CriticalSquareMBA wrote:
At the moment, it's hard to recommend schools because I simply don't know the ins and outs of your application that really make that conversation worth having. However, I will agree with you that someone in your position should at least try one or two at the H/S/W level. You really never know and it could turn out really well for you! As for your chances, I feel they're on the light side right now given your work experience and lack of degree. In another year, those chances should firm up nicely if you continue along your established trajectory. I would not apply this year just for the sake of applying. One, it can reduce your chances down the road (somewhat and this varies by candidate), and two, it's a lot of time to put forward a great application. You should apply when everything about your profile is ready and in my honest opinion that isn't just yet.
Bhavik
Bhavik
pbodine wrote:
Qayin,
You have a distinctive and promising profile. Given your goals, an MBA is probably the way to go. Given your GMAT score and relatively unusual profile, you could probably get into top MC-feeder programs like Michigan Ross, Duke, Darden right now. Although there is no significant penalty in being a reapplicant should you decide to aim higher and apply now, you probably don't have a good chance at places like Tuck, Kellogg or INSEAD now. You would undoubtedly be an even stronger applicant if you waited a year (you would still be in the prime age range), so unless you have an urgent need to apply this year I would probably advise waiting if you have your sights set on the top schools.
--Paul Bodine, Great Applications for Business School
You have a distinctive and promising profile. Given your goals, an MBA is probably the way to go. Given your GMAT score and relatively unusual profile, you could probably get into top MC-feeder programs like Michigan Ross, Duke, Darden right now. Although there is no significant penalty in being a reapplicant should you decide to aim higher and apply now, you probably don't have a good chance at places like Tuck, Kellogg or INSEAD now. You would undoubtedly be an even stronger applicant if you waited a year (you would still be in the prime age range), so unless you have an urgent need to apply this year I would probably advise waiting if you have your sights set on the top schools.
--Paul Bodine, Great Applications for Business School
Thanks a lot for the input guys! I really appreciate it!
So to sum it all up - I'm obviously going to have a better shot in a year or two from now.
However, I really don't mind putting effort in sending out some applications this year, it would be a worthwhile experience organizing it all if nothing else. The question is, which schools should I try applying to without hurting my chances with them in case I don't get in this time? Meaning basically which of them are reapplicant-friendly. For example I've heard that Harvard/MIT/INSEAD are not, while Wharton is (afaik the Wharton admission rate in the reapplicant group is even higher than in general). What about other schools, like Kellogg, Booth, Tuck, Darden, Duke, LBS, IESE, Berkeley?
By the way, I've also read that Wharton is comparatively unexperienced-friendly, and that they assign an above average weight to the GMAT and GPA. Would this all make applying to Wharton a good idea for me?
CriticalSquareMBA wrote:
One thing you did not mention was your extracurricular involvement. Were you in any clubs or organizations? Did you have any leadership experiences?
Extracurriculars: This is one thing you haven't mentioned too much about. Either through your university or within the community. If you look to apply next year, this is a part of your profile you definitely need to address. I don't know your hobbies and passions but you should find impactful activities where you can hold leadership positions. It will help round out your application while giving MBA programs peace of mind that you will also be involved on campus (that's a big part of it).
Extracurriculars: This is one thing you haven't mentioned too much about. Either through your university or within the community. If you look to apply next year, this is a part of your profile you definitely need to address. I don't know your hobbies and passions but you should find impactful activities where you can hold leadership positions. It will help round out your application while giving MBA programs peace of mind that you will also be involved on campus (that's a big part of it).
With all the school and freelancing I didn't really have much time to spare. I'm an amateur athlete (running, biking, weightlifting, crossfit etc), even was my University's powerlifting champion in my sophomore year. No club participation or volunteering per se, it's somewhat less popular in Russia than in the West. Though there are definitely some opportunities here that I could pursue to fill the gap, that's really a great advice! Thanks! Any good ideas for a meaningful extracurricular that I could reasonably manage while working full time and studying?
My main hobby(-ies) is anthropology, history and sociology (verging on political science), I've even considered pursuing that for a major. Hence my penchant for travelling (US, Africa, Central Asia, Siberia). I'm seriously thinking of writing a book somewhere down the road.
CriticalSquareMBA wrote:
Also, if you don't graduate until 2014 then your GPA isn't confirmed and it needs to be set.
There's just one semester of actual study left, the last one is going to be spent on a thesis. Should I include a transcript for the first 4 years with an application, or just self-report an expected GPA?
CriticalSquareMBA wrote:
Work Experience: Your job with GE is a great starting point but two things. One, what did you actually do for them? What does a strategic marketing intern do? Market analytics and B2B relationships is vague. Essentially, what do YOU do. Do you execute tasks or own initiatives?
There's a lot of breadth in the job, some examples would be
[*] Working in a team on a large analytics project, doing a full cycle for my assigned area - from gathering the data, to structuring & analysing it, to doing presentations and pitchbooks. Or, focusing on a functional area instead.
[*] Being responsible for one of the industries GE operates in, doing continuous analytics, looking for important trends etc, identifying strategic opportunities/threats and pitching them in regular reports.
[*] On a more commercial side I assist GE's overseas businesses in connecting and dealing with local (Russia/CIS) clients, participate in client meetings, sometimes act as a point of contact in general (both for the local clients and the businesses in need of support).
CriticalSquareMBA wrote:
If you can get them to change your title, that can't hurt. I think it would more closely align with your actual role versus intern and it would be unfortunate if someone gets caught up with nomenclature.
Yep, the intern title is definitely not doing me a favor. I hope to explain this issue in one of the essays potentially. It's not the "the guy who operated the copy machine for three months" kind of internship that people often think of.