09 grad seeking advice for MBA admissions
hi all,
i'm an 09 grad from a top 3 ivy. i had a 3.4 undergrad gpa with a 770 gmat. i'm working in corporate finance now for a fortune 500 company (rough year for recruiting) and my goal is to enter a top 5 MBA program.
what can i do now to "prepare" my application? my gmat score expires in 3 years so i need to apply within this timeframe. i feel like my stats are pretty standard (lower than avg gpa, higher than avg gmat), work experience is OK but not spectacular.
i've toyed with the idea of doing a startup (i do have quite a bit of free time since i'm not in banking). i've also thought about getting involved in local organizations (such as toastmasters international). what can i do that will give me a "hook" for mba admissions?
i'd appreciate any advice and insight. thanks all for reading.
You should look at the schools' websites. They provide a lot of information on the type of profile they're looking for. If your profile aligns with their definition of what makes a good candidate, then you have a higher chance of admission. Obviously, you can always spin what you have done thus far to fit into their desired criteria.
I would suggest that you narrow the list of schools that you'd like to attend based on where you'd get the most out of the experience. For instance, although HBS/GSB are highly regarded business schools, they couldn't be any more different. Look into undertaking some impressive sounding leadership positions and getting brand name on your resume. Very importantly, you have to try to apply before you're 26 or so. Schools seem to be trending younger. Best of luck!
Honestly, any and all of the things you mentioned could improve your candidacy. In addition to high marks and a track record of success, you want to show off accomplishments that speak to a broad range of skills and competencies. 100 leadership activities would be nice, but the marginal benefit of leading club #5 is outweighed by a diversified experience. If you're an engineer with a 4.0, you're probably better off joining a sports team to show off your sparkling outgoing personality rather than tacking on additional accomplishments in areas that don't require team collaboration.
Basically -- take a look at your profile and try to fill the holes. You want a nice blend of academic and professional success, individual achievement, leadership and team-oriented activities, and of course a nice sprinkle of impactful volunteerism. You've got time on your side and are thinking about this well in advance, which is a huge help. Most people start preping too late for their MBA app.
In addition to everything above, you need to make sure you can get a couple good reference letters from people as well.
Sounds like you have the makings of a really solid application. It might be wise to invest a few bucks in an MBA application consultant because I think they'd have a lot to work with.
If you went to a top 3 Ivy I would leverage your contacts at that school and try and get some solid admissions advice directly from the horses mouth. Everything you mentioned will help you out a lot. See if your company has any volunteering opportunities. Most universities look to see if you have increased public good in anyway. Might be a good way to do some good and get out of work at the same time.
part-time startup could be a good selling point. what ideas do you have? any partners lined up??
you might also want to get involved in the "startup scene" in your city so you can discuss your experiences with that in addition to your new company. there are usually events for entrepreneurs to network, find co-founders, and pitch ideas to VCs.
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