Nontraditional background, difficult to position

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[This was posted in Paxton's Kaplan forum, and is now posted here because I never received a response. Please note I've deleted the original post.]

Hello,

I am unsure how competitive my profile is, considering how non-traditional it is.

UNDERGRAD: 3.87 GPA, English Lit, Berkeley (four marks of "incomplete" that were later converted to "A's"--is this a major liability??)

GMAT: M45 (74%) V48 (99%) 750 (98%)

QUANT: All A's in 3 college-level calculus courses for engineers

ETHNICITY: Vietnamese-American

WORK EXP: Social enterprise analyst at a non-profit (2.5 years), program manager at a small social enterprise consulting company (0.5 year)

EC: Volunteer tutor in college, social club in college, volunteer mentor after college, but no activities were very extensive

PUBS: Co-author of one major market research publication

OTHER: Has traveled internationally for work; lived in Argentina for 6 months to study Spanish; has worked with fairly prominent organizations in the social enterprise space

TARGET SCHOOLS: Stanford, Berkeley, Chicago, Ross, Columbia

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1. With just those basics, do you happen to have a sense of how realistic my chances are?

2. I am very anxious that I could be seen as not quant enough, considering my GMAT score is only at the 74th percentile. Would this be the case?

3. Also, any preliminary thoughts on how to position myself would be very, very welcome. I have very well-developed positioning at this point, but am not confident that I sound impressive enough, not having earned public recognition for anything, or achieved any incredible personal feat.


With much gratitude!
Julia
Source: — Ask an MBA Admissions Consultant |

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by Sophia007 » Thu Oct 01, 2009 8:57 pm
Hi Julia:

First of all, non traditional profiles are never an issue. You can always turn around and say in your essays how your unique, non-traditional background can add value to the classroom full of traditional students. :)

Secondly, you are a female with a 750 - give yourself a pat on the back. MBA programs encourage women to apply - so are in a good shape.

Your choices are pretty much all 1st tier schools - I'd either add more 2nd tier schools or remove 1-2 schools from that list and add 2nd tier schools as well (just to coverup). Columbia with your background - is going to be really tough call. But, no harm trying.

Since you went to Berkley, chances are that they will definitely consider you into their program - provided you get the essays and apps down tightly.
1. With just those basics, do you happen to have a sense of how realistic my chances are?
I think I just answered this question above.
2. I am very anxious that I could be seen as not quant enough, considering my GMAT score is only at the 74th percentile. Would this be the case?
You are just fine - You've a decent GMAT score - quit worry about this and get down on the application part of things! :)
3. Also, any preliminary thoughts on how to position myself would be very, very welcome. I have very well-developed positioning at this point, but am not confident that I sound impressive enough, not having earned public recognition for anything, or achieved any incredible personal feat.
Really? Are you sure? Maybe you simple discount yourself and need to be shown your own strengths! If you need a 'lift of confidence' - don't hesitate to send me your resume and I'm sure we can hash out 10 more things you've probably forgotten that you did in your life that pertains to MBA and needs to go up there on that piece of paper...:)
Sophia Pathak| Admissions Consultant |

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