Cornell / Johnson - 03-27-2024 | Clear Admit ApplyWire

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March 26, 2024 5:43pm ET

Applying: Cornell / Johnson, Dartmouth / Tuck, Duke / Fuqua, Georgetown / McDonough, Oxford / Saïd, U. Washington / Foster, UNC Kenan-Flagler

Intake Year: 2025

Pre-MBA Career: Corporate Banking Strategy

Post-MBA Target Industry: Consulting Companies: Accenture , AT Kearney , Bain , BCG , Deloitte , Ernst & Young , KPMG , McKinsey

GMAT: 710

GPA: 3.1

Years of Work Experience: 5

Location: Dallas

Post MBA Location: East Coast

Notes:

Looking to apply round 1, specifically Early Action at Duke as it is my top choice. Promoted 3 times at current company, Project Leader for 3 separate technology implementation initiatives for vertical at Fortune 500 bank, as well as leadership team member for acquisition. GPA low due health situation that impacted first two years of undergrad, made Dean's List final two years at Top 50 undergrad. Have client facing/transaction experience in banking but have been drawn to strategic initiative implementation the past 3 years, leading me to a desire to shift into consulting, specifically strategic/management with a focus on organizational behavior/mergers. Recipient of Presidential Service Award for community service related to environmental protection, state champion lacrosse coach. Would love to be on the East Coast (Boston or DC) as I have family in both cities. Thank you for any feedback!

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Show Comments (3) Last: April 9, 2024

alexbr4 Verified User. Likes Earned: 1677 Showing impact and growth at work is very important, I assume this will be evident. Also like your mix of outside activities.

3.1/710 is decent, but you’re right to understand the GPA is your weak point, even with mitigating circumstances and progression. While you may well be competitive for your target programs as things stand, do you think there’s any room for improving the GMAT, if only slightly? Or perhaps take MBA Math, or similar, to shore up that aspect of your profile.

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grichmond Verified User. Likes Earned: 1237 Given the 3.1, which will be below average at Duke, you should ideally aim for a GMAT that lands nicely above the school's average. Unfortunately, Duke only publishes GMAT and GRE ranges (with the middle 80% landing between 670 and 760 for the former). In all cases, I think it's safe to say that a 710 will not grab their attention or stand out from the pack.

As such, work projects aside, if you aren't applying for another 5+ months, I'd make time to push your score if at all possible. (MBA Math or Business Fundamentals wouldn't hurt either, but if I had to choose, I'd take the higher score over the outside coursework.) You should also include an optional essay to explain the circumstances/upward trend with your ugrad grades.

Best of luck and thanks for sharing your profile!
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alexbr4 Verified User. Likes Earned: 1677 More details on this candidacy in this episode of Wire Taps: https://www.clearadmit.com/2024/04/mba-wire-taps-347/ (0)