Howdy,
I would love to get a realistic view of what I can expect during this upcoming application season.
Starting with the worst part...
GPA: 2.8 (in Engineering, from Harvey Mudd College '05)
Male, 26
GMAT: 770 (49Q, 46V)
Spent a year with Intel as a process engineer in a manufacturing facility in AZ. Moved back to CA, and have spent the subsequent years with two different Idealab companies (a startup/incubator environment) in predominantly technical management roles.
I am currently taking 2 courses through UCLA (Finance and Business Calculus) to show both that I am serious about this undertaking and that I am academically capable at this level . I will most certainly get A's in both of them (to be honest, they remind me of the beginning of high school, I haven't taken single-variable, non-complex calculus since before I had my driver's license!
). In addition to this step, I have taken serious effort in composing an essay outlining the "why" component of my GPA.
In addition to my full-time job, I mentor one of my employees, act as a Big Brother in Big Brothers and Big Sisters of America, play rugby, and run a small web business (it seems like a lot when you say it all in one sentence like that).
My family background is moderately unique: I come from a low-income single parent household with a substantial history of substance abuse (the household, not me!)
I am interested in going into Venture Capital, if not right after b-school (a tall order) then soon after. As a result, I am focused on HBS and Stanford GSB as my main candidates. How realistic is this? Is this, particularly my GPA, something that I can sell to those institutions through a well-crafted application? I tend to think that it is just barely within the realm of possibility, but I would love to hear what you have to say about it.
How do you think I should attempt to position myself to create the most compelling story?
Lastly, I am part Native American (a small part, and though it was a substantial part of my upbringing, I do not strongly identify with the culture). Here is the rub: I _LOATHE_ affirmative action, I really dislike the idea of getting or having something because of what I am instead of who I am. Do you think that having the "tribal" stamp on my application will make a substantial difference in its evaluation? If the advantage is clear cut, I am willing to do it (though I feel that it would cheapen my admission). What difference do you think it might make for me to go one way or another? Going from over-represented white male engineer to totally under-represented native american engineer seems like a substantial step in admission candidacy (assuming that all of the other pieces are ok or on the fence).
Thoughts, advice, opinions?
Let me know if there is any further information I could provide that would make it easier to evaluate my candidacy.
Thanks!
I would love to get a realistic view of what I can expect during this upcoming application season.
Starting with the worst part...
GPA: 2.8 (in Engineering, from Harvey Mudd College '05)
Male, 26
GMAT: 770 (49Q, 46V)
Spent a year with Intel as a process engineer in a manufacturing facility in AZ. Moved back to CA, and have spent the subsequent years with two different Idealab companies (a startup/incubator environment) in predominantly technical management roles.
I am currently taking 2 courses through UCLA (Finance and Business Calculus) to show both that I am serious about this undertaking and that I am academically capable at this level . I will most certainly get A's in both of them (to be honest, they remind me of the beginning of high school, I haven't taken single-variable, non-complex calculus since before I had my driver's license!
). In addition to this step, I have taken serious effort in composing an essay outlining the "why" component of my GPA.In addition to my full-time job, I mentor one of my employees, act as a Big Brother in Big Brothers and Big Sisters of America, play rugby, and run a small web business (it seems like a lot when you say it all in one sentence like that).
My family background is moderately unique: I come from a low-income single parent household with a substantial history of substance abuse (the household, not me!)
I am interested in going into Venture Capital, if not right after b-school (a tall order) then soon after. As a result, I am focused on HBS and Stanford GSB as my main candidates. How realistic is this? Is this, particularly my GPA, something that I can sell to those institutions through a well-crafted application? I tend to think that it is just barely within the realm of possibility, but I would love to hear what you have to say about it.
How do you think I should attempt to position myself to create the most compelling story?
Lastly, I am part Native American (a small part, and though it was a substantial part of my upbringing, I do not strongly identify with the culture). Here is the rub: I _LOATHE_ affirmative action, I really dislike the idea of getting or having something because of what I am instead of who I am. Do you think that having the "tribal" stamp on my application will make a substantial difference in its evaluation? If the advantage is clear cut, I am willing to do it (though I feel that it would cheapen my admission). What difference do you think it might make for me to go one way or another? Going from over-represented white male engineer to totally under-represented native american engineer seems like a substantial step in admission candidacy (assuming that all of the other pieces are ok or on the fence).
Thoughts, advice, opinions?
Let me know if there is any further information I could provide that would make it easier to evaluate my candidacy.
Thanks!
