Hello consultants! I've seen you offer so much help and I'd love the chance to get some myself.
I have a bit of a weird story. I have time to figure it all out, but I need guidance.
GMAT: ~710-720 (Consistent practice tests in this range. My test date is March 8)
GPA: 3.5 w/ Honors in Major (Includes Senior thesis)
Undergrad: Big 10 (Top 45 overall)
Major: Philosophy
Work History:
2 years Teach For America--"Significant Gains" for my classroom, which is the highest category of quantitative, student gains that TFA recognizes
10 months Car Sales--Top 10% honors within the group (Top 10% sales). Promoted to Internet Sales Manager.
2 years $50 million/year non-profit (~45 employees)--Program Manager. I oversee 2 programs. One program accounts for $25 million of incoming product and the other for $5 million of product. There are major projects with large partners such as Walmart, The Milwaukee Bucks, Division 1, 2, and 3 Universities and Target. I manage 2 interns. The larger program ($25 million) has seen a 25% increase since I started, which accounts for over $5 million of increased revenue. I can tie the back to strategic moves I made. I'm also in line for Employee of the Year in my first eligible year.
Extra Curriculars:
Data analysis for a local educational non-profit ($4 million annual revenue) that informed major program changes
Tutoring students once/week
Planned a Youth Service event that involved ~1,000 students and 5 non-profits.
I think you can spot what's weird about my application. I'm a first generation college student that joined TFA and had GREAT results there. However, I didn't want to be in the classroom anymore. I wanted someday to work for myself, and I had to pay the bills until I found a job that fit my career goals. So, I tried out car sales until I could find a new non-profit opportunity that I really liked. I'm terrified that I shot myself in the foot with that job and ruined my chance for a top-10 MBA.
Short-term Goals: I'm stuck between Social Enterprise at a large for-profit (In my current position, I've worked closely with Walmart and Target on one of their programs and I'd love to work on the other side) AND Consulting for non-profits.
**I know I'll explore both sides during my MBA studies. After my MBA I'll know where I want to land or where I'm best suited to land. But I have gleaned that it's important to commit to one short-term goal on your application.
Long-term Goals: Start my own for-profit company that achieves social objectives
Passion: Bringing data analysis to inform strategy decisions to local non-profits AND marrying non-profit and for-profit needs to meet social objectives. It's with one of these two methods that I KNOW I will leverage my strongest skills to make the largest impact.
Top Schools: Kellogg, Haas, Yale, Columbia, Fuqua, Ross, Stanford cuz why not
I'm wondering:
1. Am I still competitive for top-10 programs, specifically those in my list?
2. How do I weave all of those pieces together? Which direction should I pitch harder for short-term goals?
3. Do I need an exceptionally high GMAT (750ish) to be competitive, given that car sales job?
I have a bit of a weird story. I have time to figure it all out, but I need guidance.
GMAT: ~710-720 (Consistent practice tests in this range. My test date is March 8)
GPA: 3.5 w/ Honors in Major (Includes Senior thesis)
Undergrad: Big 10 (Top 45 overall)
Major: Philosophy
Work History:
2 years Teach For America--"Significant Gains" for my classroom, which is the highest category of quantitative, student gains that TFA recognizes
10 months Car Sales--Top 10% honors within the group (Top 10% sales). Promoted to Internet Sales Manager.
2 years $50 million/year non-profit (~45 employees)--Program Manager. I oversee 2 programs. One program accounts for $25 million of incoming product and the other for $5 million of product. There are major projects with large partners such as Walmart, The Milwaukee Bucks, Division 1, 2, and 3 Universities and Target. I manage 2 interns. The larger program ($25 million) has seen a 25% increase since I started, which accounts for over $5 million of increased revenue. I can tie the back to strategic moves I made. I'm also in line for Employee of the Year in my first eligible year.
Extra Curriculars:
Data analysis for a local educational non-profit ($4 million annual revenue) that informed major program changes
Tutoring students once/week
Planned a Youth Service event that involved ~1,000 students and 5 non-profits.
I think you can spot what's weird about my application. I'm a first generation college student that joined TFA and had GREAT results there. However, I didn't want to be in the classroom anymore. I wanted someday to work for myself, and I had to pay the bills until I found a job that fit my career goals. So, I tried out car sales until I could find a new non-profit opportunity that I really liked. I'm terrified that I shot myself in the foot with that job and ruined my chance for a top-10 MBA.
Short-term Goals: I'm stuck between Social Enterprise at a large for-profit (In my current position, I've worked closely with Walmart and Target on one of their programs and I'd love to work on the other side) AND Consulting for non-profits.
**I know I'll explore both sides during my MBA studies. After my MBA I'll know where I want to land or where I'm best suited to land. But I have gleaned that it's important to commit to one short-term goal on your application.
Long-term Goals: Start my own for-profit company that achieves social objectives
Passion: Bringing data analysis to inform strategy decisions to local non-profits AND marrying non-profit and for-profit needs to meet social objectives. It's with one of these two methods that I KNOW I will leverage my strongest skills to make the largest impact.
Top Schools: Kellogg, Haas, Yale, Columbia, Fuqua, Ross, Stanford cuz why not
I'm wondering:
1. Am I still competitive for top-10 programs, specifically those in my list?
2. How do I weave all of those pieces together? Which direction should I pitch harder for short-term goals?
3. Do I need an exceptionally high GMAT (750ish) to be competitive, given that car sales job?
