Handicapping Your Shot At Getting In

Mr. Renewable Energy

  • 700 GMAT
  • No GPA – 75% with honors
  • Undergraduate degree in industrial engineering and management from a non-IIT school.
  • Work experience includes two years in the R&D center for General Electric Aviation, then joined leadership program for GE Energy in India where I helped to set up two new wind turbine facilities. Now work in Vietnam at a GE wind turbine factory.
  • Extracurricular involvement includes being a member of GE Volunteers initiated special lean projects to encourage factory workers to submit ideas to improve production. Now setting up a computer/English literacy program for factory workers at GE Vietnam
  • 25-year-old Indian male
  • Goal: To move into top leadership roles in supply chain and business development strategy for renewable energy in Asia

Odds of Success:

Harvard: -20%

Stanford: – 10% to 15%%

Wharton: 20% to 40%

Chicago: 30% to 50%

MIT: 30% to 40%

INSEAD: 40% to 50%

Sandy’s Analysis: As a rule, lowish GMAT and lowish grades at a non-IIT for Indian males equals lowish chances at Harvard or Stanford. What it would take to change that would be some amazing identity politics story, which I ain’t seeing here. Wind turbines and alt-energy is all great, but will not blow you in. Working for GE sponsored charities in VN is also impressive but not SUPER impressive enough to overcome the first sentence above.

The only other way you get in to H or S is having some guy at GE with connections put some personal chits on the table. At Wharton, guys like you get in and do not get in depending on execution and luck. This is a totally solid story with real chic work experience that could tilt things your way. MIT is similar. On paper, in terms of work experience and goals, you are a real fit. Stats for them are just one floor below norm, and they may make an exception given the excellent fit. Guys like you should get into Booth.

I don’t usually say this, but I would think about retaking the GMAT if you have not done so already. Wharton and MIT, your two realistic choices, are both GMAT focused.

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