Profile Evaluation

[Spandrew]

Hello,
My name is Andrew. I am planing on applying for 2014, and I am curious about my chances at a top MBA. Here is my profile:

25-year-old white male, married with a 1-year-old daughter
Graduated in April 2012 from BYU
Majored in Korean w/ Economics minor. 3.46 GPA
750 GMAT - 45 Verbal, 48 Quant, 5.5 AWA, 7 IR

I started an English education company in August 2011 and have been running and growing it full-time ever since. The company has experienced consistent growth and has the potential for substantial future growth.

I spent two years in the middle of my undergraduate study in South Korea as a volunteer missionary. I am fluent in Korean from my time there and from studying it in my undergrad degree. I did an internship in Korea in the summer of 2011 and my company's clientele are largely Korean and Taiwanese high schools and universities.

I also am a working musician, performing live shows occasionally and creating music for commercial use. That is more of a hobby, though, and does not provide much income.

I want to pursue an MBA to further my entrepreneurial goals by gaining marketing and finance expertise. I want to attend the MBA that will provide the most valuable network and post-MBA opportunities.

What things about my entrepreneurial experience should I highlight? Negotiating contracts? International orientation? How should I present my experience to optimize my application?

Which schools should I target?

Thank you

[Jon@Admissionado]

Dear Andrew,
You certainly have something unique in your Korean experience and language fluency. Your GMAT + GPA is very solid, and makes me believe you would have chances at Top 10 programs.

I think that a lot of your potential success in admissions will depend upon the perception of the success of your firm, and of its potential in the future. I don't really yet have details about the size of your business. It seems a good one, but I imagine there are many similar businesses around. So the question I would have as an AdCom member is: why do you really need this? (when so many other similar businessmen run schools without them) Is your firm at the stage at which it can truly benefit from an MBA? And why do you propose to do this MBA immediately and not in three years? I think if you can make convincing arguments for all these questions. you will have done a good deal of the work.

To answer your final question: Focus first and foremost on your and the business' achievements. Then on your leadership and finally on your CONCRETE plan for the future.

Hope this helps you out my friend...