sidsohonie 08-07-2004, 08:16 AM Hello:
I have an extremely non-traditional profile for business school. I graduated from Duke University with a degree in Literature and a minor in Film and Video. My overall GPA is quite low, 2.97, and my major GPA is 3.6. I do not have any academic quantative background, but have taken measurable steps in my work experience to enhance this aspect of my skill set. I am confident I can demonstrate my leadership attributes as well as the other usual requirements of innovation and collaboration through my essays. I am some-what involved in community service; I'm particpate in the AIDS walk and am coordinating this year's event with an HR person at my company.
I work on the creative side of the home entertainment business but have taken steps to focus more on the finance-side of things. This has actually made a difference in the functionality of my department. That being said, I'm still a little weary about my work experience (also includes working for a small money management firm right out of school; I left that company due to ethical conflicts). I have approximatley three years worth of experience and am currently studying for the GMATs. I've also taken three marketing/ strategy classes at UCLA extension.
What are your thoughts about me applying to schools such as Fuqua, Stern and Kellog?
Thank you very much for your time and I look forward to hearing from you.
Clear Admit 08-25-2004, 08:26 PM Hi, sidsohonie,
Thanks for joining the discussion on this forum. Let's take a look at your profile:
Non-traditional students can really stand out from the applicant pool, as you're probably aware, which can be a great thing. The key will be to show that you have valuable work experience (including leadership and teamwork roles), strong academic abilities, and interesting goals/reasons for seeking an MBA.
I am glad to hear that you have some solid work experience that you can use to demonstrate your leadership skills. It also sounds like you've begun to craft the message that you'll present in your applications--a logical narrative that explains your studies, your work experience, and your career goals.
Your below-3.0 overall GPA presents a potential weakness, but it can be mitigated by 1) Building an alternate transcript by taking classes in the business fundamentals (economics, statistics, accounting, or calculus) and getting As, and 2) Scoring well on the GMAT. I am glad that you've been taking marketing classes, and you may want to consider adding a class or two in one of the above areas.
Ultimately, I would need to know more about your profile in order to advise you about where to apply. I would be curious to know about your career goals, why you need an MBA now, and how you'll do on your GMAT. For now, I recommend dedicating sufficient time to preparing for the GMAT, and possibly signing up for a quantitative class like economics or statistics.
I wish you luck on the test, and please feel free to contact me with more questions or if you would like to set up a free phone session to discuss your profile further.
Best,
Sarah Scheckter
Clear Admit
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