profile evalution request: Thai/Female/24

[a_vivern]

Hello,

I am applying FT MBA programs at Georgetown McDonough, ESADE, CMU Tepper, UCLA, UW Foster. I would like a realistic evaluation: whether I actually stand a chance applying to these schools, and what you consider to be my key strengths and weaknesses. I plan to apply in R2 i.e by January 2011. I have already started working on the essays. I would really appreciate you taking a few minutes reading through my profile and giving me your opinions.

Background:
Thai (or more like Chinese-Thai), female, 24
speaks 3 languages fluently (Thai, English, French), speaks basic Chinese and Japanese

BA Political Sciences in International Relations from top university in Thailand + one year exchange at top university in Paris. The exchange program wasn't for language, but for studies International Relations, political sciences, economics, philosophy, etc..
GPA = 3.79, top of class, with highest honors

Test Scores:
- Oct 2010, GMAT: 620 V37/ Q39/ AWA 5
- Nov 2010, GMAT: 670 V36/Q46/AWA 5
- May 2009 IELTS: 8.5
- Oct 2010 TOEFL: 111

WE: Total 2.5 yrs by matriculation (~Sept 2011)
2 small companies
- 6 months at primary healthcare service company which is also a government sub-contractor: management trainee (helped improve business processes)
- 1 year at e-commerce company: online marketing exec. (expanded business to French market, setup new business from scratch with cross-functional team of IT, Account, Marketing, under supervision of the MD)
1 big firm
- 1 year (by matriculation) at giant market research firm: analyst (provide volumetric analysis and sales forecast for new products prior to launches, work with global firms, work projects for all over Southeast Asia)

2 Excellent LoRs

Extracurricular:
College: Very active in various events
- head of student committee - led & organized activites,
- volunteered in rural regions of Thailand)
- Part-time research assistant to a government-sponsored Japanese researcher. Topic is economic relations of Thailand and Southeast Asian countries

Outside of college:
- part-time project coordinator for not-for profit organization (organized workshops addressing health problems ie diabetes, hypertension for communities) since mid 2009
- part-time - family business (help with budgeting, people management, HR tasks, strategy, taxation)
- freelance writer (published in major Singaporean newspapers
- freelance interpreter (French-Thai-English)

Misc.:
- avid traveler (traveled to most countries in Europe & US, several countries in Asia, participated in conferences in Turkey, UAE, China)
- physical activities: yoga, jogging, swimming, extreme sports

Aspirations: Pursue a fast track career in management consulting, strategy stream, and later start own company.

Main concerns:
R2 application - is it too late for me?
GMAT - is it good enough?
WE - it is not that many years but will the quality beats the quantity?
What in my profile do I need to highlight/ explain to improve my chances?

Thank you & looking forward to your response soon

[Tani]

You are asking all the right questions. Your 670 GMAT is good, but not exceptional. However, it should be well within the middle 50% for Georgetown, Foster. ESADE and Tepper, but a little low for UCLA.

It is not too late for round 2. I always counsel my applicants that the best round to apply in is the one for which their applications are in the best possible shape. I have had applicants wait until third round and be accepted at HBS. Some people feel that second round is better because the committee has had a chance to see the bulk of the applications and has a better sense of what the pool is like and so is less concerned about "leaving space" in case someone exceptional comes along later. All schools take a significant portion of their applicants in the second round. There is no reason to think their standards are lower in the first round.

Your work experience is short and that will be a concern. A key problem will be to explain why you have moved around so frequently. That aspect will also make it difficult to get references who can speak from in-depth knowledge of your ability and potential. A seasoned admissions consultant can help you position the experience you do have for maximum impact. Certainly the international aspect and your language skills will be interesting to your reader.

In summary, you should be able to gain admission to a good school. Nevertheless, admission in general is so competitive that no one is guaranteed acceptance. If you are determined to go to school next year, you should think about adding a school for which your profile surpasses their averages. Your chances are solid at the schools you have targeted, but it doesn't hurt to have a "Safety". You might look at the University of South Carolina. While its overall ranking is not as high as those on your primary list, it is ranked third for its international business program.

Good luck,

[a_vivern]

Thank you, Tani. The points you made about my job switches are very useful, and I will definitely incorporate this into my next applications.

I just received an interview invitation from ESADE. It will be in Feb/March. Do you have any insights and advices on that?

Thank you again !:)