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Can I get into Harvard OR UCLA b-school?

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by Stockmoose16 » Thu Sep 04, 2008 12:35 pm
Hello,

Just wondering if I have a decent chance of getting into Harvard or UCLA b-school. Here's my current resume:

-Undergrad GPA: 3.97; Syracuse University; Valedictorian; Double major: Television, Radio, Film AND finance

-National Business Plan competition finalist

-Work experience: 5 years working on TV shows in Los Angeles, including the hit sitcom, "Will & Grace"

-GMAT: Haven't taken it yet, but am currently scoring in the 650 range on practice exams

-Don't know if this adds anything, but my uncle attended Harvard Business School.

... I don't expect to get much better than a 650 on the GMAT, but I'm hoping my strong GPA will make it obvious that I have the aptitude to perform at a high level in the classroom.
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by Lisa Anderson » Fri Sep 05, 2008 8:37 am
Dear Stockmoose16,

I think you have an outside chance at UCLA and HBS if you can score a 650. It is definitely a reach, but you have all the other aspects working in your favor. You might want to look at some other program as safety options, just to cover your bases. I know schools will be intrigued by your profile and you will be able to stand out, so it just comes down to whether or not you make the cut for a particular admissions cycle.

Best of luck,
Lisa
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by Stockmoose16 » Fri Sep 05, 2008 8:47 am
Lisa Anderson wrote:Dear Stockmoose16,

I think you have an outside chance at UCLA and HBS if you can score a 650. It is definitely a reach, but you have all the other aspects working in your favor. You might want to look at some other program as safety options, just to cover your bases. I know schools will be intrigued by your profile and you will be able to stand out, so it just comes down to whether or not you make the cut for a particular admissions cycle.

Best of luck,
Lisa
Lisa,

Thanks for the response. Out of curiosity, why would I only have an "outside chance"? I'm well-above the average undergrad GPA for these schools, was the valedictorian of my class, and have the unique experience of working on one of the most successful TV shows in history. It seems like celebrities always get into Ivy league schools because they leverage the brand names of the movies or tv shows they've appeared in. Can't I use my experience on "Will & Grace" the same way? My GMAT is likely to be around 650, which is almost 80th percentile. Why wouldn't I be a strong candidate to get into UCLA or Harvard?

Also, you've suggested I consider other schools. Do you mean other Top 15 schools or 2nd tier schools?
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by Lisa Anderson » Fri Sep 05, 2008 8:56 am
Once again, you are correct that celebrities seem to get into Ivy Leagues but that is usually for bachelor's degrees. I used the term "outside chance" because your GMAT will be on the low side for those programs. I also said I thought ALL of the other aspects work in your favor so it is possible. However, it is important to understand that these schools receive thousands of applications every year and have goals they try to achieve with each class. There is no way to know, definitively, if the rest of your application will be strong enough to get accepted as the applicant pool each year is different. Hence, I think it is possible you will get in to UCLA or HBS, but it is always a good idea to have a "plan B" when it comes to MBA admissions.

For plan B, I would suggest staying in the top 30 and identifying programs that are a good fit for your career goals.

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Lisa
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by Stockmoose16 » Fri Sep 05, 2008 9:03 am
Lisa Anderson wrote:Once again, you are correct that celebrities seem to get into Ivy Leagues but that is usually for bachelor's degrees. I used the term "outside chance" because your GMAT will be on the low side for those programs. I also said I thought ALL of the other aspects work in your favor so it is possible. However, it is important to understand that these schools receive thousands of applications every year and have goals they try to achieve with each class. There is no way to know, definitively, if the rest of your application will be strong enough to get accepted as the applicant pool each year is different. Hence, I think it is possible you will get in to UCLA or HBS, but it is always a good idea to have a "plan B" when it comes to MBA admissions.

For plan B, I would suggest staying in the top 30 and identifying programs that are a good fit for your career goals.

Regards,
Lisa
Lisa,

Thanks for the information. I didn't realize that GMAT was weighted so heavily in the mix. I assumed with my educational and professional background, I could get into any school, as long as I got at least a 600. Why do Adcomms care about the GMAT so much when someone already has a proven track record? It's frustrating that my academic future is strongly determined by the results of one timed test.
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