Mr. Fundraising Educator

Thanks for sharing your impressive story with us, Mr. Educator. As a first-generation college student myself and someone who had none of the socio-economic advantages that many applicants have in applying to the likes of Stanford and Wharton, I love your personal narrative and all that you have achieved on your own. I am mightily impressed by your decision to leave Goldman Sachs and then work in Harlem as a sixth grade math teacher. Your overall story, including your extras, make for a powerful narrative of someone who has the potential to really change the world for the better. Sadly, Stanford isn’t going to buy it. How come? As impressive as your personal story is, it won’t be able to overcome your basic stats. Over the past five years, the lowest GMAT of an enrolled student at Stanford is (from the latest class to the Class of 2017) 600, 600, 610, 590, 570. In the past five years, the school has not enrolled anyone with a 510. The average GPA of the class over that same timeframe has ranged from 3.70 to 3.75. A 2.89 won’t cut it at Stanford. If you really want to get into the GSB, I think you need to improve your GMAT score into something in the mid-600 territory to have a real chance. Yale, Stern and Duke will look more favorably and more holistically on your application and stats. One last thing here: Please don’t be discouraged by any of this. You would be a solid addition to Stanford’s class. But to have a realistic chance there you have to hit a 650, even if it means taking the GMAT three or four times. A higher GMAT score is even more imperative due to your lowish GPA. My advice: Go to Noodle Pros and ask super tutor Dan Edmonds to take you on as a pro bono client. Tell him I asked you to contact him. You can do this. I’m rooting for you!

Intriguing and unique candidacy, but a minimal chance of admission to Stanford GSB. You’ll have to really dazzle the adcoms with your “What Matters Most to You and Why?” essay. Your non-work leadership is impressive, frankly overshadowing your professional profile. You made a gutsy, massive pivot in your career, but your post-MBA goal credibly ties together your Wall Street asset management and grade school teacher roles. Kudos on the CFA III but your undergrad GPA and current GMAT are still big constraints. Also being age 30+ means fewer seats available. I suggest you get a GMAT at or above the median for admits and consider part-time programs (e.g., Haas, NYU) where the average age is higher and the average test score islower that at the full-time programs.

Hello Mr. Fundraising Educator! Krista Nannery from mbaMisison here. You are super-interesting…we don’t often see this combination of Wall Street and schoolteacher. This will help you stand out in this process…but that GMAT will probably drag you down. For my clients that are struggling to break into the 700s on the GMAT, I recommend switching to the GRE. Do a practice exam and my guess is that you will feel that it’s much more your test. I don’t want to give any school a reason to pass you by!! And we already have that tough GPA. So please invest in test prep. It will make a difference. (And while it’s nice that you’re interested in the CFA, a great GMAT or GRE score will help you more.)

Then, if you haven’t already, please reach out to The Consortium and take advantage of all of their wonderful resources.

No let’s talk about your goals. You’ve bee in investment management before. Why go back? (Not to say you shouldn’t. I just want to understand WHY?) What will be the difference between what you did before and what you want to do post MBA? And then after more Wall Street, you want to go into non-profit? Right now, this story sounds a little erratic. I’d love more of a consistent golden thread. What about impact investing instead as a ST goal? Or asset management for an endowment? No one right answer here — and it’s possible that you current story could work and that I’m just missing the details.

If non-profit remains on the horizon, I love Yale and Haas for you!

Hope that helps!
Krista

Our pleasure. Thanks for sharing your profile with the community.