USC Marshall MBA Recommendation Questions

Licensed PE in Mech Eng; GMAT Focus Score; Limited EC's; BS ME at Georgia Tech with Highest Honors and Econ Minor

Work Experience
- Worked Offshore for 1.5 years on Oil Rig
- Project / Package / Systems Engineering 4+ Years Experience

African American male - 28.

My goal for an MBA is to build tools for music creators. I joined a band during Covid and found a passion for digital music creation and machine learning, but I lack the business skills.

Top Choices:
HBS: Offers cross-registration with Berklee for classes like audio engineering and entertainment law, plus a chance to collaborate with potential users and experts in the music field.
MIT: Media Lab aligns with some of the audio breakthroughs I’m interested in

My challenge is a lower GPA. How can I offset that weakness?

White Male with Non-Target (T100) undergrad degree in International Studies.

Would like to pivot into Corporate Strategy specifically focused on international business/emerging markets.

Classic low GPA high GMAT conundrum. Nothing special in extracurriculars (although I do have a number of outdoor-oriented hobbies).

Confident in my Recommendations/Essay writing skills.

I attended a top 25 state school and have extensive extracurricular experience, including serving a 2-year church mission, managing a college prep program for underprivileged students, and running a nonprofit in Ukraine.

My post-MBA goal is to build a company focused on housing affordability.

Enlisted military, stem degree from top LAC, currently at a nonprofit. My post mba goal is to do management consulting for a couple years then get back into the nonprofit space. Taking the GRE in December