Ask Stacy Blackman

Hey everyone - I'd like to start off by thanking everyone on this site. It's been an invaluable resource for me as I have prepared for my GMAT and overall business school applications.

I just want to get my profile out to see how my standard profile looks from afar, and to get an idea of how to separate myself in my essays.

Term: Fall 2009
Target Schools: Stanford, Berkeley, Chicago, Penn, UCLA
Age: 27 (will be 28 at start of 2009 classes)
GMAT: Male
Race/Nationality: White/US Citizen

Undergraduate: B.S. Chemical Engineering, Biochemistry specialization, University of Maryland, 3.6 GPA

GMAT: I haven't taken them yet, but I've scored 720, 740, and 750 on the three practice tests I've taken. I anticipate scoring 720+.

Work Experience: I had an entry level position in a biochemical lab for about 2 months after college. I realized then that working in the production aspect of pharmaceuticals was not for me, so I started working for a major consulting firm in 2004. I have been with my company for just over 4 years now (will be 5 years in Fall '09). I have had a variety of experiences on a number of different projects, but lately, I've been settling down into on and off-site application support roles. I am just completing a contract as an on-site application support team lead, where I lead 8-12 people at a site giving end users training and generally supporting an application. I have taken a more stable role starting in a month as an Application Support lead. I'll be managing a team of 12 people supporting an application used at over 170 facilities nationwide. I've had solid management experience, and my technical knowledge is growing by the day.

Volunteering: I currently spend about 2 hours a week at local schools tutoring inner-city high school students in math.

Extra-curricular: I have captained a flag football team for the past 2 years (spring and fall). We have won the league 2 times over the past 4 seasons (~50 total teams).

Recommendations: I am not sure the way to go here. I don't know if it's more worthwhile to get an amazing recommendation from someone lower on the totem pole, or get a good recommendation from a high ranking person in my company. I can get an amazing recommendation from my Manager and Sr. Manager. I also can get a very good recommendation from a Senior Partner in the firm, but I'm not sure if he's the best writer in the world. Any thoughts on this?

That's about it. I plan on taking my GMATs in 4 weeks, and then focusing my energies over the following 3 months towards the applications. I haven't 100% decided if I am going to school or not. So I plan on applying to all the Round 2 deadlines, allowing me the maximum time to make my decision without hurting my admission chances.

I guess what I'm asking is for help on how to stand myself out in my essays, and what to focus on. I think I have a decent profile, but many of the people applying to Top 10 schools are going to have the same profile as I do. I think I need help separating myself from the crowd. Any help at all would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks so much!
Cappy