The Second Round Ding Report

Mr. Bain & Co. (Dinged by HBS without interview)

• 730 GMAT
• 3.5 GPA
• Undergraduate degree in engineering from a top public university
• Work experience includes three years at Bain & Co. where he has been rated top of class, followed by two-and-one half years at a middle-market private equity firm, where he received an early promotion
• Significant educational non-profit experience and international business experience
• “Dinged last year, too. Thought for sure I’d get at least an interview”
• 29-year-old white male

Sandy’s Analysis: H/W/S are always looking for reasons to ding Bain kids, just to say that they do. In your case, the fact that you are 29, transitioned to middle-market PE firm may not have executed in a totally non-annoying way, might have been all they needed.

You are a comparatively old white guy in an ultra-competitive cohort — I am explaining ding last year. You reapplication was sorta hopeless, what had changed? Don’t get me wrong, I could be wrong, but on facts presented, there are greater head slappers on this thread.