Mr. Big Beer

Hi Mr. Big Beer, Julie-Anne Heafey with mbaMission here. That’s a great GPA in a tough major, kudos to you! That, plus the HBS CORe credit, will go a long way toward reassuring the adcom that you’re academically prepared for an MBA given the absence of a standardized test score. I also love that you are bringing some incredibly valuable general management and operations skills to the table. Working with unions (and navigating the current environment) surely must have brought you some challenging leadership situations, and I imagine that Kellogg would love to add that perspective to the class. Were this a normal round, I’d like your odds very much if you could deliver a high quality application. I think the main hurdle you may face is a high volume of R3 applications vs. openings; depending on deferrals (and those may not be as numerous as other schools because of their later start in the fall), it could be tough to get a slot. That said, I think you’re well positioned to reapply if you don’t make it through, so I’d look into a plan B where you might figure out which test of GMAT/GRE works for you if you don’t make it and maybe some other names to add to your list…but overall, I think you will have promising odds eventually if your testing works out. Best of luck!

Hi Mr. Big Beer, it’s Lisa Cummings of Stratus Admissions. I assume that if you say you have a test waiver that you are applying in the late rounds this spring and plan to matriculate in the fall. Your perfect GPA in chemical engineering will certainly catch the eye of the Kellogg adcomm. I’d like to know more about what it is you do in that unionized beer environment and what your path has been so far? Kellogg will need this info too. Have you had any growth in title or in responsibilities? You will want to highlight this for your schools. I like your interest in the SPCA- that will need to be fleshed out too. How long have you been affiliated with them and in what capacity? Have you had the opportunity to lead others either at work or in your outside activities? The rules for Rounds 3 and 4 keep changing and no one really knows what is going to happen, but based on the very basic information you have included here I have rated you at 20% – that could easily jump with more detail on your work and leadership experiences. Best of luck!