All,
I'm two years into a consulting career, and starting to think of business schools. HSW is the real target, as my prospects for organic growth at my firm are very good.
My key concern for appliations is a poor degree classification, and I would like to better understand how much it may hinder me. I got a 2.2 (MBB but next best thing firm
- Good firm-internal extra-curriculars
- Internship in FO S&T at BB and scholarship at same BB
- 760 GMAT
- Good university extra-curriculars
Essentially would hugely appreciate any thoughts on my overall pitch, and to what extent the poor degree may limit my chances at HSW.
Cheers,
PorcineAviation
refine your story and get ready to dish out the dough
what are you looking for post-MBA?
I think you're going to need one or two strong differentiators here for HSW. You have ok- not great- academics. You have a good- not amazing- work history. You will have excellent recs.
You need amazing extracurriculars.
Short of that, I get the sense that your resume is driving a Jaguar, but not exactly driving a Ferrari. (This is coming from a guy who drives a rusty honda.)
I think an M7 is within reach; I am not sure it will be HBS or Stanford given the current information I have.
But that weird hobby- playing classical piano, being a docent at the the British Museum, doing HALO skydiving- that could change the dynamic significantly, here. HBS and Stanford want interesting people. Then the Jaguar keys get exchanged for an Aston Martin.
While a 3.4 isn't a stellar GPA it also isn't poor either. Can you help us understand your grades within the context of your entire class. Did this put you in the bottom third? Or were you in the top 20%. Knowing that would make it easier to evaluate.
It's probably around the median.
Thanks for the comments so far guys.
HBS/Stanford is a big stretch since those are the 2 b-schools that really punish sub-3.5 GPAs. Also it's nearly impossible to get in as a non-MBB consulting white male. Your gmat is good obviously, but I don't see hbs/stanford here at all. Wharton is definitely possible; with the right essay execution, you probably have around a 40% shot there. You look great for the other top schools.
you will not be in play at HSW. you will probably be an auto-ding. i also think M7 is out of reach.
unless you are an URM you will probably fit in the 9-13 slot...darden/michigan/fuqua/etc.
I totally disagree with this. I do think HBS/Stanford will be a reach, but he's competitive at the M7. His gpa is in the range at all those schools except hbs/stanford, and his gmat is well above the median. Moreover, he worked at a top non-MBB consulting firm, showed clear career progression, decent extracurriculars, and went to a top U.K. school (if he did oxford/cambridge/LSE, even better). Depending on his recs, how he presents himself, essays, etc., he is a very strong candidate at the non-HSW programs. I know people with much weaker profiles who managed to get in.
HSW = Hogwarts School of Wizardry? Doesn't look like you have relevant experience... I'd say chances are slim. Have you even taken the OWLs?
2.2 is bottom 10-15% of the class. Maximum 20%. Not sure how this converts to GPA, but this is definitely poor.
Uhhhh guys c'mon. Try to read.
He went to school in the UK. There, you graduate with a 1st, different categories of 2nd class, or a 3rd class - or you don't graduate. Normally the plush firms only go for folks with a 1st or a 2:1, as they call it.
Based on what I know, I disagree that a 2:2 is the equivalent of a 3.4.
Normally, people say that a 2:1 is circa a 3.5, a 3.7 if you're being extremely lenient, but I'm just being safe here - I've almost always heard it classified as a 3.5.
A 2.2 is much closer to a 3.0-3.2. As he said, his performance was somewhere in the median of his class.
a 3rd is like getting a 2.6.
This is also a 2:2 outside of Oxbridge, so probably somewhere like LSE, Durham, possibly St. Andrew's or Bristol etc. It also depends on what he means by "next best thing" after MBB. There are lots of firms who claim that title, but in general, all of their placement rates at top b-schools are a big step down from MBB's.
HSW sounds very unlikely. This sounds like a lower end M7 or a higher end top 15...
By "next best thing" i assume he meant booz/monitor/lek, which are very solid firms and do quite well with mba admissions. The main reasons i ruled him out for HBS/Stanford is gpa and lack of any interesting story/life experience/extracurricular. Non-MBB guys do get into those schools, but they usually have something extra.
I still think he's competitive everywhere else depending on how he executes his application. In my opinion, the quality of the student body, in terms of name brand pedigree and interesting accomplishments, decline by a decent margin after HSW and then precipitously outside the M7.
I also think Wharton is in play.
Cheers for all the input chaps. Apologies for the confusion re grade.
Lower 2nd class (2.2) is awarded for results between 50-60%, and would be 3.0-3.4 GPA approx. I got 59.6% and foolishly didnt appeal as I had an unconditional offer from my firm. Anyway, my academic references can indicate the margin.
Regarding firm, it's Booz/Monitor/LEK level as suggested previously - places very well at Wharton, less established at HBS and Stanford.
Seems like I may struggle on the autofilter at the latter two, but Wharton in reach if I polish the story and work on the x factor stuff. If not, it's M7. Fair summary?
My thoughts would be that if you're a white male at non-mbb consulting and a low GPA H/S will be pretty much impossible... other M7 schools could be in the realm of possibility as you've hit a very high GMAT, but I'd apply to a few places a bit farther down this list in case it doesn't work out (duke, michigan, etc.)
Ex ut aut est architecto voluptate. Quis consequuntur sit dolores ut consequuntur vitae nemo in. Non a nihil in est dolores magni. Inventore quis odio quia sit sunt.
Quasi deleniti laboriosam dolorum necessitatibus voluptate cupiditate fugiat. Nihil dolor at harum tempora atque temporibus minus. Praesentium dolorem et corporis vel soluta tenetur praesentium non. Ipsam similique dolorum sit iste saepe velit ratione quia. Ut voluptatum culpa repellat eius eos ea. Doloribus in molestiae quia provident ipsum impedit architecto.
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...