When are you applying? You have a really strong background, but I feel that you need some EC's or something special to get in HBS/GSB.

Having just gone through the process, I'd say that you have a shot but by no means a shoe in. I bet the schools will like the corp strat gig especially if its at a legit company like you've said and if it ties into your long term goals. However, these schools are snobby and a top 40 in finance isn't special especially with a 3.5 - I personally think this is good but HBS/Stanford are a different story. Also no ECs hurts.

Basically, the only thing you have that stands out is potentially the corp strat gig. With some luck and killer essays you might have a shot but I wouldn't bank on it. MBA business schools ">M7 school is possible and top 10 more likely than not.

How did you get the BB job without ECs?

bschoolbandit:

- 2 years in corporate strategy at a cool place (think Tesla/Google/Amazon)

So you work/worked at Tesla.. since the only people that think its cool are the current/former employees, everyone else thinks "What's Tesla?"

There are generally two roads you try to shoot for: to be the best of the best in a current role (banking, consulting) or fill the "special students with world perspective" quota. Both ways you still have to have convincing essays though.

The special quota would be something: Say you worked as a finance analyst traveling around remote parts of Africa investing here and there in start-ups. Or you're part of a big up-and-coming alternative energy initiative as an engineer somewhere bringing renewable power. You'll be allowed more leniency on your test and GPA scores if you can fit in this bucket.

You will also get an extra bonus if you are a minority.

This is what I always think about when I hear "tesla":

I think you're good enough for somewhere in the MBA business schools ">M7. HBS will be looking for more ECs, though. Tesla may be interesting, but I don't see this picture of arête that covers 3-4 different dimensions that HBS and Stanford typically look for. They want to see professional excellence, some form of athleticism, academics, and giving back to the community. I see the professional and academic excellence. I don't see the other two dimensions.

Those two are enough for much of the rest of the MBA business schools ">M7, though. I think you stand a very good chance at Chicago and Sloan if you can retake the GMATs and get a 760 this time. Northwestern and Columbia may take you now as it stands.

If you want to get into HBS, one way to get there is to keep doing exactly what you're doing, plus get involved with Tesla's race team and apply next fall.

http://reviews.cnet.com/8301-13746_7-20024147-48.html

Work experience? Check. Academics? (GMATs +4.0 GPA) Check. + Awesome ECs? Total check. +

Solid recs, essays, and interview +

50% chance at an HBS or Stanford admit (about as good as anyone).

Just make sure that whatever EC it is, it's something you truly enjoy. If you don't like working on electric car racing, do something else. One of my friends goes ice climbing every winter weekend. Another does the Hudson River Swim. Find something you enjoy and do it.

start a non-profit, like RIGHT NOW and then apply in 2 years. i bet you'll get in.

HBS/GSB generally look for more mammoth tanks/less grenadiers in an application

I am really tired of people who make these kinds on posts.

NOBODY CARES!!

What are you looking for some kind of personal validation from people on this site with your whole "am I good enough" and "can I get in" bull s@&t!!!!

Stop it!! If you want to find out, freakin' apply......

Hi BschoolBandit -- Well, at least you asked. Here's my take, as an HBS grad who worked in finance for a long time and does resume coaching at the GSB. First, the stats: you need to get over 80-85% on the math part of the GMAT, and I'm interpolating that you did so because of your higher math score on your SAT. So that gets the ball over the net. Looking at your GPA, in addition to A's in finance, Harvard and GSB care about how you challenged yourself -- that is, did you do well in very hard math classes, or hard sciences? They also want to know if you took advantage of your four years to explore other courses to open your mind up. Many applicants underestimate the story that is told by what kinds of courses you chose to take when you were an undergrad.

As for the corporate strategy job, Tesla is very cool, because it is small and exciting, and of course, down the street from Stanford. Amazon and Google are not, on the surface, huge differentiators. Although they are solid employers for a pre-MBA student, they would not, by themselves, make the application jump out of the pile

There's a myth that you need a lot of extra-curriculars while you are working 80 hour weeks. You don't. . But you really needed to have some activities in college to be competitive at any top school. Unless you were working 40 hours a week to pay for your education, you would be expected to have joined clubs, teams, or shown some entrepreneurial spirit. Sometimes students forget that they have outside interests, such as playing sports at the club level.

You have to be 3-dimensional to get into HBS or Stanford, as Dee Leopold (HBS admissions dean) says, "We know you are smart, but are you interesting?" Also for Stanford, they really, really do want you to take seriously their tagline, "Change Lives. Change Organizations. Change the World." Every single student admitted to the GSB subscribes to this motto.

Finally, I agree with ke18sb, who encouraged you to look beyond just two schools. It's definitely worthwhile to research others and figure out where else you might fit in and find success.

Best of luck, Betsy