To whom it may concern,
I went through the whole MBA and MA process last year, and for all intents and purposes scored big with acceptancea at MIT Sloan, Wharton, and Johns Hopkins-SAIS (MA in International Development), with dings at both HBS (with interview) and the Kennedy School. I chose the Wharton/SAIS dual-degree, and having just finished my first semester at SAIS, and having met other dual degree students at SAIS doing this program and the one with Tuck, I am convinced that between Kennedy and SAIS, I made the right choice.
That said, although I am excited about Wharton, I know I would prefer to go to HBS. I am looking to gear my education toward a track in social entrepreneurship, with emphasis on the Middle East - I know that HBS has a very strong social entrepreneurship track, and having lived in the Middle East for the last 15 years myself, I know that Harvard has stronger brand name recognition than UPenn or Wharton, although the Wharton alum base in the region is very, very strong.
My question is should I reapply to HBS for Round 2? I feel almost petty to be asking this given how "good" I already have it, but by listing my perceived pros and cons to doing this, I hope you might be able to guide my thought process. Reapply, or suck it up?
PROs (if accepted):
(1) Better brand name recognition in intended region of focus
(2) *Arguably* better social entrepreneurship curriculum, clubs and events
CONs:
(1) Time and money of reapplying
(2) Since no formal relationship with SAIS, program will take 3.5-4 years, as opposed to current 3 year SAIS-Wharton track.
My stats:
-24, Lebanese, US Citizen/3.9 GPA from top American university in the Middle East, BA in Int'l Relations, minors in Economics and Philosophy
-Full Scholarship from university granted to top 10 of 1700 entering Freshmen and Sophomore students
-710 GMAT (45Q, 42V); GRE: 760 Quant, 600 Verbal
-2 years at top management consultancy working in over 6 countries in the Middle East
-Research assistantship at Harvard Law School, media internship at Voice of America
-Active Extracurriculars: President of Politics Club, Assistant Editor of university newspaper, freelance journalist, grassroots political organizer
-Fluent in Arabic and English, conversant French and Spanish
Many thanks in advance!!
I went through the whole MBA and MA process last year, and for all intents and purposes scored big with acceptancea at MIT Sloan, Wharton, and Johns Hopkins-SAIS (MA in International Development), with dings at both HBS (with interview) and the Kennedy School. I chose the Wharton/SAIS dual-degree, and having just finished my first semester at SAIS, and having met other dual degree students at SAIS doing this program and the one with Tuck, I am convinced that between Kennedy and SAIS, I made the right choice.
That said, although I am excited about Wharton, I know I would prefer to go to HBS. I am looking to gear my education toward a track in social entrepreneurship, with emphasis on the Middle East - I know that HBS has a very strong social entrepreneurship track, and having lived in the Middle East for the last 15 years myself, I know that Harvard has stronger brand name recognition than UPenn or Wharton, although the Wharton alum base in the region is very, very strong.
My question is should I reapply to HBS for Round 2? I feel almost petty to be asking this given how "good" I already have it, but by listing my perceived pros and cons to doing this, I hope you might be able to guide my thought process. Reapply, or suck it up?
PROs (if accepted):
(1) Better brand name recognition in intended region of focus
(2) *Arguably* better social entrepreneurship curriculum, clubs and events
CONs:
(1) Time and money of reapplying
(2) Since no formal relationship with SAIS, program will take 3.5-4 years, as opposed to current 3 year SAIS-Wharton track.
My stats:
-24, Lebanese, US Citizen/3.9 GPA from top American university in the Middle East, BA in Int'l Relations, minors in Economics and Philosophy
-Full Scholarship from university granted to top 10 of 1700 entering Freshmen and Sophomore students
-710 GMAT (45Q, 42V); GRE: 760 Quant, 600 Verbal
-2 years at top management consultancy working in over 6 countries in the Middle East
-Research assistantship at Harvard Law School, media internship at Voice of America
-Active Extracurriculars: President of Politics Club, Assistant Editor of university newspaper, freelance journalist, grassroots political organizer
-Fluent in Arabic and English, conversant French and Spanish
Many thanks in advance!!
