Columbia - 11-05-2019 | Clear Admit ApplyWire

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November 4, 2019 4:04pm ET

Applying: Columbia, Dartmouth / Tuck, Duke / Fuqua, Harvard Business School, MIT Sloan, Northwestern / Kellogg, Stanford GSB, U. Chicago Booth, UPenn / Wharton, Yale SOM

Intake Year: 2022

Pre-MBA Career: Consulting, Military (Mandatory)

Post-MBA Target Industry: Consulting, Technology, MF, Auto, Aerospace Companies: Bain , BCG , McKinsey , Amazon , Apple , Tesla , Airbus , Boeing , Tesla

GRE: 325

GPA: 3.34

Years of Work Experience: 4

Location: Canada

Post MBA Location: US (Anywhere - see note below)

Notes:

Love the Wiretaps series! Would love to be featured and get some advice on 3 areas:

1) Low GPA (how will my large deviation in grades each semester hurt my application?)
2) Citizenship considerations for internships (should I wait until I get Canadian citizenship before applying to MBA in order to be able to do internships in US during MBA? Note: there is a TN visa that allows Canadians to work in the US on a non-immigrant visa for management consulting)
3) Age/Experience (if I wait for Canadian citizenship, I'll be almost 29 when I get it - is this too late for "regular" daytime MBA?

About me:
---25 year old Asian male, lived in 5 countries (3 in Asia + US + Canada)
---Canadian Permanent Resident (can apply for citizenship in 2022)
---Graduated from top 3 university in Canada in mechanical engineering (minor in both aeronautical engineering and finance) (GPA: 3.34/4.00 - large deviation in grades each semester - a few A and a few C)
---Did a M7 "summer" MBA program (GPA: 4.0/4.0)
---Worked 2.5 years in Tier 2 consulting firm (Team won 1st place in company's North America innovation pitch competition) doing change management, innovation, IT design, and supply chain optimization
---Currently serving 1-year mandatory military service in Asian country (working in global affairs)
---Have interview offer at MBB for their digital consulting offerings when I return from military service
---Able to return to original firm after service
---Post MBA career (ideally): MBB for a few years then shift into Tech or Aerospace
---Post MBA location: US, Europe, Middle East, Australia or anywhere in the world (no preference - used to moving/living in new places)
---Bilingual (almost Trilingual: French)
---Got 690 on GMAT in 2015 but have been getting 325+ on GRE practice tests recently (~90% on both quant/verbal)
---Applied to HBS 2+2, Booth, GSB "early-career" MBA (no interview offers)

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Show Comments (11) Last: November 29, 2019

anon16250 Likes Earned: 0 OP here: Forgot to mention I took the GMAT cold (i.e. without studying, took it right before applying full-time); 37V47Q 6AWA 8IR - Know quant was lower so I decided to try the GRE (get 166+on quant on all GRE practice tests) - taking "real" GRE later this month (0)

alexbr4 Verified User. Likes Earned: 1677 A little confused, did you apply to the early career/deferral programs this season? I'm reading that you've already got consulting experience, and now serving your country? Might well be worth interviewing at MBB, if you can, if that's a post MBA goal. I'm guessing you are weighing that, versus returning to your company, or getting an MBA. If you don't do the MBA now, you may choose to pursue the MBA later, when you are a Canadian citizen? I'd think your WE will be decent. You'd probably need to explain your grades, and show that you're academically motivated now, and smart. Getting 325+ on the GRE will be helpful. Your long term goal for tech and aerospace, that might need developing. Did you consult in those industries? Are you involved in activities outside of work? (0)

mastapimps Likes Earned: 0 OP: Ah, should have clarified (couldn't edit/reorder the points after I posted) Graduated in 2016 and applied to the early career programs then. Worked between 2016-2018 then received the notice to serve for a year (came out of nowhere and had to put my job on hold almost immediately). You're right - currently debating when is the right time to apply for an MBA given the job market. I'm assuming it might be harder to get internships in the US between year 1 and year 2 as some companies might consider the visa uncertainty of converting a summer intern into a full-time a risk they might not want to take. In terms of grades, I was on the school's sports team which took up quite a bit of time as well as lead an engineering in business club & leadership roles in the consulting organization. I probably spent too much time being a jack of (no) trades and realized it might be a hindrance to applications, so I did the M7 "summer MBA" program post graduation where I think I found more of my calling since the material was more practical than my undergrad which was more theoretical/proof based. My current company is known to have a focus in tech (and hoping to transition into a MBB in their digital space) and had internships in the aerospace industry since I had an aeronautical engineering minor. Should clarify that I sat on the board for an inter-college business & engineering organization until I found out I had to serve in the military and wasn't sure I could give them my 100%. Other than that, I only joined the local rowing teams where my clients and competed in the "recreational" level. Was listening to a couple of the Wire Taps podcasts where there were discussions of LGBT candidates (of which I identify as the B) reaching out to the LGBT networks, and this might get controversial, but I'm considering leaving that off my application since I'm wondering if putting that on will affect my application and become a "diversity candidate" instead of being purely evaluated on my other capabilities/qualifications. To clarify, I'm open ,proud of my identity, and promote openness/safe space but I'm uncertain whether I want to be known just for that part of my identity. What are your thoughts on this? (0)

alexbr4 Verified User. Likes Earned: 1677 The review process is holistic, so you shouldn't be concerned that one part of your identity will shape the entire review. I think I'm now a little clearer, re your pathway, todate. Your UGPA is not too terrible, especially since it's an engineering degree. Looks like decent ECs at university too. Your consulting experience, to date, looks decent, but on the shorter side, overall. Hopefully you can show impact there, what about your military service? If you can show impact and development, now might well be the right time to apply. Can't really answer your visa question, but I'm sure there are other Asian nationals who have pursued consulting intérnships. Do you have anyone you can reach out to? (0)

anon16250 Likes Earned: 0 OP: That's a good point - was just wondering if I should mention it in my application considering I'm not in the advocacy groups/haven't done LGBT activities as many others have. In terms of impact during my consulting career, I was one of the youngest analysts to lead a team of 4 analysts for my project workstreams (even consultants - a level above analyst - have maybe only one or two analysts under their wing) and turned around one of our client's relationship at one of our largest clients which resulted in extra deal signings. I just got promoted and was given an award by our commander during my military service (not supposed to happen for mandatory military servicemen) since I created and launched an algorithm for employee scheduling to be used across all 9 divisions that's currently reducing time spent on employee scheduling by 80%. Originally just thought it would be fun to learn new language (VBA) and didn't think they would actually allow me to pitch my idea up 7 levels of our org. I'll try to reach out to my colleagues to ask about their experiences. Another thing I'd like your opinion on is failing a course during an exchange semester: I had to petition to take additional courses on exchange (we were only allowed 4), but I took 6 and failed one. How should I address this during my application? (0)

alexbr4 Verified User. Likes Earned: 1677 Re LGBT, I'd include it IF it has impacted your life/experiences in some way (discrimination, for example). If not, it might not be worth it. You can address the failing class, succinctly, in the optional essay. (0)

alexbr4 Verified User. Likes Earned: 1677 More details on this candidacy in this episode of Wire Taps: https://www.clearadmit.com/2019/11/episode-63-wire-taps-great-numbers-mixed-results-low-gpa-and-citizenship-considerations-and-more/ (0)

anon16250 Likes Earned: 0 OP here: thanks for featuring me! Loved the analysis and advice. Took a bit to respond to this because I wanted to wait until I officially took the GRE. Computer showed me a 331 (~740 GMAT) over the weekend, so I'm quite ecstatic! To address the 3 main considerations mentioned in the podcast: 1) re: GMAT vs GRE ----- I’ve been studying for the GMAT for the last few months and have had a hard time cracking 700 whereas I seemed to do better. Now considering whether I should do one of those online prep programs to perhaps rectify my evidently ineffective studying techniques for the GMAT. The reason is because I know there’s a lot of discussion re: GMAT > GRE for business school admissions, even though most say it’s a matter of putting your best foot forward in the application whether that’s the GMAT or GRE |||||| 2) re: MBB interview invite/timing for MBA applications ---- spoken/reached out to people about work opportunities in the US, etc and for me getting the Canadian citizenship seems most beneficial for me, which will probably mean acing the MBB interviews is perhaps more crucial for me in the short (and long) term. A primary reason is the time invested/required to maintain Canadian PR and converting it to a Citizenship would be hard to do down the line post MBA if I applied now. |||||| 3) re: LGBT ----- thank you for the candid thoughts. By no means am I against affirmative action, it’s just not who I want to be defined as (i.e. the “Bi Guy”) considering my personal/professional relationships have (un)fortunately revolved around my sexual orientation after I disclose my orientation whereas prior interactions focused around other parts of me I work hard to succeed in - rather than for who I was born as – in the cases of work ethic, intellect, personality, well rounded-ness, etc. An example of this is where one of my recent project colleagues and supervisors – without ill intent from what I can tell - changed almost all of our conversations to my sexuality and “Which do you ACTUALLY prefer” since they were curious about it (or assuming I’m straight/gay based off which prior relationship I discussed with them). While I’m happy to discuss and provide my opinion on it, it got a bit emotionally taxing when I knew my colleagues wanted to talk to me predominantly about one topic. I want to stress that I’m all for openness and do not discriminate. It was just a question of whether I should bring it up in my application since I hope that more time is spent evaluating me on things I work hard for and not for something I have no control over. |||||| Again, I wanted to thank you both for taking the time to discuss my candidacy via post and featuring me on the Wire Taps episode! This is an amazing initiative. (0)

alexbr4 Verified User. Likes Earned: 1677 I'd stick with that GRE, well done. The GRE is becoming more acceptable in each admissions season, so unless you are reading something about it from this season, I'd ignore it, basically. Best of luck with your MBB interviews. I do now understand your reluctance to discuss your sexuality, and I think that's perfectly fine. Good luck! (0)

anon16250 Likes Earned: 0 Hi Alex, thanks again for your feedback. I'll stick with the GRE score then. I'll post back here again when I'm compiling my application materials. (0)

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