Cambridge / Judge - 09-01-2020 | Clear Admit ApplyWire

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September 1, 2020 8:38am ET

Applying: Cambridge / Judge, Cornell / Johnson, INSEAD, Oxford / Saïd

Intake Year: 2021

Pre-MBA Career: Military (Officer) & Market Research (Analyst & Manager)

Post-MBA Target Industry: Other

GPA: 3.64

Years of Work Experience: 8

Location: Tel Aviv

Post MBA Location: Flexible

Notes:

Thank you for your fantastic insightful podcast and service to this community. I thoroughly enjoy listening and reading the different content this website has to offer.
I am targeting specifically 1-year courses, primarily in Europe. I might consider A 2-year course in the US, but I fear the age (32) and years of work experience might be an obstacle (would love to hear about different schools that may be a good fit). I am hoping to pivot to a sustainability and CSR strategy role following the MBA programme.
I attended a highly selective international European boarding school on a merit-based scholarship and then went to a top-10 US liberal arts college (two scholarships, full coverage; did study abroad in 3 countries). Double majored in the social sciences and humanities (majors' GPA were 3.75-3.8). I have an MA from a leading local university as well in the social sciences (GPA: 94.53/100). Returned to my country and served in the military for six years in three different positions as an officer (non-combat, commanding experience, two rank promotions, a short exchange programme in the US Army; honourably discharged as a Captain). My military experience was valuable but might have delayed my career progression. I joined a leading local (yet unknown globally) market research company and was promoted within six months from an analyst position to a manager position. I am managing an account of a top-100 company globally in the defence and aerospace fields - doing strategic market research to senior executives - and a team of six analysts, reporting directly to the CEO. I am participating in company operational projects. My company knows I am applying and supports my decision. I am also running my own small business in the writing industry.
I have volunteered extensively (and still volunteer in different organisations today - social services, LGBTQ+, social policy, climate change, alumni organisations), both as a member and in leadership positions. Moreover, I have participated in several other extracurricular activities throughout my life (musical instrument, debate/MUN, writing, football/soccer, etc.). I am planning to take the GRE at the end of September / Beginning of October. I believe my GRE will be in the range of 300-320 (I might be able to push higher given a good day), although I am working daily to improve my expected score. I am weaker in the quantitative field (almost no relevant classes during my degrees, the weaker part of my GRE as it stands now. I did pass successfully a Data Analysis course that focused on quantitative analysis via R, Python, SQL, etc.). I am hoping to apply on round 2 to the UK-based schools, given a satisfactory GRE score (around or higher than 320). I am planning on taking quantitative online courses ahead of Fall 2020 (Coursera or MBA Math). Dual national (Israel + EU).

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Show Comments (11) Last: October 5, 2020

alexbr4 Verified User. Likes Earned: 1677 Be great to take MBA Math, really push your GRE prep, targeting 320+. Curious to understand the pivot, post MBA. Pivots are tougher coming from a one year MBA, but not impossible. You will be an older candidate, you’ll need to show how engaged you will be, inside and outside the classroom, at each program. No doubt you have good work experience, good leadership and impact. (1)

anon20916 Likes Earned: 224 Thank you, Alex, for your valuable comments. My wish to pivot is related to my volunteer experience and my goal to be involved in a field that is more aligned with my ambitions in the private sector. While I do understand a pivot might be difficult, it might be easier when it comes to a "softer" area such as sustainability and CSR. I will try to emphasise that I will leverage transferable skills such as leadership/management, teamwork, adaptability, research (private sector, military and academia) and advise on / formulating strategic policy decisions based on data and analysis. I am also planning to emphasise that I have experience adapting to a group of younger individuals, as I experienced a similar scenario upon conscripting to the military (the conscription age is 18; I was 23) and that I'm very engaged in different age groups in my current workplace and outside the workplace. In the MA I had to do the opposite - adjust to an older age group (average age was around 35-40 when). What would be the best way to integrate this aspect to the application, if I may ask (in the essays, only if I'll be chosen to an interview)? While I do understand the limits of the 1-year programme, from my understanding of Judge & Said, they do incorporate this sort of applicants in their classes and have strong sustainability programmes. They also are more likely to accept older candidates (average ages are 29 and 30), as is INSEAD (29). However, I am sure this might be an obstacle for acceptance. Are there US schools that, in your opinion, would be suitable as well for my profile? I will try to push my GRE score higher although it appears like I have reached a barrier. (2)

alexbr4 Verified User. Likes Earned: 1677 Thanks for your detailed response. You’re right, re your pivot, makes good sense. Nice to see you’ve also made adjustments in the past re integrating with younger/older folks. That might come up in addressing interview questions more easily. In the essays, just make it clear your willingness to engage, be involved. Show you’ve done your research and are excited about the variety of opportunities. You’re right, euro programs may be more friendly to slightly older candidates, same with one year MBA programs generally. (1)

anon20916 Likes Earned: 224 Thank you Alex, I appreciate the feedback and the useful tips. I am focusing at the moment on the GRE, which I'm expected to take at the end of the month and I hope the score will be competitive for my target schools. (2)

anon20916 Likes Earned: 224 As a note, I would love getting my profiled reviewed on the podcast (whether now or after I have my first GRE score) as I found it hard to find relevant reviewees (Episode 72 was very useful for me though!) and find your dialogue with Graham very insightful. I'll be more than happy to provide any more relevant information if need be (family background, specific details about extra-curricular activities, specific work experience I can share, etc.) (2)

alexbr4 Verified User. Likes Earned: 1677 More details on this candidacy in this episode of Wire Taps: https://www.clearadmit.com/2020/09/episode-119-wire-taps/ (1)

anon20916 Likes Earned: 224 Dear Alex and Graham - I want to thank you for the inclusion in this week's episode of Wire Taps. It was beneficial to hear about additional programmes I may want to consider (such as LBS & HEC). Moreover, you most certainly helped me think about how I should frame my current job (which indeed involve, as you hypothesised, quantitative analysis) in the application so that I could bridge the gap between the qualitative academic background and the quantitative requirements. I'm feeling a bit more confident about my GRE score after another week of studying (and a +320 mock test), so I do hope I underestimated my prospects in the initial post. Thank you again for the amazing content! (2)

alexbr4 Verified User. Likes Earned: 1677 Great, best of luck!! (0)

anon20916 Likes Earned: 224 Hey Alex, OP here. I wasn't sure if I'll get a response given we communicated over a month ago, but it's worth the shot! I completed my GRE, and while I fell in the upper range of my initial expectation - 317 (161 V, 156 Q, AWA Unknown) - I did feel like I could have scored better on both sections, as I already reached upper 320 scores in the paid ETS practice tests. It is lower than your +320 recommended score as well. I'm planning to retake the test in November, which means it would be after the several early-round deadlines of the European schools and just before the 3rd deadline (out of 4) in all three. Do you think it would be beneficial to submit any/all of the applications to the European schools in the October / November round and indicate that I'll be retaking the GRE, or wait for the January rounds in all of them when I'll have both scores? I was thinking of submitting my Round 2 application to Cambridge, and submit the rest of the applications (most probably to the school listed in addition to another school) in January. (1)

alexbr4 Verified User. Likes Earned: 1677 Close! But I do think a higher score will have impact. Applying in the January rounds should still be fine, but target one program earlier is a decent strategy, explaining you have the test date scheduled, as you noted. Best of luck! (1)

anon20916 Likes Earned: 224 Thank you for the additional feedback! (1)