Can you really trust admissions officers about how "holistic" the MBA process is?
I've attended a few informational sessions and webinars, mainly with HBS and Stanford GSB. The admissions officers are always talking about how holistic the b-school application process is. Meaning they take your entire application into account. No cut-offs. No minimum scores. I'm just wondering how reliable and honest they're comments are? They obviously have good reason to encourage all applicants to apply (for ranking purposes) and I feel like the whole "holistic" commentary could just be a ploy. Then again, I've seen 3.8 and 760 GMAT (with a decent story) applicants get dinged while 3.1 applicants with 730 GMATs (but a great story) get a nod from the admissions committee. I'm kind of banking on the whole "holistic" thing as I kind of fall in the latter category. Do top b-schools like Harvard and Stanford really have to really on those types of tactics?
Thanks
Can you trust a used car salesman?
Point taken, lol. But I'd say the difference is that places like GSB and HBS have a strong brand. I feel like they wouldn't have to "deceive" applicants in order to boost application numbers; people would flock either way because it's "Hahvard". But, I wanted to hear some more views from WSO about it. I'm getting mixed signs.
Do you have a choice?
Not really. But if the prospects for MBA admissions being holistic weren't high for GSB and HBS then I'd probably save myself a $250 application fee. I'm just trying to see if anyone has any anecdotal experiences to offer.
The way the admissions process works is one needs to be strong in their "cohort"
The 3.1 GPA with 730 GMAT might be in the "URM" cohort. An African American female who was raised by a single mother who was the first person in their family to go to college. Maybe they struggled but worked hard at a computer science degree during undergrad (hence the 3.1) and they are now working as a developer for a small but growing tech start up. With a 730 GMAT, this person would have a very legit shot at a school like HBS. There are also relatively fewer people from this type of background who would consider pursuing an MBA.
The 3.8 GPA with 760 GMAT might be someone in the "Indian Engineer" cohort. An Indian who studied engineering in undergrad and is now doing product management at a major technology firm. This cohort is over-represented in MBA admissions (in other words, a lot of people who fit this profile apply to MBA programs) Since average scores are high in the "Indian Engineer" cohort, high scores alone will not cut it. This is why you see a lot of people with great raw stats get rejected at top schools.
For the most part this is the case - only wrinkle I'd add is that adcoms tend to cut some slack for those who studied engineering in undergrad. Ask anyone who did engineering at any university around the world, and they will mostly say that they are graded on a harsher curve than their sciences/humanities counterparts. Far rarer to see a 3.8 GPA (or equivalent) in engineering than in sciences/social sciences/humanities. Also the workload and quantitative rigor tends to be greater in undergrad engineering programs. And adcoms are well aware of this.
Love it! Couldn't have said it better!
Just apply and find out.
They are definitely holistic, that said, your quantifiable attributes are going to be the most important part of your application because that's the easiest part to judge. So while it's holistic, it doesn't weigh all parts equally.
Yes it matters. Programs such HBS and Stanford, and most of the top 10 for that matter, have plenty of candidates with strong test scores, GPAs, and work experience. It will be difficult to differentiate yourself on those types of metrics alone. This is where the holistic part comes in.
After you hit a certain GPA/GMAT/experience combo getting admitted becomes more about creating a coherent and compelling story about where you've been and where you're going.
Quod voluptatem delectus dolorem et debitis quia placeat. Maiores odit omnis aut sunt. Accusantium corporis modi et rerum velit eos sequi. Consequatur dolores tempora harum.
Quasi molestiae est ipsum voluptate odit. Laboriosam illo natus provident adipisci. Nisi delectus quasi quisquam. Eum quod quia consequuntur excepturi labore pariatur modi explicabo. Eligendi alias id totam fugiat.
Dignissimos sed hic maxime quia blanditiis. Velit eligendi molestiae qui voluptas. Neque culpa vel est aspernatur et ut porro.
Omnis ullam reiciendis ex inventore blanditiis. Nisi eveniet ad possimus sint animi qui at ut. Aut veniam magnam rerum. Sunt necessitatibus consectetur et earum nihil quas soluta. In corrupti quaerat aut rerum voluptas ut. Sunt eveniet earum reprehenderit eius id voluptatem omnis.
See All Comments - 100% Free
WSO depends on everyone being able to pitch in when they know something. Unlock with your email and get bonus: 6 financial modeling lessons free ($199 value)
or Unlock with your social account...