-
sunman
- Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts
- Posts: 165
- Joined: Thu Feb 17, 2011 5:05 am
- Location: San Diego, CA
- Thanked: 14 times
- Followed by:9 members
- GMAT Score:750
Not too nervous or anything, I'm working hard on perfecting my package for application, but it's still fun to hear the experts' feedback nonetheless. So here it goes, if someone would like to drop in their two cents 
I think I have a pretty unique background.
Background: I was born in Taiwan, my father passed away when I was 3, and my mother sent me to live with my aunt in the United States for several years. Soon after, my mother packed up our meager belongings and moved us to South Africa, where we lived for six years right before apartheid was repealed. Since witnessing the abject poverty of black South Africans, I've grown a passion for pursuing a career to serve the indigent in developing economies. We moved to the United States in 1999. After I graduated from high school in 2004, I took a year off for training and enlisted in the Marine Reserves, hoping I'd get an opportunity to make a difference in the lives of people in Iraq or Afghanistan. From 2005-2009, while I was in the Marine reserves I attended the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
Upon completion of training, I was assigned to be a Financial Management Officer. I knew that wasn't what I joined the Marine Corps to do, so I immediately volunteered for a deployment to Afghanistan as an Information Operations Officer, where I am currently serving now, conducting the Psychological Operations campaign to persuade the Afghan people in Helmand Province to work with the Afghan government and pursue legitimate socioeconomic development instead of siding with the Taliban and growing opium.
Stats:
Education: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (B.A. Political Science): I finished with an abysmal 2.84 GPA, partially because I worked full time because my mom couldn't afford tuition, and I was chasing my dream of playing Big Ten Varsity Football. I was ultimately cut during Spring Training, ending my walk-on campaign. Additionally, I'm taking an online Calculus course through UC-Berkeley Extension while I'm on deployment, which I plan to receive an A in. I'll probably also take an Accounting course before I apply if it's going to help.
GMAT - 730 (47Q 42V), I plan to retake and score a 750+. I don't think I'll have a problem doing that.
Work - Led section of 35 Marines as the Assistant Separations Officer in the Disbursing Section in Camp Pendleton, California. Volunteered for deployment in Afghanistan and filled the billet of Regional Radio Officer (formerly held by a Major. I am currently a 1st Lieutenant, 2 grades junior), in charge of 8 direct reports and a Radio program with 2.3 million dollars of equipment that disseminates information from the coalition to Afghans throughout Helmand Province. Selected for promotion to Captain.
Extracurriculars -
- Actively participated in service projects for the poor such as Habitat for Humanity and Chicago Urban Project (volunteer spring break in the most poverty stricken neighborhoods of downtown Chicago) during undergrad.
- While stationed in San Diego, volunteered with a homeless shelter to tutor young children in math and English.
- Currently developing a plan to bring a prosthetics workshop to serve victims of Taliban roadside bombs in Southern Afghanistan with the Prostheses Foundation of Thailand and USAID.
- Developed stronger bonds between the Marine Corps and the local community by leading my section of 35 Marines to actively participate in the Habitat for Humanity Project in Oceanside, California
Goals - Land a position as Management Consultant at McKinsey/Bain/BCG. Hone my business acumen and establish strong network of contacts and start my own non-profit consulting firm that stimulates third world economic development by assisting small businesses with sustainable and innovative solutions. I believe that capitalism does play a vital role in combating global poverty, and "Net Impact" and "Social Responsibility" need to be much more than just the buzz phrases that they seem to be today.
Target Schools -
Round 1:
HBS (stab in the dark)
Kellogg
Booth
Ross
Fuqua
Darden
Possibly Round 2:
Haas
Anderson
I think I have a pretty unique background. Background: I was born in Taiwan, my father passed away when I was 3, and my mother sent me to live with my aunt in the United States for several years. Soon after, my mother packed up our meager belongings and moved us to South Africa, where we lived for six years right before apartheid was repealed. Since witnessing the abject poverty of black South Africans, I've grown a passion for pursuing a career to serve the indigent in developing economies. We moved to the United States in 1999. After I graduated from high school in 2004, I took a year off for training and enlisted in the Marine Reserves, hoping I'd get an opportunity to make a difference in the lives of people in Iraq or Afghanistan. From 2005-2009, while I was in the Marine reserves I attended the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
Upon completion of training, I was assigned to be a Financial Management Officer. I knew that wasn't what I joined the Marine Corps to do, so I immediately volunteered for a deployment to Afghanistan as an Information Operations Officer, where I am currently serving now, conducting the Psychological Operations campaign to persuade the Afghan people in Helmand Province to work with the Afghan government and pursue legitimate socioeconomic development instead of siding with the Taliban and growing opium.
Stats:
Education: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (B.A. Political Science): I finished with an abysmal 2.84 GPA, partially because I worked full time because my mom couldn't afford tuition, and I was chasing my dream of playing Big Ten Varsity Football. I was ultimately cut during Spring Training, ending my walk-on campaign. Additionally, I'm taking an online Calculus course through UC-Berkeley Extension while I'm on deployment, which I plan to receive an A in. I'll probably also take an Accounting course before I apply if it's going to help.
GMAT - 730 (47Q 42V), I plan to retake and score a 750+. I don't think I'll have a problem doing that.
Work - Led section of 35 Marines as the Assistant Separations Officer in the Disbursing Section in Camp Pendleton, California. Volunteered for deployment in Afghanistan and filled the billet of Regional Radio Officer (formerly held by a Major. I am currently a 1st Lieutenant, 2 grades junior), in charge of 8 direct reports and a Radio program with 2.3 million dollars of equipment that disseminates information from the coalition to Afghans throughout Helmand Province. Selected for promotion to Captain.
Extracurriculars -
- Actively participated in service projects for the poor such as Habitat for Humanity and Chicago Urban Project (volunteer spring break in the most poverty stricken neighborhoods of downtown Chicago) during undergrad.
- While stationed in San Diego, volunteered with a homeless shelter to tutor young children in math and English.
- Currently developing a plan to bring a prosthetics workshop to serve victims of Taliban roadside bombs in Southern Afghanistan with the Prostheses Foundation of Thailand and USAID.
- Developed stronger bonds between the Marine Corps and the local community by leading my section of 35 Marines to actively participate in the Habitat for Humanity Project in Oceanside, California
Goals - Land a position as Management Consultant at McKinsey/Bain/BCG. Hone my business acumen and establish strong network of contacts and start my own non-profit consulting firm that stimulates third world economic development by assisting small businesses with sustainable and innovative solutions. I believe that capitalism does play a vital role in combating global poverty, and "Net Impact" and "Social Responsibility" need to be much more than just the buzz phrases that they seem to be today.
Target Schools -
Round 1:
HBS (stab in the dark)
Kellogg
Booth
Ross
Fuqua
Darden
Possibly Round 2:
Haas
Anderson
"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it's the only thing that ever has" - Margaret Mead
