Ask an MBA Admissions Consultant

Dear MBA admission consultants,

I am writing this message to ask any consultants here in Beat the GMAT forum to comment on my HBS 2+2 application profile and my chances of being admitted to the same program. I would be very grateful for any honest, realistic and constructive feedbacks.

I am a Filipino college junior studying in the University of Asia and the Pacific (which is based here on the Philippines). I am in a 5-year program which will lead me to a Master of Science in Industrial Economics. I plan to graduate at 4th year on June 2010 to get a degree of Bachelor of Arts in Humanities with specialization in Industrial Economics. I plan to graduate immediately to get a degree BA degree in Humanities so that there is more chance at 2+2. The strength of my application packet is centered on my academic record.

Academic record:
1.) With humility and honesty, I am currently the top of my batch (approximately 200 students) in terms of academic record. I have a grade weighted average (GWA) of 1.28 (with 1.00 being the highest and 3.5 being the lowest). According to MBA.com, 1.28 translates to a 4.00 in the American GPA standard.
2.) I’m a merit scholar in my university. As a 50% merit scholar, I have to maintain at least 1.75 GWA in exchange for getting a 50% discount on my school’s tuition.

Extracurricular involvement:
1.) Secretary for ISKO (my university’s one and only organization of scholars)
2.) Tutor for ACE (academic committee for excellence  the only committee under the student executive board who tutors any student in need of academic assistance)
3.) PEER facilitator under the supervision of my school’s CSA (center for student affairs)
a. As PEER facilitator, I manage a class of incoming freshmen for three days under the “fresh start” event
4.) Marshall Assistant in conducting the “fresh start” which is an event welcoming incoming freshmen to our university
5.) Assistant project manager for business economic association newsletter which is the sole organization of my course
6.) Part of Commission on Election (COMELEC)
a. I ended up resigning for this because it conflicts with my academic demand
7.) Ushered twice in a competition called “Ecolympics” inside my university

Community involvement:
1.) I am also active as a basketball player both in my village and in my school
a. My team won a championship in an inter-village competition before
b. I was also recruited by a college coach for varsity but declined to join because I want to prioritize my studies

Work experience / Internships
Very unfortunately and very regrettably, my university does not offer any internship. This is the major downside of my application packet. However, since I was already thinking about this program since July, I started searching for possible jobs available to me even if I am just a college junior. Here are my only two work experiences:

1.) Research assistant for my college professor
a. Researched about renewable energy
b. This is a pro-bono
2.) Registration assistant for a staff in academic and curricular affairs
a. This does not have any salary
b. It only has enrollment benefits

Can you please comment on my chances of being admitted to the 2+2 Program? Honestly, I do not have the confidence to apply to Harvard if not for my undergraduate grades. I’ve always thought of Harvard as something very high on top of the mountain for me to reach. I just gained confidence in applying because of my undergraduate grades.

Currently, I am struggling with the application process. The deadline for HBS 2+2 is on July 1. I only have one and a half months left. Most of my preparations have been spent for the GMAT. Unfortunately, I haven’t done anything for the 2+2 applications apart from studying the GMAT and reflecting on my essays. I only have scratches of potential essays and have weeks of preparation for the GMAT. Is one and a half months sufficient to complete my 2+2 application given that I already know what I should write on my essays?

My main difficulty in the application process is the GMAT. I have only managed to score a devastating 480 in my first GMATPrep simulation last April 19. Since then, I have been prepping hard for another simulation this coming May 18. You can read this thread with regard to my GMAT problem https://www.beatthegmat.com/not-giving-u ... tml#143636
Given my profile, is a 700+ GMAT score the main thing I need to have a fighting chance in the 2+2 application?

I am hoping for any prompt response from any MBA consultant here in Beat the GMAT.

Thank you very much and God Bless,
Gabriel M. Ignacio