720 GMAT, 3.5 GPA - Can I get into a top school?

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Hi,

Please excuse me for a slight cross post here. I meant to post in the main forum a few weeks ago, but accidentally posted in a sub forum. I've waited a week or so with no response, so I figured I'd go ahead and post in the main forum which I hope will be more responsive. Thanks!

Work Experience: At enrollment, 4 years working in commercial real estate at a major bank (non investment banking). Have had significant client interaction and managed client accounts independently. Received 1 promotion. The bulk of my experience at the bank has been in resolving issues with problem loans. I feel like that might help me distinguish myself a little bit from other bankers since I have seen "the worst of the worst" but I would like to hear your thoughts.

720 GMAT

Class of 2008 UNC Chapel Hill, 3.5 GPA, Undergraduate Business major at Kenan Flagler

Extra Curricular - College: Member of real estate club, held two positions for fraternity. Post College: Volunteer coach for youth athletic league for 3 seasons. Fund raising for Relay for Life (raised $5,000 this year).

Target programs: Harvard, Wharton, Stanford, Chicago, Columbia, Northwestern, UVA, Duke

Post MBA goal: Continue working in real estate, but in a more entrepreneurial role. Perhaps in PE or for a developer. Then leverage off of that experience to start my own investment company.

How are my chances at my top 3 (Harvard, Stanford, Wharton)? For the others, am I a strong candidate, or just average? As far as strategy goes, would I be better off selling myself as a Real Estate guy versus a finance guy? I worry about applying from an overrepresented demographic.


Thanks!
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by paulsbodine » Sun May 15, 2011 3:49 pm
RealEstateGuy7,

Your numbers are good, and I agree that you will not be lumped into the IBankers set. I do recommend spinning yourself as "a real estate guy" and emphasizing your insights into the mortgage mess. Your extracurriculars are solid but not breathtaking. I don't see the combination of unusualness and strength that would make Stanford and HBS realistic. Wharton would be a bit of a longshot, but more doable than H and S. I also consider Booth, CBS, and Kellogg as reaches for you, at least based on what you've told me. You should be competitive at Duke and UVA. Feel free to send me your resume in case I may be missing something.

--Paul
Paul Bodine
Author, "Great Applications for Business School," "Perfect Phrases for Business School Acceptance," "Perfect Phrases for Letters of Recommendation"
https://www.paulsbodine.com/
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by RealEstateGuy7 » Tue May 17, 2011 4:39 pm
Thanks for your response (albeit a tough pill to swallow!) I sent you an email, but thought I would post in here as well so everyone could benefit from your response. A couple of things I didn't mention were that I played club lacrosse, and also was a manager at a marketing company for a period of time in college during the school year.

That being said, I do agree with you that my extra curriculars are my weak point. Do you think it would make sense for me to wait another year and try and get a couple of leadership positions? I am actually in the process of getting one at Relay for Life, and also have recently joined a real estate organization outside of work that I plan on being heavily involved in. Would it be worth getting some tenure with Relay and the real estate organization or will the bias toward younger candidates hurt my chances? Would I be much more competitive at Wharton, Booth, CBS, and Kellogg, or still a pretty far reach?

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by paulsbodine » Tue May 17, 2011 6:09 pm
RealEstateGuy7,

I just answered your email (sorry for the delay). Please check your inbox.

--Paul
Paul Bodine
Author, "Great Applications for Business School," "Perfect Phrases for Business School Acceptance," "Perfect Phrases for Letters of Recommendation"
https://www.paulsbodine.com/
[email protected]
(858) 869-1959