Columbia - 10-14-2019 | Clear Admit ApplyWire

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October 14, 2019 2:08am ET

Applying: Columbia, Dartmouth / Tuck, Duke / Fuqua, Georgetown / McDonough, NYU Stern, UCLA Anderson, UVA / Darden, Yale SOM

Intake Year: 2020

Pre-MBA Career: Technology / Peace Corps

Post-MBA Target Industry: Consulting, Non Profit/SI Companies: Bain , BCG , McKinsey

GMAT: 770

GPA: 2.66

Years of Work Experience: 10

Location: Los Angeles

Notes:

I worked for 5 years as a project manager for software companies in the corporate events industry, traveling all over the world for Fortune 500 companies supporting international teams with technology at their events. Seeking to drive societal change abroad, I served in Ghana as a Peace Corps Volunteer in the Agric sector for 2 years. The experience has motivated me to seek an MBA to pursue a full time career in international development and policy consulting.

My low GPA is obviously a major concern but it's been a long time since college and I'm a very different person. I did well on the GMAT 3 times (all 740 or above), I have decent ECs/WE (including documented leadership and a pro-active nature) with a strong motivation for the MBA. I'm hopeful a school on my list will give me an opportunity.

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Show Comments (7) Last: October 28, 2019

alexbr4 Verified User. Likes Earned: 1677 Have you undertaken any additional coursework, since your undergrad? If you have a few classes, with straight As, then that would really help. Super GMAT says you're smart. Sounds like you've done well in your career, great peace corp experience, strong goals. Do you know where, geographically, you want to be, post MBA? Good mix of target schools, on your list. (0)

anon48697 Likes Earned: 0 I did take additional coursework! I took Public Policy for the Real World at UCLA Extension (early 2019) and received an A. I intended to take a more quant heavy UCLA Extension course or MBAmath afterwards but 1. They're expensive 2. Adcoms were at best mixed on additional coursework 3. Things got crazy with work and I decided to focus on applications. I'm pretty open to post-MBA cities. I've lived all over the US and am open to options. I'm in London for work right now and am thinking about adding LBS to the list for Round 2 to have more connections to Europe. Despite my interests, I know that I DON'T want to be permanently located in a developing environment. Short consulting projects (<2 months), sure. But I want to live in an environment closer to my own culture. (0)

coryjdowd Likes Earned: 0 I did take additional coursework! I took Public Policy for the Real World at UCLA Extension (early 2019) and received an A. I intended to take a more quant heavy UCLA Extension course or MBAmath afterwards but 1. They're expensive 2. Adcoms were at best mixed on additional coursework 3. Things got crazy with work and I decided to focus on applications. I'm pretty open to post-MBA cities. I've lived all over the US and am open to options. I'm in London for work right now and am thinking about adding LBS to the list for Round 2 to have more connections to Europe. Despite my interests, I know that I DON'T want to be permanently located in a developing environment. Short consulting projects (<2 months), sure. But I want to live in an environment closer to my own culture. (0)

alexbr4 Verified User. Likes Earned: 1677 Adding LBS makes sense. I'd enroll in a quant heavy course, get the additional A. It can't hurt, other than taking time away from other application related work. But it will show your commitment. Also, as someone with 10 years of experience (older) make sure you show 'fit' for each program you apply. Make sure it's clear you will be fully engaged both in and outside the classroom, (0)

coryjdowd Likes Earned: 0 UCLA Extension doesn't offer new courses until January. But if I get waitlisted somewhere I'll for sure take a quant heavy course to show them I'm capable of handling the coursework. As for fit, I'm definitely working on it - I've made a point to visit every campus and take advantage of the open interviews when possible. Thanks! (0)

alexbr4 Verified User. Likes Earned: 1677 Best of luck! (0)

alexbr4 Verified User. Likes Earned: 1677 More details on this candidacy in this episode of Wire Taps: https://www.clearadmit.com/2019/10/episode-60-wire-taps-health-care-supply-chain-management-and-international-development/ (0)