as part of a 2-year management training program where I got to put a solid hand in marketing, management, sales, etc. and expect to be offered a management position in the fall when program concludes (and have been told I am in the top tier of the team). I have received very high praise and continually am given more responsibilities within the company. Through this job, I have worked (hired and fired people, managed teams, purchased property, edited and printed marketing material, etc.) in 10 countries (Morocco, Ghana, China, Burma, Thailand, etc.). I have also worked on and led community service initiatives in many of these countries (building school out houses, education, teaching,etc.).

-I have had one modest entrepreneurial project on the side (selling a product on the web thatI designed) with a few thousand dollars a year in sales. I am completing another similar project now. I would like to focus on entrepreneurship/growing small businesses (like my current employer).

- I know my work experience is not the norm, but helping to grow a small company and living in Ghana and Burma have been the richest experiences of my life and I hope this could come across in a bschool application. What do you surmise my chances would be at Haas, Tuck, HBS, or Booth? (I say Booth because I have a possible connection there even though it is super quant-heavy, and I hear they entrepreneur program is awesome).

Again, thank you so much for your honest appraisal!

D[/i]

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Post Fri Mar 16, 2012 1:14 am
With your GMAT, your rare international experience, the uniqueness of your background and Harvard as your undergrad, plus all of the hiring/leadership stuff you have from this job, if you can present a good compelling profile with clear goals and a unique VISION there is no reason why you shouldn't be able to get in anywhere. I would even suggest applying to Stanford as well, as they do seem to like unique people with different experiences.

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Harvard MBA, 2005
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Thanked by: dval29
dval29 Just gettin' started! Default Avatar
Joined
06 Jun 2010
Posted:
2 messages
Post Fri Mar 16, 2012 10:46 am
Jon, thanks so much for the reply. My tires are now fully inflated and I am checking out your website. You will probably be hearing from me soon,

Daniel

Post Tue Mar 20, 2012 1:16 am
Hah! Rev that motor and go for it!
Looking forward to hearing from you.

_________________
Jon Frank
Harvard MBA, 2005
Founder and CEO, Admissionado

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