Mr. High School Founder

• 164V/159 GRE
• 3.9 GPA
• Undergraduate degree from Syracuse University with a triple major in Economics, Public Policy and International Relations
• 3.7 GPA
• Master’s degree in math education
• Also currently enrolled in on-line data science course in Python
• Work experience includes being co-founder of a public high school in New York Citry, focused on preparing students for career pathways in emergency medicine and cyber security; did Teach For America in the South Bronx
• Extracurriculars include the writing of a published white paper on Principal Evaluation Systems and policy; member of Community Board in NYC, internships at Moody’s Analytics, pro bono consulting; conference speaker on the future of work
• Recommendations from co-founder who is also his supervisor
• “My second letter of ref bailed last minute so I had my co-principal write the second (I’m guessing this did not help”
• Essay addressed how coming from a family of entrepreneurs (“I helped my family open a skatepark in my home town”) and early exposure to inequity guides his career
• “For the future I wrote about how the lack of analytics in public education and how it can be used to increase public school performance as well as guide career planning for students (gave examples on how I have already done this in my current role through data science and econ course work)”
• Goal: Wants to start or join an education analytics company focused on this work.
• 33-year-old white male

Sandy’s Ding Analysis: Hhey Rob, I like you but we got a 33-years-old dude (not a showstopper but an issue), and a profile that looks more like you belong at the Kennedy School at Harvard (try them!) or Harvard Ed School (ditto) or a joint degree at both.

The MBA looks like trophy hunting. I am also not sure what you are doing now except taking on-line courses. You seem like a real interesting guy, but here’s a dirty little secret: HBS does not like “interesting” guys so much, especially if they cannot figure out what you are employed at currently and why you neeed an MBA.

You say you “want to start or join an education analytics company focused on this work.” Well, probably right thing to say but they did not buy it, given the zigs and zags on your resume.