Your Odds Of Getting Into A Top School

Ms. Consultant

700 GMAT
3.6 GPA
Undergraduate degree in political science from Ivy U.
Work experience includes three years at a top consulting firm
Extracurricular involvement as volunteer of a mentorship program for abused women, concert pianist, vice president of class, and manager of college house
Goal: To work in corporate strategy for consumer products/retail with a focus on Asian markets
Plan to apply for an MA/MBA dual program in 2012
24-year-old Asian female and U.S. permanent resident

Odds of Success:

Harvard: 30+%

Wharton: 50+%

MIT: 40% to 50+%

Columbia: 50+%

NYU: 60+%

Sandy’s Analysis: This also is a classic profile, viz. Ivy 3.6, 700 GMAT, and ‘top’ consulting experience– and beyond that what appear to be lots of extras. And a classical pianist!!! You are sort of a solid consulting kid, which is very solid indeed, with a couple of pluses and minuses: more extracurrics than many top consultants, and probably a lower GMAT but one (700) good enough for most schools. A lot will depend on the level of support you get from your firm in terms of recommendations. That is a key issue. Big 3 consulting firm (McKinsey, BCG, and Bain) kids get dinged from H/S/W when they get tepid support from the firm or blow the interview (that is sometimes legit—several consulting kids are weird), and sometimes just bad luck. Other reasons Big 3 consulting firm kids get dinged is just lackluster careers, or poor presentation of careers, and sub-par extras compared to their very talented peers.

Your goals are fine. So it is just a matter of execution and firm support and luck. If you will have four years of consulting firm experience at matriculation, that is at the border. Five is really excessive and B-schools begin to believe you are being pushed out. I am not sure what you mean by “MA/MBA” dual degree, what subject are you seeking an MA in??? Phew, I would rethink that one, given your story and goals.

“Goal: To work in corporate strategy for consumer products/retail with a focus on Asian markets.”

Jeepers, just a little ol’ MBA will serve you fine for that goal, and save you thousands of dollars and a good deal of demented class time rubbing shoulders with some terminal MA types.