Chances at Harvard MBA program | Here's my profile
Hello everyone,
I wanted to get some perspective on my profile and the likelihood of getting into the MBA program at Harvard.
Education
Undergraduate degree in Bcomm in Canada | 3.33 CGPA with no internships | Graduated as a mature student (around 24)
Went to a coding bootcamp, participated in 12 coding competitions/hackathons and won 2 of them.
Experience
Started a M&A company and sold it to a larger firm in 5 years.
Started a Consumer tech-enabled company and sold it to a private equity firm in 4yrs. Was backed by a Canadian VC and American VC fund.
Bought and am currently holding around 3 small real estate based businesses as a co-owner with a Lower mid-market PE fund.
General comments:
I have built a strong portfolio that generates a good income to sustain my life and so tuition wouldn't be an issue.
I now live in New Jersey and travel back n forth to NYC (I don't like living in congested areas, I hate it).
I am currently enrolled in a GMAT program so I haven't taken the GMAT yet. Of the official practice exams, I so far scored around a 700.
What’s your race and sexuality? What’s your spike in your application and how do you plan to standout? You don’t have a cookie cutter path of IB to PE like a lot of folks on here so some more info would help.
Male, South Asian, and hetrosexual.
I went to a lower tier commuter school back in Canada so my undergrad was nothing special I believe.
I believed my non cookie cutter path would be very unique.
I think my experience triumphs my educational background.
Most people I read about on Linkedin have strong GPAs + great Internships and started very small startups.
I on the other-hand built 3 successful firms that required a sophisticated mid-market M&A shop to advise me on the sale of my businesses.
I also am a decent programmer as I coded over 22 weekend long projects.
I hired smaller M&A i-bankers to sell my firm twice and they told me I do have a good shot.
I'd love to get more insights from the guys on here.
Currently enjoying a night in California after attending the Super bowl.
Flying back to NJ on Monday afternoon.
Happy Super bowl weekend everyone!
What is your age when you are planning to apply? Also which country specifically when you say South Asian?
Was your college in Canada prestigious? No Named? What was your major?
Everyone thinks their hot shit until Harvard turns them down.
Unfortunately your chances as an ORM, low GPA, low GMAT, work experience are very low imo. But shoot your shot. No harm in trying.
I agree your background is non-traditional, which can occasionally be good and maybe differentiating. Unfortunately I don't think it's good enough for them to lower their overall GPA and GMAT averages to let you in, esp as an ORM.
FWIW your work experience sounds cool and I think it's impressive and maybe you could get in. Adcoms are kind of dumb though tbh, and even people with super impressive HYPS undergrad high gpas with MF PE experience are getting rejected these days. It's a crapshoot.
Damn, that sucks.
I really thought my unique experience would be powerful. Building 3 firms isn't easy, and selling it for a large $ amount is even more stellar for an undergrad IMO. My grades were low (GPA - 3.3) because of my work, I was building those firms while in college.
I built great relationships with VC funds, PE funds, and other older business owners.
My plan after MBA would be to continue buying private firms. Currently I'm eying a super undervalued public company on the NYSE (trades below 3.5 P/e ratio).
This firm has been cash flow positive since 1900s at about 14% profit margins. My plan would be to take it private alongside my partners who have much more capital than I. The firm considered about 4 tender offers but they didn't pan out. We plan on paying a 20 - 30% premium.
What would you think are the next 3 best schools I'd have a shot at?
Stanford?
Yale?
Wharton?
Thank you once again,
Yale is not in the same tier MBA-wise as the others you listed and would be a more likely option. As I said, worth a shot at the others and I could be wrong, but they're all tough.
Why do you even want an MBA? It sounds like you don't need one.
.
Thank you for the response.
This the best one yet.
My main question for the forum was to know if my Statistics are good enough.
Also, I'm a decent programmer, I competed in over 20 Hackathos/Events and even won 2-3 of them (1st place).
From what I saw from Wharton's profiles, the range is from 3.33 to 3.8 (median = 3.69 GPA)
I was never the brightest kid, I was diagnosed with a learning disability (nothing huge) and found school to be tough. That's why I pushed and pushed in college through my businesses and just worked hard because that's the only thing I can control.
I learned to be a smarter student and became a better test taker and so I'm aiming to get a good GMAT score. My aim is for 740 (right now it's at 700).
Creating a business is hard, first 2 yrs I was pulling my hair out because of how hard it is to get the damn ball rolling (ESPECIALLY IN M&A).
.
Asking for clarity: would a diverse male with a 3.3 GPA from a top 10 Undegrad in US with top internships have a chance at HBS
they don't care about your internships, they care about your job.
Unless you are referring to HBS 2+2 program? In that case - no. 2+2 program is HIGHLY competitive and 3.3 GPA just won't cut it unless your application is EXTREMELY unique.
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