Do I have what it takes?!

[jp001]

Profile:
- 28-year-old Asian-American male (29 at Fall 2013 matriculation)
- Emory University, Economics and History (double major), 3.4 GPA
- GMAT: 720 (50Q, 38V)

Work Experience:
3 years Project Manager at well-known digital agency (Ad Age largest digital agency)
- Project management experience delivering large scale off-shore technology solutions
- Clients have been Fortune 100 companies

2 years Management Consultant at a boutique consulting firm (Consulting Mag Top 10 places to work)
- Delivered mobile platform as program lead for biggest soft drink company where I gain global experience
- Managed new wireless product development as technical product lead for one of the two biggest U.S. wireless carriers
- Have been leading the development of a business solutions practice at my firm

EC:
- Leadership positions in multi-cultural organization during college
- Have been volunteering for 2 years in a program that mentors underprivileged 2-4th graders
- Involved in multiple recreational sports leagues year round (I love playing sports)
- Founded corporate social responsibility program at the digital agency I worked at

Reason I want to go to B-School:
In the short term, I'd like to use b-school as a bridge to join the hi-tech practice at a Big 3 consulting company. My long term goal is to be an executive for hi-tech company, especially a start up or up and coming software/internet services company. Coming from a more technical background, B-school would help me gain a general management skillset and continue to grow my leadership skills. B-school would provide me access to Big 3 recruiters for my short term goal and to a large alumni network that could help me fulfill my long term goal.

Targeted Schools: Harvard, Wharton, Sloan, Columbia, Kellogg, Haas, Duke

Concerns:
1. I feel my EC is weak as I don't feel like I have done nothing eye-catching.
2. My employers are not top-notch, blue chip...but I'm hoping that can be mitigated by my experience with Fortune 100 clients.
3. I want to make sure I'm being realistic with my target schools

Thank you!

[Heidi Granner]

Hi jp001,

Thanks for your post.

Your academics, work experience, and extracurricular activities are consistent with backgrounds of competitive candidates to top business schools.

Your overall academics (GMAT, GPA, undergrad) will put you in the middle of the pack of the accepted candidate profile. You will therefore need to work to differentiate yourself through your work experience and extracurricular involvement, particularly through your essays and interviews.

One point of differentiation in your work experience is that there are not many applicants from digital agencies - reflect on what this experience can bring to the class. I recommend highlighting your career progression, international work experience, and management/teamwork experience.

Holding leadership positions during college and founding a new CSR focused group at work are great experiences to highlight. Also, continued community service involvement and sports will help convey your well-rounded interests.

I recommend applying to 4-5 schools if you are strongly focused on business school this year. You seem to be on the right track with the schools listed. Please feel free to forward your resume to [email protected] for a detailed and free profile evaluation.

Best,
Heidi
_________________
Heidi Granner
Clear Admit, LLC
[email protected]
215.568.2590

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