Handicapping Your Shot At A Top MBA

Mr. IMF

• 720 GMAT
• 3.5 GPA
• Undergraduate degree in economics and political science from a top state school
• Work experience includes two years at the International Monetary Fund, working with developing nations.
• “During my tenure I have been a part various country teams and have taken part in various country missions to advise on important economic issues.
 Can get recommendations from alums of Harvard, Chicago, UPenn, Columbia, and Yale”
• 24-year-old African American Male (1st generation African immigrant/recent U.S. citizen)

Odds of Success:

Harvard: 30% to 40%

Stanford: 20% to 30%

Chicago: 50+%

Wharton: 40%

Columbia: 40% to 50%

Sandy’s Analysis: You got a real solid story and touch every base hard:  1^st-generation  African-American; 3.5 GPA;  720 GMAT; and IMF.  Those are all winner items.

At Stanford, it’s a matter of putting together some plausible “What Matters Most” story, and mixing up some  “change organizations/ change the world” Kool-Aid goals.  Other schools you note are really in line and it is a matter of execution, recs, and not blowing the interview–and for places like Chicago and Columbia, convincing them you want to come.

You say, “Can get recommendations from alums of Harvard, Chicago, UPenn, Columbia, and Yale” Well, don’t feel the need to get recs from writers who went to that very school. That is not as impressive as many applicants think. Just go with recommenders who know you best.

Handicapping Your MBA Odds–The Entire Series

Part I: Handicapping Your Shot At a Top Business School

Part II: Your Chances of Getting In

Part III: Your Chances of Getting In

Part IV: Handicapping Your Odds of Getting In

Part V: Can You Get Into HBS, Stanford or Wharton?

Part VI: Handicapping Your Dream School Odds

Part VII: Handicapping Your MBA Odds

Part VIII: Getting Through The Elite B-School Screen

Part IX: Handicapping Your B-School Chances

Part X: What Are Your Odds of Getting In?

Part XI: Breaking Through the Elite B-School Screen

Part XII: Handicapping Your B-School Odds

Part XIII: Predicting Your Odds of Getting In

Part XIV: Handicapping Your MBA Odds

Part XV: Assessing Your Odds of Getting In

Part XVI: Handicapping Your Odds of Getting In

Part XVII: What Are Your Odds of Getting In

Part XVIII: Assessing Your Odds of Getting In

Part XIX: Handicapping Your MBA Odds

Part XX: What Are Your Odds Of Getting In

Part XXI: Handicapping Your Odds of Acceptance

Part XXII: Handicapping Your Shot At A Top MBA

Part XXIII: Predicting Your Odds of Getting In

Part XXIV: Do You Have The Right Stuff To Get In

Part XXV: Your Odds of Getting Into A Top MBA Program

Part XXVI: Calculating Your Odds of Getting In

Part XXVII: Breaking Through The Elite MBA Screen

Part XXVIII: Handicapping Your Shot At A Top School

Part XXIX: Can You Get Into A Great B-School

Part XXX: Handicapping Your Odds of Getting In

Part XXXI: Calculating Your Odds of Admission

Part XXXII: Handicapping Your Elite MBA Chances

Part XXXIII: Getting Into Your Dream School

Part XXXIV: Handicapping Your Shot At A Top School

Part XXXV: Calculating Your Odds of Getting In

Part XXXVI: What Are Your Chances Of Getting In

Part XXXVII: Handicapping Your Business School Odds

Part XXXVIII: Assessing Your B-School Odds Of Making It

Part XXXIX: Handicapping MBA Applicant Odds

Part XL: What Are Your Odds of Getting In

Part XLI: Handicapping Your Odds of MBA Success

Part XLII: What Are Your Chances Of Getting In

Part XLIII: Handicapping Your MBA Odds

Part XLIV: Can You Get Into A Top MBA Program

Part XLV: Assessing Your Odds of Getting In

Part XLVI: Handicapping Your Dream School Odds

Part XLVII: Handicapping Your MBA Odds

Part XLVIII: Assessing Your Odds of B-School Success

Part XLIV: Handicapping Your B-School Odds

Part XLV: Your Odds of Getting Into A Great School