Carnegie Mellon / Tepper - 08-08-2024

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August 8, 2024 3:53am ET

Applying: Carnegie Mellon / Tepper, Duke / Fuqua, UNC Kenan-Flagler, UT Austin / McCombs, UVA / Darden, Vanderbilt / Owen

Intake Year: 2025

Pre-MBA Career: Military

Post-MBA Target Industry: Other

GPA: 3.15

Years of Work Experience: 7

Notes:

In addition to the EA I have a 645 on the GMAT focus. Short term goal is to pivot into Energy industry via LDP or FLDP.

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Show Comments (4) Last: August 26, 2024

alexbr4 Verified User. Likes Earned: 1693 How are your goals, post MBA, related to your military experience? Make sure to reach out to the veterans’ clubs of your target programs, and service to school. Military experience, depending on your actual experience, can be received very well in MBA admissions.

3.15 GPA may be a little below the medians of your target programs. A high GMAT score will help compensate. 645 is decent (700 equivalent), do you think it’s your best score?

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grichmond Verified User. Likes Earned: 1304 A 645 on the new GMAT is roughly a 690/700 on the older test, which may fall a bit short for some of your targets (where the average is higher). What was your EA score, by the way? Over 155? If so, that may help. As you are likely aware, your GPA will be well below average, but it would be good to have some context; is this a 3.1 out of West Point, where there isn't much grade inflation?

Academic issues aside, I am assuming that your seven years in the military have allowed you to accumulate a lot of great leadership and teamwork experience - and possibly some overseas exposure too?

Your goals sound interesting to me; energy is an increasingly key area for innovation and a leadership development program sounds like a great idea in terms of breaking into a new field.

In the end, if you can find a way to shore up the academic portion of your file (with a retake, an off-the-charts EA score, taking Business Fundamentals, etc.), I would imagine the top schools on your list may come into view. Best of luck and thanks for your service!
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am27 Likes Earned: 1 Thanks for the responses! Test Scores: My EA is a 161, and I’m planning on submitting both my GMAT and EA. No plans to retake the GMAT. GPA: My 3.15 is out of a middle tier state school with a BS in Mechanical Engineering. Not an excuse for the lower GPA, but hopefully provides context. From my knowledge there was zero grade inflation within our program. Military Experience: Yes, I’ve been fortunate to have multiple experiences deployed, and have worked in traditional military leadership roles as well as a Teacher role within a military school. Career Goals: My military service has no relation to the energy industry, which is why I’m looking specifically at the LDP/FLDP route. I understand industries like Cleantech would be extremely hard to pivot into, but renewables and Oil and Gas (from my networking with those schools) seems to be within reach. I would definitely appreciate any additional perspective you guys have based on my answers. Thanks for everything you do with the podcast, it’s a been huge help through this process! (1)

alexbr4 Verified User. Likes Earned: 1693 More details on this candidacy in this episode of Wire Taps: https://www.clearadmit.com/2024/08/mba-wire-taps-379/ (0)