Could someone please help me decide if I am a qualified candidate for a top business school? (HBS or Stanford) I have significant work experience and stellar essays/recommendations. My only true, glaring weaknesses are my low GPA (3.2) and lack of significant extracurricular activities.
Experience
Age 29
Industry: Manufacturing
I have run and sold a $35 million family business that I inherited after my father's passing. In the two years that I was at the helm, I increased sales by over $10 million and made more money than the previous ten years combined. I am now a consultant for the acquiring corporation and run three other small companies two days a week. I have sold two divisions in my career and started two others.
Scholastic
GPA from a Top 50 Undergraduate Institution: 3.2
GMAT 690 (55 percentile Quant, 97 percentile Verbal, 5.5 AWA)
Major: Economics Minor: Business Law
Not much extracurricular involvement other than small one-time volunteer items. (blood donation, fraternity fund raisers)
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I plan on attending my local state university (ranking 15-20) because of the local ties and networking possibilities. My question is if my work experience is impressive enough to go through the effort of applying to Harvard BS or Stanford.
I have been told repeatedly by peers that I should apply to the top schools and that I am limiting myself, but I have not been able to get an objective evaluation by someone with actual admissions experience. Any help would certainly be appreciated.
Experience
Age 29
Industry: Manufacturing
I have run and sold a $35 million family business that I inherited after my father's passing. In the two years that I was at the helm, I increased sales by over $10 million and made more money than the previous ten years combined. I am now a consultant for the acquiring corporation and run three other small companies two days a week. I have sold two divisions in my career and started two others.
Scholastic
GPA from a Top 50 Undergraduate Institution: 3.2
GMAT 690 (55 percentile Quant, 97 percentile Verbal, 5.5 AWA)
Major: Economics Minor: Business Law
Not much extracurricular involvement other than small one-time volunteer items. (blood donation, fraternity fund raisers)
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I plan on attending my local state university (ranking 15-20) because of the local ties and networking possibilities. My question is if my work experience is impressive enough to go through the effort of applying to Harvard BS or Stanford.
I have been told repeatedly by peers that I should apply to the top schools and that I am limiting myself, but I have not been able to get an objective evaluation by someone with actual admissions experience. Any help would certainly be appreciated.
