Carnegie Mellon / Tepper - 10-17-2021

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October 16, 2021 5:10pm ET

Applying: Carnegie Mellon / Tepper, Cornell / Johnson, Duke / Fuqua, Emory / Goizueta, Georgetown / McDonough, Indiana / Kelley, Michigan / Ross, U. Washington / Foster, UNC Kenan-Flagler, UT Austin / McCombs, Vanderbilt / Owen

Intake Year: 2022

Pre-MBA Career: Small Company: Tech Integrator

Post-MBA Target Industry: Technology Companies: Amazon , IBM , Lenova , Microsoft

GMAT: 700

GPA: 3.07

Years of Work Experience: 7

Notes:

White, Male, 32 years old. Low-income, first-generation college student. Started at a community college and then shortly after transfered to a satelitte four-year university. Struggled early on, last two-year GPA was 3.73. Degree is in history. Have completed 100% MBA Math.

Seven years with the same employer. Small technology integrator with less than 25 employees. Office Manager > Ops Manager > General Manager. Managed 14 - 18 direct reports. Salary increased from 24K > 85K USD. Directed teams to complete projects across 40 states. Developed and oversaw four departments, mentored department managers. Had project and P&L ownership. Managed projects up to 400K. Managed 4.8M project deliverables to a major telecommunications retailer. Traveled to China to establish international manufacturs for our products. Implemented internal server manufacturing process improvements.

I would like to pursue operations as an Operations Program Manager in the tech industry, functioning as a liason to international manufacturers. For example, looking to undertake the Operations Program Manager position Microsoft, Lenovo's Global Future Leaders program, or as a fall back, Amazon's LDP, Pathways.

Curious out of the programs I've listed, which are targets, reaches, and safeties. Would also like to know if there's a program I should consider. As it stands, I've only applied to UNC/Owen in R1. Trying to narrow down my R2. I spent four years pushing from a GMAT 450 to 700, so not looking to retake. GMAT split (Q47/V40/IR7/AWA6)

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Show Comments (7) Last: October 26, 2021

anon26130 Likes Earned: 2 Adding to the above info. Currently unemployed due to a covid-related restructuring. There will be a gap come round two. For ECs: During undergrad, elected volunteer committee chair in my fraternity and facilitated partnership with local habitat for Humanity chapter. In the last year, became a Mentor/Coach for first generation students in a non-profit organization. Tutor math to kids that are one to two years behind in their mathematic ability. (0)

alexbr4 Verified User. Likes Earned: 1677 Are you doing anything now, since your layoff? Be good to get into a voluntary role, perhaps, if there are any opportunities. Impact at work will be important, and it looks like you can show that. At 32, you state 7 years experience, did you graduate late? It looks like you’re target top 20 programs, and in that range. This may still be challenging, but does sound about right. Tepper seems like an ideal target, Ross an ideal reach. (1)

kappaop Likes Earned: 2 Since the layoff I've increased volunteering. I picked up the math tutoring and I may be starting something else soon. Anything else I should consider? The layoff was in July, so I'll be looking at a 5-6 month employment gap once I apply R2. Hopefully since I was employed 7 years with one employer that'll offset that some. Yes, it took me me about 6 years to graduate. I did not have any down time, but between working full time and switching degrees midway from engineering to history, it added extra time to complete. Since I want to target operations in the tech industry, I was hoping that tepper would be target. Are there any I should drop off the R2 list? I was considering dropping Cornell for the McCombs, since McCombs is stronger for recruiting in tech, but I'm below their GPA and GMAT average. I really do not want to pursue Kelley or Emory, as neither have good tech recruiting, just unsure of what else should be solid safeties. (0)

alexbr4 Verified User. Likes Earned: 1677 Volunteering is good. Show you are a doer. Because you’re older, you’ll also want to show how you’ll fully engage as a student (extra curriculars, etc) you’ll also want to use the optional essay to address your undergrad etc. Doing MBA Math helps. Sounds like you’re a “striver” which helps. I’d think Cornell, Tepper and McCombs would be great opportunities, almost reaches. The next tier down, I think you’d consider might be more realistic. (1)

anon26130 Likes Earned: 2 Really appreciate it Alex. So you mean T20-25 as being a more realistic? (0)

alexbr4 Verified User. Likes Earned: 1677 Based on limited information, that would be my conclusion. But I’d absolutely be targeting those reach programs, too. (0)

alexbr4 Verified User. Likes Earned: 1677 More details on this candidacy in this episode of Wire Taps: https://www.clearadmit.com/2021/10/episode-193-wire-taps/ (0)