Predicting Your Odds of Getting In

Mr. Credit Analysis

• 730 GMAT
• 2.7 GPA
• Undergraduate degree in mechanical engineering from a Southern Ivy
• 3.45 Master’s GPA
• Graduate degree in industrial engineering from a Midwest public Ivy
• 3.51 Master’s GPA
• Graduate degree in Finance from a private Honduran University
• Work experience includes one year as a mechanical engineer at a sugar factory; a year and one-half as a mid-level manager at a top industry gas producer; two and one-half years as a project engineer in a construction family business; and currently two years as a corporate credit analyst at a top three bank in Honduras
• Extracurricular involvement as a weekend volunteer at a local public hospital, helping with fundraising
• Goal: ”Family is heavily invested in the bank where I’m currently employed. I’m poised for high management position in near future if I prepare myself. Would love to be part of the team that modernizes the bank, makes it more competitive. Also, eventually, I would like to open up my own production/manufacturing business.”
• 33-year-old male from Central America

Odds of Success:

Wharton: 10%

MIT: 10%

Northwestern: 20%

Chicago: 20%

Dartmouth: 20%

Yale: 20%

London: 30%

Sandy’s Analysis: Phew, I am not seeing this as Wharton or MIT since, given your age, zig-zag work history and low GPA (OK, that was years ago) they will suggest some EMBA program, or Executive Education module (similar to summer stuff which HBS runs for current executives, which you might look into as well). You might listen to them, and focus on some executive program. You might start reading PoetsandQuants sister publication, Poets and Quants for Executives.

My thinking is, you don’t need the MBA credential per se, as much as the networking and basic skills in banking, and some of those programs may be right up your alley. I would also stick to saying, no matter where you applied, that you want to reform the bank you are working in, and not mention, as you do above,  “Also, eventually, I would like to open up my own production/manufacturing business” since your career is helter-skelter enough without adding more pivoting.

It’s possible that your many educational endeavors and coming from rare feeder country might get you some leverage at a two-year MBA program such as Chicago, Kellogg, or maybe even Tuck (which is banking-centric, likes reformers, and likes nice guys) so if you want to try there, it is less than a Hail Mary.

At Tuck, I would suggest visiting. The climate is a bit different than Honduras but more to the point, you need to schmooze a bit with that school. It is like Fraternity Rush with gentlemanly doses of wine replacing kegs. It would be important for MBA programs to present yourself as a reformer of sorts, someone who wants to bring best financial practices, transparency, and blah, blah  to Honduras, and the region. That spin could really help.  Nonetheless, look into those Executive Education programs. They may be all you need.