Mr. Entrepreneurial Writer

Hi Mr. Entrepreneurial Writer,
Congrats on your success creating a multilingual online magazine and winning an award for it! I know from personal experience starting an online magazine that this is not easy! This is Debbie Choy from mbaMission and GSB alum. I like that you have a unique, differentiated background as a writer and social entrepreneur. That said, AdCom will be interested in understanding how you came about your career goals and what specific skills or knowledge an MBA can give you to help you break into the US tech/entertainment industries. These are also very big sectors, so it will be necessary to focus on a specific area within either tech or entertainment that you wish to focus on. As you put together your apps, I think it will also be important to describe the transferable skills that you bring from your past experiences to your future goals. Finally, I also agree with Susan that your GMAT score is softer than the average score at GSB. Although your solid GPA will offset that somewhat, I recommend retaking the GMAT if you can. Alternatively, if you’re hitting a ceiling with the GMAT, do look into the GRE test. Some people find the GRE test format more appropriate to their style. If you’d like to discuss your profile in further detail, feel free to schedule a consultation with us. Wishing you the best in your MBA journey!

Mr. Entrepreneurial Writer – Thanks for posting your profile. Susan here from Stratus.

Your profile is very non-traditional which makes you an interesting candidate for the GSB. While your GMAT is low, it is within range. Given your focus on writing and political science, you need to make sure that you offer evidence of your ability to handle the quantitative rigor of a top MBA program. If you have a strong Q score on the GMAT, that may suffice. If your Q score is below 47, you may want to take a math course to show adcom that you are ready.

I think you could have an interesting narrative. While your accomplishments are impressive, the GSB will want to understand the WHY behind your efforts. For example, what was the content of your multi-lingual magazine? Why did you choose to pursue this endeavor? Perhaps it connects to the topic of the policy conference that you spearheaded at LBS. The GSB wants to understand how you have (and plan to) change lives, change organizations and change the world. You need to be grand in your vision. Just wanting to learn from the best in tech/entertainment is too vague. What is the impact you want to make in the world? And why?

Wishing you all the best on your journey!