Harvard Business School

[ruzgar]

Dear Stacy,

I am very interested in getting into Harvard Business School, and I have some questions

1. Could you evaluate my profile?
- 28 Years old, French
- 4 years degree in Business Administration, then a Master’s Degree in International Management (all in France)
- 10 months internship in a US Marketing Agency in California
- 4 Years experience in my current company (Auditing) as follow: 1 year as - Financial Auditor; 1.5 years as Audit manager in 3 different countries with a team of 2 to 5 auditors to manage; 1.5 years in my current position as Project Manager in which I manage 6 IT Managers.
- Worked and lived in 7 countries (Asia, U.S., Europe) and visited over 30 countries
- Speak fluently 3 languages, and have some basis in German and Spanish
- Enrolled in some community services
- Make photography and preparing a professional Website selling those pictures and those from others.
- TOEFL: 102 in IBT, but I took it again in PBT and I am waiting for score that should be higher
- GMAT: not yet but I expect around 700.
- As I studied in France, I do not have the same GPA system as in the US. I could convert it, but anyways it is low

2. I am currently working within my company for almost 4 years but I would like to change. If I am going to apply in October 2007 for entering in 2008, does this new experience that I may have (let’s say from June to October) will be badly perceived because it will make only 5 months when applying?

[Stacy Blackman]

1) You seem to be a solid candidate on many levels (good career progression, international experience, active hobby). Despite that, I would have to better understand your goals, and how your current activities fit into that. A low GPA will hurt you, of course. You say that you are enrolled in some community activities - the important thing about your involvements is to be truly involved and be a leader, not just be a member. From the info I have here, I would say you have a 50/50 chance. There is nothing wrong with your profile, but I cannot see that edge that will help you get in (of course that can be difficult to convey in a five line forum post).

2) If your new job fits in with your goals and your overall story, it can help your candidacy. You may still want a recommendation from your old supervisor because that person will have more opportunity to comment on your development over time and will have more concrete examples.

[ruzgar]

Dear Stacy,

Before giving my comments, I would like to thank you for your kind reply and all the help that you provide to this community.

1. To tell you the truth I would except more chance to get in, but I should face the truth.

1.1. I don’t understand when you say that you don’t see the edge that will help me get in. What can I do for it? Is there anything I can do today? I am working on this application for 2 or 3 years, getting information, working on my profile and preparing for TOEFL and GMAT. Getting into Harvard is actually my dream and I will do whatever I can to get there.

1.2. Is this low potential due to the fact that I am targeting Harvard particularly? What are my chances to get to another top Business School? (My other choices are Wharton, Chicago and Stanford).

1.3. Isn’t possible to compensate my GPA with my GMAT score? My GPA is not that bad, but at that time I was working just enough to pass the exam (around 10 or 11 out of 20 in the French system), but I was not looking for more (especially because I was working hard to pay these studies so I didn’t have that much time). Only in my Master’s Degree I graduated with honors (around 12.5/20) so more than the passing score requirement.

1.4. More information on my profile: A. I also would like to apply to the department “Ottoman and Turkish Studies” at Harvard, as my origins are Turkish and as I am very interested in the culture and history of Turkey. B. I am currently enrolling to the community “The Association of Lions Clubs”, and will have as a project to help partnering Lions Club from the country I will be to others. C. I am married

2. OK I understood.
For recommendation from my current company, I think that it will be alright. By the way, here is a list of potential people that can recommend me, please give me comments as I should choose 3:

From my current company:
- The General Director that I know quite well and who is satisfied in my role as a Leader and Manager within the company.
- A colleague whom I am working with for 4 years. We have worked closely together on various projects and countries.
- One of the IT Manager that I manage in my current position as a Project Manager, and who is working closely with me. (I manage a total of 6 IT Managers from 6 different countries).

From my Master’s degree - Business School (I graduated 5 years ago):
- American teacher - Leadership. I kept contact with him and he can support my leader profile.
- American teacher - Sales Management. I also kept contact with him.

From personal experience:
- Classmate from my Master’s degree, also close friend who knows me very well. He is currently working as Development Consultant for a well known American Fast Food Chain.
- Classmate from my Master’s degree, also close friend who knows me well. She is American and deeply engaged in Christian community services.

3. Concerning your services as consultant, can you tell me exactly in what you will be able to help me in my application, and please give me an approximate probability of getting to HBS with your services compare to doing it on my own.
How long before applying should I start your services if I choose the Comprehensive Services?

Thanks a lot again.

[Stacy Blackman]

Sorry I missed this...
1.1. I don’t understand when you say that you don’t see the edge that will help me get in. What can I do for it? Is there anything I can do today? I am working on this application for 2 or 3 years, getting information, working on my profile and preparing for TOEFL and GMAT. Getting into Harvard is actually my dream and I will do whatever I can to get there.

The "edge" that will help you to get in as opposed to just "be qualified" is something that cannot really be conveyed in the context of a forum post. Many applicants are qualified, but to be admitted you will need to show integrity, leadership, focus, passion and many other qualities hat will come through in your essays, recs and interview.

1.2. Is this low potential due to the fact that I am targeting Harvard particularly? What are my chances to get to another top Business School? (My other choices are Wharton, Chicago and Stanford).

Stanford is the most competitive school, with HBS close behind. Your chances will increase with Wharton and even more with Chicago.

1.3. Isn’t possible to compensate my GPA with my GMAT score? My GPA is not that bad, but at that time I was working just enough to pass the exam (around 10 or 11 out of 20 in the French system), but I was not looking for more (especially because I was working hard to pay these studies so I didn’t have that much time). Only in my Master’s Degree I graduated with honors (around 12.5/20) so more than the passing score requirement.

Having a strong GMAT, or being strong in any other area of your application will help you. You will need to be strong in as many areas as possible. On the quant side, the GMAT is one way to demonstrate your abilities.

1.4. More information on my profile: A. I also would like to apply to the department “Ottoman and Turkish Studies” at Harvard, as my origins are Turkish and as I am very interested in the culture and history of Turkey. B. I am currently enrolling to the community “The Association of Lions Clubs”, and will have as a project to help partnering Lions Club from the country I will be to others. C. I am married

2. OK I understood.
For recommendation from my current company, I think that it will be alright. By the way, here is a list of potential people that can recommend me, please give me comments as I should choose 3:

From my current company:
- The General Director that I know quite well and who is satisfied in my role as a Leader and Manager within the company.
- A colleague whom I am working with for 4 years. We have worked closely together on various projects and countries.
- One of the IT Manager that I manage in my current position as a Project Manager, and who is working closely with me. (I manage a total of 6 IT Managers from 6 different countries).
You would want to choose the person who manages you - that would appear to be your first choice above. The second option may also work.

From my Master’s degree - Business School (I graduated 5 years ago):
- American teacher - Leadership. I kept contact with him and he can support my leader profile.
- American teacher - Sales Management. I also kept contact with him.
Academic references are generally discouraged.

From personal experience:
- Classmate from my Master’s degree, also close friend who knows me very well. He is currently working as Development Consultant for a well known American Fast Food Chain.
- Classmate from my Master’s degree, also close friend who knows me well. She is American and deeply engaged in Christian community services. I would not choose a classmate - but if you need to you can use a peer from work.

3. Concerning your services as consultant, can you tell me exactly in what you will be able to help me in my application, and please give me an approximate probability of getting to HBS with your services compare to doing it on my own.
How long before applying should I start your services if I choose the Comprehensive Services?
We would help you with all aspects of the application except for the GMAT - we help with school selection, strategy, essays, references, data forms, interviews and informal correspondence. Based on our success statistics, we estimate that we triple most clients' chances of being admitted.
You should start as soon as you can.

Thanks a lot again.