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Evaluate my chances please

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Evaluate my chances please

by mjjking » Fri Jun 29, 2007 1:53 pm
Dear Stacy,
I'm an italian student, graduating in January. Major: History and Anthropology, GPA: 4.0 and 3.77 (in Italy they are counted as two separate degrees). I expect to be able to get a 640-660 on the GMAT. I will graduate in January, and I wish to start my MBA next year. I have a summer internship (July-August 2006, assistant to a human resources manager in a company with 300 employees), and I will probably start working with them once graduated. I can have strong reccomendations, both from former professors and employer.
I would like to get admitted to one the follow: University of Pittsburgh (my first choice), Louisiana State, Baylor University, Rice University. Do you think that - with my curriculum - would I stand any chance at those schools? Would a privant cosulent be useful in achieving my goal?
thanks!

RC
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by Amy » Tue Jul 03, 2007 11:13 am
Hi Rob,

From what you have posted it sounds like your target schools are reasonable. Although it is generally useful to have some work experience before returning for your MBA, there is an increasing trend towards accepting students right out of undergrad. I would focus on gaining as much leadership experience as you can (both in extracurricular activities and through work) before you apply, because most applicants with more work experience will have that advantage.

The MBA admissions process really is holistic, therefore there are many elements beyond your raw stats that will factor into any offer of admission. Some of the questions I would encourage you to consider before you start the process are: Why do you need an MBA? What is your long-term goal? Why is it important to start an MBA program immediately? and Why do you want an MBA from each particular school?

Using a professional consultant can be extremely helpful to clarify your goals and help you present yourself in the best possible way. Working with someone who has been through the process themselves, has helped others achieve their MBA goal, and is part of the MBA community can give you the benefit of their knowledge and experience.

Good luck!

Amy
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thanks!

by mjjking » Wed Jul 04, 2007 12:06 pm
Thanks for your kind reply! I appreciate it!
I know that gaining leadership experience would be important... In fact, I'm willing to start working prior to applying (even though not yet graduated), so that I can put that into my cv (and show that I will continue working also after getting my BA, so that I would enroll with 5-6 months of work experience - post BA).
Would that be a good idea?
thanks a lot, I feel great now I know I can have resonable chances at those universities!

Roberto
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Sorry me again

by mjjking » Wed Jul 04, 2007 3:35 pm
Dear Amy,
just another thing: I know in the USA there are lots of opportunities to get involved in extra-curricular activities, becoming community leader, etc. But in Italy it's not so easy, especially if you live in a small city at the border with France (this is my case!).
I was wandering: two years ago, as I had to save some money to finance my studies and my travels, I started an eBay based business which proved to be succesful. Basically, I bought dvds from China re-selling them to the USA and Europe. I acted in cooperation with a chinese wholeseller. It was a good business, where I had to find my "sources" where I bought the items, I had to create auctions, I had to manage sales and customer support. I earned more or less 40000 USD in 18 months, working 4-6 hours a day, even though I didn't emit receipts etc as I was acting as a private ebay seller. Then, eBay changed its rules and as I'm a student and I have other things to think about, I gave it up. Now, would this prove to be beneficial in my cv to provide examples of entrepreneurship and leadership? Could I succesfully use it or not?
Thanks a lot again!!
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by Amy » Thu Jul 05, 2007 12:03 pm
Rob,

Starting your own business is an excellent way to demonstrate leadership and initiative even if you had to stop it.

My only concern in this case is that the DVDs might have been pirated which might raise ethical issues. If they were bootleg that's a red flag. If not, I would definitely use it.

Amy
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i dunno

by mjjking » Thu Jul 05, 2007 2:15 pm
Well, hopefully they weren't pirated! I've always been told by my wholeseller they were actually reg. 6 dvds, which I checked out to be official asian releases. In addition, I haven't received any complaint from my buyers...
But I'm not 100% sure, I'm honest. How can highlight the good of my business leaving aside this particular which could turn against myself?

thanks!
Beat The GMAT - 1st priority
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take a look

by mjjking » Thu Jul 05, 2007 2:43 pm
Hi Amy,
can you took a look yourself at their webpage?
https://www.china-dropshipper.com/index.html
I know for sure their bags are fake, in fact I never sold them! I only sold dvds! I know also that they were inspected many ties by various customs around the World (US, Italy, France), and they were never confiscated, even though taxes were added. So, I guess the dvds are fine, legal and original, right? I've asked them again to double check.

Also, I did another thing: I used tosell also - with the same method as always as a private ebay seller, dvds which I collected from local retailers who sold me dvds they thought they weren't going to sell at bulk price.I then sold them through the net and made good profits too, even though not so big as the ones from China. Would this be ok as axample of entrepreneurship? Will I be asked to demostrate it? Unfortunately, I didn't pay taxes or other things because I sold items as a private on eBay, which was perfectly fine untiil they changed rules...
thanks!
Beat The GMAT - 1st priority
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one last thing

by mjjking » Thu Jul 05, 2007 2:47 pm
I used to sell dvds not only thorugh ebay but also through other auction websites and I had set up also a personal website. Then, as I said earlier, I had to give up because regulations became stricter and I was required to become a registere business, which wasn't feasible at the time. Unfortunately, I don't even remember my ebay username as I set something strange like dvds_for_less or similar, but I don't remember what it was and my email account related to it was closed due to inactivity... So I have no way to access it ... :-( Would that be a problem? Should I let this whole thing aside?

Thanks a lot!

RC
Beat The GMAT - 1st priority
Enter a top MBA program - 2nd priority
Loving my wife: MOST IMPORTANT OF ALL!

REAL THING 1 (AUG 2007): 680 (Q43, V40)
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sorry again...

by mjjking » Thu Jul 05, 2007 3:15 pm
Amy,
sorry to bother you again, I know I'm giving you way too many info, but it's a really important thing which could enhance my application!

Let's summarize:

I sold dvds, both though dropshipping (with the chinese wholeseller) and through personally buying them from local retailers;

I sold them on ebay, even though I don't remember my username nor I can't locate it!

I sold them using my website (I creted at the time, now closed too) also and using local advertisement (local magazines, local newspapers, ad magazines, etc,).

I wasn't a registered business, i.e. I didn't print or emit receipts because I acted as a private seller. When it became more difficult to sell because ebay requird me to become an "official" seller, I gave up because I hadn't time to do that, as it would have become a full time job!

So, out of this all, can I get something good to show my leadership abilities or not?

Thanks again for your help, I really appreciate it! Again, my chinese wholeseller always told me that their dvds were original; in fact, they were never confiscated as fake by customs that inspected them.
Beat The GMAT - 1st priority
Enter a top MBA program - 2nd priority
Loving my wife: MOST IMPORTANT OF ALL!

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by Amy » Mon Jul 09, 2007 9:19 am
Hi Rob,

I think you can definitely use the experience.

Experiences like this are best used as an example to answer a question about accomplishments or leadership. Therefore, the details of where you bought the merchandise, etc are not as important as the details of what you learned from the experience and how it helped you realize something about yourself (either a strength or weakness or ideas about your future goals.)

Good luck!

Amy
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again

by mjjking » Sun Jul 15, 2007 4:50 pm
H there,
I've got another question... Do you think that teaching italian abroad (as I'm an italian native speaker) could be a good work experience before applying to a MBA program?
thanks!!
Beat The GMAT - 1st priority
Enter a top MBA program - 2nd priority
Loving my wife: MOST IMPORTANT OF ALL!

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by Amy » Mon Jul 16, 2007 12:18 pm
Hi Rob,

I'm sure teaching Italian abroad would be a great personal experience for you. Does teaching fit into any of your future goals? Perhaps living abroad has some importance to your goals?

Generally I would advise making decisions based on your future goals. That being said, having interesting personal experiences is always a good idea - whether it helps you with applications or not.

Good luck!

Amy
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by mjjking » Mon Jul 16, 2007 5:58 pm
Hi Amy,
living abroad would have importance because:

1. I'd like to find a job in international business
2. I'd like to find a job in Asia

But I don't know if it would be helpful or not... What do you think?
thanks!
Beat The GMAT - 1st priority
Enter a top MBA program - 2nd priority
Loving my wife: MOST IMPORTANT OF ALL!

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REAL THING 2 (APR 2009): 720 (Q47, V41)
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by Amy » Tue Jul 17, 2007 10:30 am
Rob,

It sounds like living abroad fits with your goals. Therefore, as I said before, it makes sense.

I don't think life decisions should be made because they will look good on an application, however, they will look good on an application if they are well considered and have relevance to where you want to be in your career and your life.

Good luck!

Amy
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experience

by mjjking » Wed Jul 25, 2007 5:07 am
Hi Ami,
it would of course been great spend time in Japan in order to get international experience.
another thing: do you think that being an international student can help/hurt my chances of being admitted to a mba?
thanks!
Beat The GMAT - 1st priority
Enter a top MBA program - 2nd priority
Loving my wife: MOST IMPORTANT OF ALL!

REAL THING 1 (AUG 2007): 680 (Q43, V40)
REAL THING 2 (APR 2009): 720 (Q47, V41)
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