Carnegie Mellon / Tepper - 02-04-2023

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February 4, 2023 11:17am ET

Applying: Carnegie Mellon / Tepper, Cornell / Johnson, Dartmouth / Tuck, Duke / Fuqua, Stanford GSB, Yale SOM

Intake Year: 2023

Pre-MBA Career: Local government auditor in a capital city. I lead a team of five, and have completed a handful of performance audits that have recieved regional media attention. Previously, I worked in state government, doing budget and contract management for the health department. Also spent sometime as a financial analyst in the state senate.

Post-MBA Target Industry: Consulting Companies: Bain , BCG , Deloitte , KPMG , McKinsey

GPA: 3.44

Years of Work Experience: 7

Notes:

My family and I immigrated to the US when I was 5 years old (originally from the horn of Africa). In addition to my undergraduate education(biomedical sciences), I received my masters in a health related field and graduated with a 3.69 GPA. Historically, I struggled on standardized exams, so I'll be thrilled if I can pull off a 700 (currently taking a 6month gmat prep course). I'm contemplating delaying a year and taking advantage of the MLT fellowship, but nervous applying at age 33 with 8 years of work experience would hurt me.

Extracurricular activities: active on local neighborhood association and volunteered in a handleful of successful campaigns

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Show Comments (10) Last: March 8, 2023

alexbr4 Verified User. Likes Earned: 1676 Be good to know more about your MBA goals, especially in the long run? While I’m not completely familiar with the process of the MLT fellowship, I’m not sure delaying your application for a year, for this reason, is best. Could you take advantage of the MLT Fellowship if you’re not successful next season? Really prep hard for the GMAT, the higher the score, the better your access to opportunities. Curious how you’ve selected your target programs? (1)

twinsbasiltwins Likes Earned: 24 Throughout my 7 years in the public sector, I've seen government officials with zero business acumen, invest taxpayer dollars on "transformationional economic development" projects that usually result in underwhelming job growth and economic activity. I'm seeking my mba to develop business expertise and pivot into consulting. In the short-term, I would like to pursue consulting in the private sector (learn best practices, experience a new sector, etc.). Long-term, I would like to return to the public sector and be the "go to consultant" for both state and local governments. For example, if Florida recieved a million dollar grant from the federal government, I would like to advise them on how to best capitalize on that funding opportunity. Im applying to schools via the Consortium (scholarship opportunity for minority students), and all 6 of my schools participate. Honestly, I selected the schools based on career outcomes, culture, ranking, and location. Currently, Tuck is my number one choice due to their Center of Business, Government, and Society...I like how they marry government and business. I've also successfully connected with a handful of current students in potential clubs I would be interested in. (0)

alexbr4 Verified User. Likes Earned: 1676 Good, that all makes good sense. Really focus hard on the GMAT. Assume you’re targeting next season, unless you delay for a year for the MLT fellowship. I’d encourage you apply next season. (1)

grichmond Verified User. Likes Earned: 1237 I love your career goals and think they will be well received by your target schools. While your 3.44 may be a bit lower than the average at some of your targets, I think the 3.69 in your master's degree will help. Pushing hard for a solid GMAT result north of 700 will ideally solidify your academic record. It's unclear if you have applied this season/are applying in R3, or are purely targeting next season (R1), or the one beyond, but I think that you should ideally apply as soon as you are able given your age - and the fact that you are seeking a career pivot, know what you want, etc. I even wonder if some of the programs on your list might allow for a test waiver in R3 this year... Best of luck!
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twinsbasiltwins Likes Earned: 24 Wow, thank you so much for the great feedback guys! I discovered your podcast Jan 2023, and loved it so much, I went all the way back to Jan 2022 episodes and listen to atleast 2-3 episodes a day! Regarding Graham's question, I plan on applying via the Consortium Oct 2023. God forbid, I tank the gmat, would adcom at these schools entertain the idea of giving me a test waiver, I heard Duke sometimes entertains the idea for underrepresented students who already have a professional degree...any thoughts? (1)

alexbr4 Verified User. Likes Earned: 1676 More details on this candidacy in this episode of Wire Taps: https://www.clearadmit.com/2023/02/mba-wire-taps-277/ (0)

twinsbasiltwins Likes Earned: 24 Wow, that was awesome! Thank you Alex and Graham for all of the thoughtful feedback. On a side note, Spotify hasn't aired your last two episodes...not sure why. (1)

grichmond Verified User. Likes Earned: 1237 Thanks for letting us know about the Spotify issue. We are looking into it. Oddly, the new episodes show on Spotify desktop, but not on the app... We are hoping to figure out what's up. In the meantime, all episodes are available on this web site and on Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Google Podcasts, etc.
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grichmond Verified User. Likes Earned: 1237 Hello again TwinsBasilTwins - I am pleased to report that the Spotify issue should now be sorted out. The show was somehow listed twice in their database...with one version no longer updating (the one folks had been subscribed to) and the other one (totally new, but with no followers) working properly. They've hooked everything back up for us and so we should be all set going forward. Thanks again for the heads up!
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twinsbasiltwins Likes Earned: 24 Excellent, I'm glad to hear it, thank you Graham! (1)