Harvard Business School - 04-18-2025

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April 18, 2025 6:59am ET

Applying: Harvard Business School, MIT Sloan, Stanford GSB, U. Chicago Booth, UPenn / Wharton

Intake Year: 2026

Pre-MBA Career: AI Product Manager

Post-MBA Target Industry: Entrepreneurship

GMAT: 685

GPA: 3.4

Years of Work Experience: 3

Location: US

Notes:

Here’s a bit about me: 24 M, def a ORM Went to a decent school, top 10 public university, did CS and Finance there so 2 degrees and got a 3.4

There I built a startup my freshman year, obviously not successful but then I did a lot for university’s entrepreneurship ecosystem and led investments at university’s venture fund. Interned at a big startup that raised 100 Mil and worked with CPO on a suite of products that made the company a lot of money, interned at well known app where I built a really successful feature that everyone who uses that app loves (per Reddit funny enough), and interned at a VC under the managing partner and led operations for a few strategic initiatives

Got into an APM program (not FAANG, think Uber, LinkedIn tier) where I work on the AI team.

Really high visibility role, lots of impact, lots of strategic work directly contributing towards growing the business and landing huge enterprises. Can say I directly contributed towards revenue growth which has been awesome. Get face time with company leadership as well which has been a great learning experience.

On the side, in a couple AI fellowship and small programs just to be more involved in the ecosystem.

Got a 685 (equivalent to 730-740 on the old one) on my first attempt of the GMAT FE, retaking it in a week to try to get above a 715 (760) confident I can do it.

Applying this fall and will have 3 years working experience when matriculating. Goal is to use the network I make to work at startups with potential with people I actually know. If that doesn’t work out would love to be a product leader or go into venture.

Aiming for HBS MS/MBA, GSB, Sloan, and maybe Booth. Don’t think the ROI is high enough elsewhere for me given my goals and that I’m not trying to make a career change and not sure how tied into the startup ecosystem other schools are. Also if I forgo 2 years of salary and the role I’m in it’s definitely gotta be worth it long term.

Obviously lofty goals and these things are super competitive and I don’t have a perfect profile in any ways, but worked to have good work experience to try to make up for it, would love any advice.

Like (1)

Show Comments (5) Last: April 21, 2025

alexbr4 Verified User. Likes Earned: 1834 Wharton may also be worth looking at. I do see it listed at top.

Super potential profile. Are you involved in any activities/interests outside the startup ecosystem etc? Any mentoring type activities for those entering the ecosystem?

What is your long term goal? A little curious how you’re tackling Stanford’s essay.

(0)

beastx33 Likes Earned: 2 Hey! Thanks so much for the reply Alex. In college, I did do some mentorship. I haven’t done as much lately, mainly helping folks who are looking to break into product and I do so for free. Nothing formal but have helped some break into good roles. Wasn’t involved in much else outside the startup ecosystem unless venture capital counts in college? I did a lot of extracurriculars then in VC, haven’t done so post grad as I’ve been focused on being an operator. My long term goal is to be a starting founder or first product hire at a startup and help scale it to a large full fledged business. I want to work on something that is massively impactful that I have been a part of since day 1. I believe my experiences will help me be able to execute. I believe GSB will be the place I meet people just like me who are trying to do the same thing, that’s why I want to go to Stanford. (1)

alexbr4 Verified User. Likes Earned: 1834 Nice. Your passion for building things comes through. I think it would resonate a little more if you had some focus around an idea for the impactful startup you’d like to join. Some focus on the industry, problem it’s solving, etc? That you can back up with your current and prior endeavours. (1)

beastx33 Likes Earned: 2 Definitely can make sure to include that! Wondering if you had any advice on gaps in my profile as well? (1)

alexbr4 Verified User. Likes Earned: 1834 No real gaps. GPA is a little lower than average for top programs. If you think a GMAT retake would yield a higher score, that might help mitigate, but 685 is already decent. Any activities or interests outside of the tech startup world? (0)