3.7 Ivy undergrad + MBB = HBS?
- Female, non-URM with ~3.7 GPA at an Ivy with a non-STEM major pertaining to the social sector. Working at MBB at one of the bigger offices after graduation
- One year study abroad plus international summer work experience in private/social sector at a well-known brand in junior year
- One year D1 athlete
- Some leadership experience for clubs on campus, but not Prez/VP, etc.
I feel like there would be so many applicants from MBB with similar backgrounds, so I'm wondering how do I stand out given this pool? Think my GPA could be higher, and I'm prepping but haven't taken the GMAT. Also am planning to get an admissions consultant, or is this not necessary?
Just starting to look into b-schools and read a lot of profile reviews on Poets and Quants, but would like to hear any specific perspectives, insights, or experiences about my case. Essentially want to know what I should be doing from now until app season. Thanks in advance!
The obvious answer is, maybe. Female helps a lot, and your bio so far is obviously HBS material. Assuming you get MBB sponsorship and do well-enough on the GMAT, you should be in really good shape.
That being said, I would do a bit to stand out, since you're smart enough to be planning ahead now. None of your extras to date sound very interesting (don't think one year as an athlete really helps anything), so I'd get going on that. MBB is super busy, but does give some bandwidth on Friday-Sunday to be involved in stuff. I said this in another recent thread, but get involved in an extra that you really like and would be interested in doing even if you weren't applying to b-school. Here's the other thing: it doesn't matter if you're on the board of a non-profit, or technically in a leadership position. Just do things that count. You can be intimately involved in an org. without having an official position, and you can do very little, even if you're on the board. Try to make an impact that makes a great resume bullet (Raised $X, Created business plan, etc.).
Beyond that, do a great job at work. Knock your client engagements out of the park and get great recommendations. Push yourself so you have some nice challenges to discuss when writing essays/interviewing (who knows what HBS will ask in essays in a few years). And finally, don't do everything for HBS, or b-school in general. Do well at work, get involved outside of work, and do what you want to do. You've already knocked out the blue-chip names for your resume (Ivy and MBB), so from here on it, just be normal and go where you want to go.
Pardon my ignorance but is non-URM a code word for Asian?
She certainly doesn't write like a white 3.7+ Ivy grad...
I know plenty of people who attended or will attend ivy league schools that can't write worth a darn.
I know I can't write.
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