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Hi Stacey,

I would like your input on whether you think my profile is strong enough for HBS, Tuck, Kellogg and Haas. I applied to and was dinged at Stanford R1. Below is a summary of my profile:

Background - Colombian male. Fluent in Spanish and English and proficient in Italian and Portuguese.

GMAT - 690 (45Q 40V). I got this score on my first attempt. I am cutting close to my application deadlines but might be able to squeeze in a retake if I need to.

Undergrad - Studied Mathematical Economics at a top 20 private liberal arts college in the U.S. My GPA was 3.7/4.0 and I had strong leadership experiences (Co-Chair/president of 3 different student organizations and founder of the Alternative Investment Committee at my school). Additionally I published two papers on Economic development in the Rocky Mountain West.

Work experience - Three years working as a Transfer Pricing consultant for a Big Four Accounting Firm (most of my work is related to international corporate taxes and finance). I have led several projects in the U.S. and am generally responsible of coordinating the work our India and Latin American offices perform for our Chicago clients.

Leadership experience - Director of Cultural Events at ALPFA (Association of Latino Professionals in Finance and Accounting; 750+ members in Chicago). I also play a leading role in my company's Latino resource group and have organized several events including a skit/presentation on cultural competency at the Fed. Additionally, I volunteer as a tax preparer and translator for a non-profit in Chicago and worked with a mobile marketing startup in the evenings and weekends (my goal is to transition my career into digital marketing and eventually use my experience to help Latin American companies compete in this arena).

I know you are extremely busy and greatly appreciate your comments.

Thanks and happy holidays!

Hi Pabs,

Thanks for your post. Overall you have a great profile and your list of schools is robust. While I understand you must be disappointed with your Stanford results from round, it is important to remember that Stanford has the lowest acceptance rate of all US schools and therefore your results at Stanford are not necessarily indicative of your results at other schools.

Your weak spot is your GMAT. While it is on par with those from South America, it is below average for those in your professional field and well as for the schools on your list. Most schools are particularly interested in the quant score since it is often an indication of potential performance in the classroom. Your score of 45 puts you just above the 80% mark and thus in good shape. Given your combined professional experience, quant score and undergraduate GPA, your overall GMAT score isn't necessarily a liability. Lastly, with just few days between now and the deadlines, it doesn't seem like adequate enough time to prepare and retake the exam. It may be the best use of time for you to focus your energy on putting together unique essays that highlight your other achievements and qualifications.

Regards,

Stacey

Thanks Stacey!

I appreciate your advice.

You're welcome!

Stacey