Journalist > Lawyer. Is my profile special enough for HBS

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Hi Stacy,

I recently read an article which said that if getting into HBS is the best thing that could happen to you, then you'd probably not get in at all. I've been reading the profiles of several admits to HBS and am overwhelmed. I have been doing a lot of soul searching and trying to understand if my profile is special enough for the HBS admission council to even consider it in the first place. I'd like your opinion on the same. I'm a 26 year-old male from India. (I haven't taken the GMAT yet so i know I'm still missing something.)

Profile

1. A freelance journalist with The Pioneer, a leading newspaper in India. Automotive journalist commenting extensive on the Indian automobile market and campaigning for automotive safety. (3 years) [While @ undergrad]

2. Freelance journalist with the Hindustan Times group, writing on the Edit page of one of the newspapers of the HT group (social and economic issues, advocating reduction of taxes and enhancing the concept for value for money in the India society, and calling for non-discriminatory, equal opportunity practices). Automotive correspondent with HT City commenting on the same issues as above (reduction of taxes on automobiles and increasing of standard safety measures). Being one of the voices asking for more safety regulations in automobiles. (3 years) [While @ law school] {India will enforce stronger auto safety legislations to be effected in 2010}

3. Journalist with Business Standard, India’s foremost business newspaper. Looking at CSR, technology and SMEs. (6 months). [Not very extensive work here, but I did pick up important pointers to CSR and SMEs which reflects in my dealings with Organisations currently.]

4. Corporate lawyer dealing in Mergers & Acquisition, Corporate formations, Outbound and Inbound Investments. Assisting foreign trade organisations in India (Italian, Finnish and Spanish)/ Embassies in promoting India as a business destination/ assisting prospective investors to invest in the Indian market (setting up of new businesses etc.).

5. Member of the Expert Committees on International Affairs, at PHD Chamber of Commerce and ASSOCHAM (2 Industry Chambers). Instrumental in helping forge linkages between foreign prospective traders/investors/companies with Indian counterparts. Particularly dealing with SMEs and family owned enterprises (mostly European) having limited capital spending abilities. (1 year and continuing)

6. A few researched articles in the pipeline to be published on business and law related issues.

7. Did law from Campus Law Center (University of Delhi) – ranked the 3rd best law school in India. Intake < 4%. Result - 50.56% [Medium]

8. Graduation in English from University of Delhi. Result - 53%. [Medium]

9. School – 70.75% [Lower-medium]{Indian School Certificate Examination}

10. Age: 26 yrs.


Thanks for looking :)
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by Lisa Anderson » Thu Apr 09, 2009 4:20 pm
Dear Turnpike,

Perhaps. Your professional experience is definitely different from the majority of Indian applicants. That will work in your favor and will help to distinguish you. To be competitive as an international applicant to HBS, you will need to score very high on the GMAT (>720) and be able to demonstrate your ability to succeed in the classroom. Your academic performance, according to your post, is pretty average and will be a potential weakness in your application. I would encourage you to do more research on HBS and try to talk with alumni and school representatives to gain greater insight into how your profile will be received. If HBS is your dream and you do well on the GMAT, it is probably worth it to apply--you will never know if you don't try.

Good luck,
Lisa
Lisa Anderson
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Stacy Blackman Consulting

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by Turnpike » Thu Apr 09, 2009 8:29 pm
Thank you Lisa for your insight. My Undergrad and college marks remain my greatest weakness and I am trying to understand how I can diffuse their negative impact on my profile. But I could not fully comprehend what you meant by "demonstrate your ability to succeed in the classroom". Please explain.

Thanks again :)