Profile evaluation

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Profile evaluation

by brtheat » Wed Oct 15, 2008 11:22 am
I wanted to ask you a couple of questions based upon my profile and an upcoming application Round 1 deadline. Before I ask the questions, the following is a summary of my background:

i) Background: 28 year old Indian male (US citizen but grew up in India and spent a year in England)

ii) Undergrad: Univ of Michian with major in Econ and minors in math and phil, GPA 2.95

Low GPA statement: self supported my way through school working a few part time jobs

iii) Career: 2 years in market research, last 3.5 years in a supply chain consulting firm, which is a market leader in its niche. Promoted once from analyst to associate with pay raises every six months. Have moved from doing analytical spreadsheet work when I started to leading projects and managing people at this stage. Expected to be officially promoted to manager in Jan/Feb based upon my last review.

iv) GMAT: 710 (49Q and 38 V)

v) Extra curriculars:

College- editor of a publication for a student organization, camp counselor for a summer for middle school and high school kids, boxing club, philosophy club, started a dotcom which lasted only 6 months

Post College: volunteer for a microfinance non-profit for 2 years now - recently fundraising work and developing a program a self-sustaning base of activities as well as generating more volunteers in different cities for this organization

vi) Post MBA career - My goal is to get into supply chain finance for a firm with global reach. Hence, I am looking to acquire a knowledge of finance as well as gain more international business exposure through my business school experience.


My questions -

1. In the current volatile economic climate business schools are probably anticipating an increase in application volumes. How much more critical is it to get an application in during round 1 versus round 2? I just finished my GMAT and have a 2 weeks to make the Round 1 for MIT- assuming I scramble to make the deadline and manage to get recommendations as well put together quality essays, will my candidacy be better positioned in R1 or will it be roughly equal to R2 or worse?

2. Can you classify the following schools that I am targeting as a stretch/sweet/safe school:

Sloan, Stern, Chicago GSB, Haas, Columbia, Tuck, London Business School, INSEAD, IESE, IMD, ESADE

Except for Stern , IMD and possibly Sloan, I will only be able meet R2s at all other schools.

Thanks for your help.
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by Lisa Anderson » Wed Oct 15, 2008 8:07 pm
Dear brtheat,

You are right that applications are expected to increase this year. There is no disadvantage to round 2 versus round 1, but I do think it is best to get your application submitted as soon as possible with compromising quality. So don't submit an application just to hit a round 1 deadline if you know that it will be much better if you wait a week. Applications will enter a queue as they are submitted, so just try to submit as early as possible.

All of your target schools are top tier programs. With the increase in applications, I think top tier programs will be a little bit of a reach for any applicant this year. You have a competitive foundation and profile, but your GMAT is a little below the average for a few and your GPA is at the bottom of the range. So I would have to say sweet to reach for all of these.

Best of luck,
Lisa
Lisa Anderson
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