profile evaluation

[aceredede]

Hello Stacy,

will be 26 years old and want to apply these schools next year in the first round

GMAT: 780
Toefl : 117

-Undergraduate- Bilkent University Electrical and Electronics Engineering CGPA:2.72
(High Honor in senior year - GPA:3.8 in the senior year 44 credit hours, 3 senior projects)

-Middle East Technical University, Msc. Engineering Management CGPA:3.94
(took all A's from applied statistics, Finance and Management Accounting, Business Economics)

-Both Bilkent and METU are top 3 in turkey and Bilkent EE is the most desired department for high school students in Turkey

Work Experience:

-Aselsan , 2.5 years Project Engineer (Turkey's leading defence company and ranked 86 in the world defence companies)

-Worked as cashier in the USA biggest water park, 3 months Wisconsin

-2 internships each 1 month in Turkey

--Speak 3 languages Turkish English German fluently

Extrac:
-member of a dance club and a latin dancer for about 3 years
-member of a big sport center and involved in tennis tournements for 3 years
-in the university years, worked as a volunteer student guide,member of lots of student clubs
-involved in the social projects as volunteer(everyweekend going to nursing home with group of 30 person for about 2 years in university)

Schools:
Harvard,Columbia,Stanford,MIT,Chicago,Wharton

My question is do you think that i am competitive in these schools by looking my profile ? because i want at least one admit from these schools. Is my gpa from engineering a problem to be a competitive candidate for these schools?

Thank you so much

Mustafa Kat

[Lisa Anderson]

Dear Mustafa,

Your profile is competitive for these schools as an international applicant. However, you must present a strong overall application package to receive an offer of admission. Your essays, recommendations, and interviews need to demonstrate your leadership/managerial skills as well as present a strong rationale for getting a MBA in relation to your future career goals. Finally, I think you might want to rethink your school list as you have only top 10 programs which are the most competitive. While I do think you have a chance at these schools, it is always good to apply to at least one safety option as a back up plan.

Good luck,
Lisa

[aceredede]

And stacy I want to ask some questions beacuse they are always on my mind..

what are my weak points and need to explain in essays and interviews?Should i say my USA adventure being a cashier for 3 months,is it different job experience for these schools admission commitee or is it normal for them?
and what about job? I heard that Harvard Business School taking 4-5 students from Turkey every year and almost all from Mckinsey,P&G etc. and as you know all schools from top10 taking in the range of 3-4 students from Turkey. Although my company is a very prestigious for top engineers in Turkey and very respectful company in Turkey, My work exp. is from defence company and worked as a project engineer,it is what it is seen in the paper. Also i did not work in abroad
(just USA advanture). I worked neither as a consultant nor business analyst in the companies i mentioned.I am just wondering What is the value of my work experience from Turkey in the eyes of commitee.If 10 people apply next year from PG Mckinsey etc. from Turkey and me and they take 5 of them what is my chance is it equal to them or not?

Thank you in advance

Mustafa

[Lisa Anderson]

Mustafa,

I don't really see any glaring weaknesses in your profile, but I don't know enough about your background to say you have none. Many applicants think their work experience is somehow less valuable than others because they do not work for a "name" firm or in a specific industry. That is just simply not true. If you have progressed at an above average rate in your career path and have successful leadership and teamwork experiences you can write about in your essays, then you should be competitive on that measure. I don't think 3 months as a cashier in the US is something you need to include on your resume, but it might make for an interesting essay about a cross-cultural experience.

Good luck,
Lisa