Profile Evaluation: MBA Expert Opinion Needed - GMAT 700

Free advice from the world's top MBA consultants
This topic has expert replies
Newbie | Next Rank: 10 Posts
Posts: 8
Joined: Tue Oct 04, 2011 7:52 am
Hello,
Below is a snapshot of my profile/background. I would appreciate any feedback on my MBA strategy.

Asian, female, just turned 24. Grew up in Asia and came to US at 17.

Graduated Magna Cum Laude from a state university. 3.62 GPA. Multiple scholarships during colleges.
(not very worried about the academic piece of my application)

(highest) GMAT: 700 (90%). Retook and got the exact same score.

Notable Extra-curricular: National President of a national business student orgnaization. Presided over a small start-up during college for an entreprenerial program. Raised $18000 in revenue and donated all $5200 profits plus 457 service hours as a company to charities.

Professional experience: currently employed in a financial company that provides corporate governance services to investment firms, such as proxy voting services. Been working since August 2009 (3 years of experience at maltriculation).

I'm a re-applicant this year (interviewed and waitlisted at Darden last year). I'm looking at a balanced package of schools, with 1-2 high-end school and some safety schools. My current selection: Wharton (high-end), Columbia (high-end), Darden, Duke, Cornell, UCLA.

What do you think of my school choices? Is there any other places that you think I stand a good chance at?
Any other advices you can offer? I have been working on R1 on most schools. Submitted to Wharton already.

Thanks,
G
Last edited by glorialau87 on Wed Oct 12, 2011 8:01 am, edited 2 times in total.
Source: — Ask an MBA Admissions Consultant |

User avatar
Legendary Member
Posts: 510
Joined: Sun Sep 11, 2011 6:15 am
Location: London
Thanked: 122 times
Followed by:22 members

by throughmba » Tue Oct 04, 2011 9:34 am
Since you are a re-applicant, would have loved to see what went wrong the last time. Which colleges did you apply last year?

Whats your plan.... I mean goal.

With this list add Booth, Stern, Tuck, Ross and Haas and may be one Kenan-Flagler super safe.

Your profile is quiet good. I hope you will get more calls.
ThroughMBA Consulting
The No. 1 B-School Admission Consulting of U.K. is now the most Affordable.

https://throughmba.com
email : [email protected]

Alex Wilkins
Senior Admission Consultant, ThroughMBA.com
Panelist | MBA Admissions Achievers Meet
Interviewer | MIT Sloan | Former
Management Consultant | McKinsey & Company | Former

"Regardless of who you are or what you have been, You can make what you want to be."

Newbie | Next Rank: 10 Posts
Posts: 8
Joined: Tue Oct 04, 2011 7:52 am

by glorialau87 » Tue Oct 04, 2011 10:36 am
I believe it was my inexperience (considering I have only been working for 1.5 year at the time I was applying). And I also applied in R2, instead of R1, like I am this year. Darden would like to see another year of experience under my belt, would like to see app in R1, and would love a higher GMAT score (which I tried, but got the same score).

I am trying to switch career from finance to consulting post-MBA. Long-term, I want to go into education-related industry. I think I probably didn't do a good job of making sense out of my desire to switch career and the disconnect on my goals and current job might have left some doubts in the minds of the adcom. I applied to wharton, HBS, Columbia, Stern, Darden and Sloan last year. Only received interview at Darden.

Thanks,
G

User avatar
Legendary Member
Posts: 510
Joined: Sun Sep 11, 2011 6:15 am
Location: London
Thanked: 122 times
Followed by:22 members

by throughmba » Tue Oct 04, 2011 11:42 pm
You should not be mellowed down. Choose more number of colleges, preferably a few reach and safe schools.

The expectation will be high and hence refine your essays more and more. Spend more time on the reapplicant essay. Admit that now you have more intent and purpose.

I think this time you will make it.
ThroughMBA Consulting
The No. 1 B-School Admission Consulting of U.K. is now the most Affordable.

https://throughmba.com
email : [email protected]

Alex Wilkins
Senior Admission Consultant, ThroughMBA.com
Panelist | MBA Admissions Achievers Meet
Interviewer | MIT Sloan | Former
Management Consultant | McKinsey & Company | Former

"Regardless of who you are or what you have been, You can make what you want to be."

User avatar
MBA Admissions Consultant
Posts: 810
Joined: Thu Jun 16, 2011 1:12 pm
Thanked: 127 times
Followed by:35 members

by MBAPrepAdvantage » Wed Oct 05, 2011 4:50 pm
If you are going to apply to a wide swath of schools you should look at schools with similar or easier essay questions. So you might consider adding Kellogg due to the similar essays as Duke and Stern due to the similar essays as Columbia.

Also, really be able to highlight how a school can help you with your specific profile. For example, did you highlight the Industry Mentoring Initiative at NYU Stern (https://www.stern.nyu.edu/programs-admis ... onsulting/) that is specifically for career-switchers looking to enter consulting.

Good luck,
Michael Cohan
MBAPrepAdvantage Founder & AIGAC Board Director
305-604-8178
www.mbaprepadvantage.com

Please thank and/or like individual posts.

Follow Michael Cohan on Image Image and BeattheGMAT.
Follow MBAPrepAdvantage on Image Image Image.

For a free assessment email [email protected] your target schools, goals, resume, GPA and GMAT or fill out our Free MBA Admissions Consultation Form.

Newbie | Next Rank: 10 Posts
Posts: 8
Joined: Tue Oct 04, 2011 7:52 am

by glorialau87 » Wed Oct 12, 2011 8:00 am
I just submitted my application to Cornell. I think I have a good shot there - what do you think?

User avatar
Legendary Member
Posts: 510
Joined: Sun Sep 11, 2011 6:15 am
Location: London
Thanked: 122 times
Followed by:22 members

by throughmba » Wed Oct 12, 2011 8:52 am
I think you will.

Best of Luck.
ThroughMBA Consulting
The No. 1 B-School Admission Consulting of U.K. is now the most Affordable.

https://throughmba.com
email : [email protected]

Alex Wilkins
Senior Admission Consultant, ThroughMBA.com
Panelist | MBA Admissions Achievers Meet
Interviewer | MIT Sloan | Former
Management Consultant | McKinsey & Company | Former

"Regardless of who you are or what you have been, You can make what you want to be."

User avatar
MBA Admissions Consultant
Posts: 810
Joined: Thu Jun 16, 2011 1:12 pm
Thanked: 127 times
Followed by:35 members

by MBAPrepAdvantage » Wed Oct 12, 2011 12:21 pm
Yes, you do. Good Luck!!!!
Michael Cohan
MBAPrepAdvantage Founder & AIGAC Board Director
305-604-8178
www.mbaprepadvantage.com

Please thank and/or like individual posts.

Follow Michael Cohan on Image Image and BeattheGMAT.
Follow MBAPrepAdvantage on Image Image Image.

For a free assessment email [email protected] your target schools, goals, resume, GPA and GMAT or fill out our Free MBA Admissions Consultation Form.