Ask an MBA Admissions Consultant

Hi All,

Posted my profile on here a few months back and got some great feedback. Have made a few updates with my actual GMAT score, and just wondered if anyone had some good ideas for potential backup schools in case things don't go as planned. I am targeting Harvard, Chicago, and Stanford R1. I am a Canadian and would need a school that offers an international loan program that does not require a co-signer.

Here's my profile:

GMAT
740 (47 QA, 46 VA) AWA 6.0
Age: 27 at matriculation

Academics

University of Western Ontario - Richard Ivey School of Business HBA - 2007
GPA: 3.6

(Ivey is a top-tier business school in Canada. Obviously would not compare to the ivy league in the US but it's as good as it gets for undergrad in Canada).

Professional Experience

It's difficult to tell the whole story concisely in an online forum, but here goes...

Throughout high school I operated an internet retail sales business, offering sports video tapes and DVD's to customers around the world. I made good (although not life changing) money while going to school.

I used the profits from my first business to begin investing in real estate, which I did while I went to Ivey. After graduation, I sold my properties and closed the internet business.

I purchased my first franchise of an up and coming retail ice cream shop in 2007. Over the last four years, I have expanded incredibly quickly. At this point:

* I secured financing for, and as a result opened, seven different locations in just two and a half years
* My stores generate nearly $3,000,000 in revenue
* Employe over 100 (mostly part-time) employees (have some great leadership stories for this portion)
* I've had lots of rewarding experiences (leadership - growth - financing) and lots of bad experiences (partnerships gone wrong - cash flow challenges - relationship with head office) that I think would lend themselves well to a business school application

Extracurriculars

* Pubic Speaking - I speak at universities and high schools about my adventures in entrepreneurship approximately 10 times per year
* Junior Achievement - I deliver programs to grade school children about business and entrepreneurship
* Marathon Running, Volleyball, Soccer, Ultimate Frisbee
* Misc University clubs

Reference Letters

1. Entrepreneurship Professor from Ivey that I've stayed in contact with
2. Representative from Franchise head office
3. Fellow Franchisee in the system

Personal Life

Very humble background from a rural community in Ontario, first on my father's side to attend University.


I would appreciate any advice anyone could offer on my very unique profile!

I am assuming your goals are to remain in entrepreneurship and am therefore recommending schools strong in entrepreneurship without co-signer requirements (thus eliminating Columbia).

Therefore I would definitely recommend MIT Sloan, which offers no-cosigner loans through the MIT Federal Credit Union. Also consider Yale SOM which recently announced a new self-funded loan program for international students. Wharton has a custom loan program with Digital Federal Credit Union. In addition, NYU Stern which has two no-cosigner loan programs through JPMC and Global Student Loan Corporation.

Good luck and keep us informed as to how things go,