Profile Eval./Reality Check

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Profile Eval./Reality Check

by joeschmoe28 » Mon Mar 28, 2011 3:37 am
White, Male, 25
GPA: 3.57 at top ranked small liberal arts college, Political Science major, took stats/econometrics/multivariable calc.
GMAT/GRE: 750 (49/44); 1520 (Q790/V730)
Work Experience: 2 years in private sector economic consulting for a fairly well known firm, 1 year in international development work living in West Africa doing research and monitoring/evaluation work for a social enterprise NGO. Internships during college were with academic research program and policy research for a large city council.
Extra Curricular: active involvement and leadership in extracurriculars during college, but not much leadership experience in this regard since college due to working long hours in consulting and then living abroad for the last year.

I'd like to do a dual degree program of MBA and Masters in International Affairs or Public Policy with the goal being to get into either non-profit or social enterprise consulting post-grad school, with a specific focus on international development.

Currently I'm thinking:
-Stanford (MBA/MPP)
-Columbia (MBA/MIA)
-Yale (MBA/MIA)
-Wharton/Johns Hopkins SAIS (MBA/MIA)
-MIT Sloan/Harvard HKS (MBA/MPP)

I think that my work experience is pretty solid and that having spent a year living and working abroad will be something that makes me stand out. My test scores/grades are solid but basically on profile (especially given the demographic I'm in). One thing I'm worried about my lack of extracurricular leadership experience since my undergrad. Are the programs that I'm targeting within the realm of possibility or am I setting myself up for disappointment by being unrealistic?
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by Cindy Tokumitsu » Wed Apr 20, 2011 9:39 am
Hello,

I think you're being realistic, but it's good to apply to numerous programs, as you're planning to do, at this level of competitiveness. The lack of extra-curriculars post-college will be a possible weakness, but I think not a make-or-break one. The bigger challenge is simply to make sure your application effectively answers the question: why should the adcom admit you over other highly competitive applicants? You have all the basics to be qualified for these programs, indeed possibly well qualified, but that's just the first step, considering most of the people they reject are well qualified. So the challenge is more to distinguish yourself among the group of applicants, and to create a compelling application and message overall.

Best regards,
Cindy Tokumitsu
Senior Editor, www.Accepted.com