Profile Evaluation

[mattroehl]

I am interested in finding out how good my chances are of getting into a top 10 business school. I am looking to get into strategy consulting at a top firm at an associate level (higher than my current position of analyst). I have a technology consulting background and I think an MBA will provide me with the skills and network to switch into strategy consulting.

I would be applying this September (round 1) for entry in September 2012

Target schools:
Harvard, Stanford, Penn, MIT, Northwestern, Berkeley, Dartmouth and Columbia (considering UCLA as a back up)


Undergrad:
Graduated from University of California-Irvine in Dec 2009 with a BA in Economics and a minor in Management. GPA of 3.60. Worked part-time jobs first two years, studied abroad in London for my third year. Graduated in less than 4 years.

GMAT:
Took the GMAT one time and got a 760 (89% Quant, 98% Verbal)

Work Experience:
I work for a consulting firm in NYC. I will have been with the firm for 2 years when I apply to business school and 3 years upon entry to business school.

We work with top investment banks and help them validate technology decisions. I have presented to senior management at these banks. I started off as an intern and have now become the lead analyst one of our programs and will be helping to launch a new program next month. I have experience leading and training other analysts in the firm. I have international work experience, traveling to London multiple times a year and working with clients in Europe, North America and Asia.

I believe I will be able to get great recommendations from my boss and the Partners of the firm.

Other:
I recently took a volunteer trip to northern India, where we helped build a school and teach English in a small village for two weeks.

[mbamission]

Hi Matt,

Thanks for writing in. From what you shared it sounds like you have a very competitive profile and should be a solid candidate at the top schools you listed. Of course no one is a shoe-in for that level of school, so I recommend still working to make sure you're "why MBA?" and "why this school?" stories are rock-solid. Take the time to understand how the schools differ in their approach and incorporate that into your essays. Lastly, if you can actually get all those schools in for Round 1 you may be able to boost your chances for admissions.

Best of luck,

Daniel Richards
http://www.mbamission.com

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