MBA Handicapping: 780 GMAT–How Come She’s Not Applying To Harvard Business School?

On her very first and only time taking the GMAT, Rebecca scored a whopping 780 on the test. That puts her comfortably among the top 1% of test takers worldwide. Her work as a data manager for a privately owned global company that designs and builds distribution centers for major retailers such as H&M, Macy’s, and Foot Locker, certainly allowed her to hone her analytical skills for the exam. But she also bring a solid 3.7 GPA and an undergraduate degree in business from Northeastern University’s D’Amore-McKim Business School.

Given her jumbo GMAT and other qualifications, the only surprise here is why Rebecca has decided not to apply to Harvard Business School. Instead, she has her heart set on Wharton, MIT Sloan, Duke Fuqua, Michigan Ross, Carnegie Mellon Tepper, and UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School.

Her work experience is stellar. During her three and one-half years with the company, she earned two quick promotions after joining the firm as an assistant project manager. She was promoted a project manager role, and then as a PMO data manager, a position in which she develops tools to improve internal processes.

“My overall goal is to transition into the biopharma/biotech industry (from distribution), initially via a pharma Leadership Development Program program or life sciences-related consulting,” she says. “My long-term goal is to gain a high-level operational or financial role at a large biopharma/biotech company.”

Her interests in biotech stem from two internships she had while a student at the D’Amore-McKim Business School, a six-month stint with McKinsey & Co.where she worked with life sciences venture capital firms for a client and Fulcrum Research Group where Rebecca helped to gather and auantify information from 40+ healthcare providers for a multiple sclerosis drug developer.

In this episode of Friday’s With Sandy, HBSGuru.com Founder Sandy Kreisberg and Poets&Quants Editor-in-Chief John A. Byrne assess her chances of admission at not only her target schools but also Harvard and Stanford.

If you would like to participate in a future Fridays With Sandy webinar, you can contact Sandy and Poets&Quants John here.

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