Profile Evaluation Request

[MBA2018golden]

Hi!

Thank you in advance for taking the time to read this post. While I am still a year or two away from application, I would like to see how my profile is shaping up for when I pull the trigger. FYI, my dream schools are UCLA, HBS, NYU, COLUMBIA, STANFORD, and USC. I'm hoping to get an expert opinion.

I went to a top 30 liberal arts school. I graduated Phi Beta Kappa, Summa Cum Laude, 3.9 GPA with a double major in Econ and Film and finished my degrees in 3 and 1/2 years. I was an RA, played club sports, did theater and wrote screenplays. During undergrad, I worked in entertainment at three Academy Award winning production companies and for WME as an intern. When I graduated early, I got a job at Ernst and Young as a consultant in financial advisory which I did for 8 months before shifting back to the entertainment industry where I currently work (at a top 4 talent agency in the Film Finance and Sales group). I will either stay here until I apply to B-school in the fall of 2017 or 2018 or I will shift to a Studio, preferably in the strategy or marketing space.

on the GMAT side: Tough road of studying but pulled out a 710! 47 Math, 40 Verbal. 6 AWA and 6 IR.

Throughout the next two years, I plan on doing volunteer work with my company and on my own. I also am an active stock trader on the side as a hobby. I am a white man FYI.

With all that info, do I have a shot at any of my dream schools listed above?

Thank you for your time and response!

[Jon@Admissionado]

Hey there!

Great to hear from you!
So first of all, you have a very nice and interesting and unique profile. We don't see many entertainment folks out here, and I think this should help you build a very unique and interesting profile.

OVerall, I think the first thing is to think about your school list. Like, given your goals and knowing what I know about your industry, it's probably a LOT more useful for you to go to the right place where you can hobnob with film people than for you to simply aim for MBA prestige. So NYU, and Columbia i get. UCLA is an obvious choice. As is USC. But Stanford? Harvard? Sure you can apply. But why? you will likely be in isolation from the industry of your choice, and given how important contacts seem to be. Austin might be another option too.

Also if you are feeling really ambitious I believe there are some interesting options for you in dual degree, between film and MBA, which you may want to look into.

I hope this helps!
Best,

[MBA2018golden]

Thank you so much for your kind reply! I'm glad my profile is hopefully fresh and off-center enough to stand out. To be fair, UCLA is my number one choice and dream school. I named HBS and Stanford mainly because the top studio execs tend to have their MBAs from those schools. That being said, plenty went to UCLA as well and the closeness to the industry is an incredible plus (not to mention the weather, campus, and awesome program).

Given my stats, is it safe to say that with 2-3 yrs experience I have a reasonable shot at getting into that program?

Thanks again!

[Jon@Admissionado]

Well apply then to those as well!
At UCLA I'd say you are a pretty darned competitive guy! Just write them an awesome competition.

Looking forward to seeing your movies