Berkeley / Haas - 10-14-2020 | Clear Admit ApplyWire

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October 14, 2020 11:42am ET

Applying: Berkeley / Haas, Duke / Fuqua, Stanford GSB, UPenn / Wharton, Yale SOM

Intake Year: 2021

Pre-MBA Career: EdTech

Post-MBA Target Industry: Entrepreneurship

GRE: 325

GPA: 3.58

Years of Work Experience: 2

Notes:

Top 10 US undergrad (graduated in 2018); Humanities major; biracial queer woman (Asian/white); I think pretty good essays & recs with solid story about a mission driven career

No quant in undergrad; took MBA Math

Started a small business as a college sophomore; freelance work for niche market; did it part-time for 2yrs until graduation and then 1 year full-time

Been working at an EdTech startup the past 1.5yrs that has tripled in size since I joined (150+ ppl now). Helped standardize my department's processes and pitched/implemented a cross company program to improve culture as we scaled. I think I've had strong impact here.

Good college ECs; no formal ECs post grad. Some neat side projects (ie. Had a popular YT channel for years, wrote a sci-fi book (unpublished) and started an educational podcast this summer).

I want to stay in the EdTech startup space & am interested in an MBA to help as the industry evolves and needs good leaders. Social impact & entrepreneurship focused

Worried I don't have enough work experience and my GPA & GRE are just a little below average for schools like Yale & GSB; also no quant background

Like (1)

Show Comments (7) Last: October 29, 2020

alexbr4 Verified User. Likes Earned: 1677 MBA Math should help. What is your quant score on the GRE? Might consider adding Kellogg/Sloan to your list. Good to aim high, esp. with impact at work, interesting variety of stuff outside of work. If you are not successful, can you stay at work for another year, then reapply? (0)

anon21087 Likes Earned: 8 Thanks for the reply, Alex! My Quant for GRE was 163 (and my Verbal was 162). And yes, I could definitely stay at work another year & reapply if needed. (also forgot to mention this initially, but thanks for producing the Clear Admit podcast! I've been listening for months & really love it. It in part inspired me to start my own podcast, so thanks for what you add to the world!) (2)

alexbr4 Verified User. Likes Earned: 1677 Strong GRE quant and MBA Math should help. I’d go all in this season, while not seeking any safety programs. If you need to reapply, an additional year of experience should only help. (0)

grichmond Verified User. Likes Earned: 1245 Thanks for your post. I think you have the makings of a very compelling candidacy here. Your work experience and related goals in EdTech will help you stand out. Your academics, while slightly below the average at your top-end targets, are by no means going to disqualify you. I think it will come down to playing up your limited work experience with an eye to leadership and unique industry exposure - and then coupling all of that with a set of very clear, feasible, and inspiring career goals...and an understanding of how the MBA will help you reach those goals. The MBA Math + 80th percentile on the quant section of the GRE + top-10 ugrad should ease some of the fears the adcom might have about a humanities major joining an MBA program. Also, be sure to connect with the LGBTQ+ clubs at target schools. Best of luck and thanks for your comments on our podcast. Feel free to leave us a review on Apple Podcasts if you haven't already!
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alexbr4 Verified User. Likes Earned: 1677 More details on this candidacy in this episode of Wire Taps: https://www.clearadmit.com/2020/10/episode-127-wire-taps/ (0)

anon21087 Likes Earned: 8 Thank you so much, Graham & Alex! I was listening to the episode when it first came out and was so excited to hear my profile reviewed. I really appreciate you both taking the time to give me such thoughtful, helpful advice. (1)

alexbr4 Verified User. Likes Earned: 1677 Great! Glad you enjoyed it. (0)