Mr. Hotel International

Interesting mix of schools. Your first choice, SDA Bocconi, has a very small MBA program with an annual intake of just 93 students in the Class of 2020. You are right on target for the school’s average age at 29. And while the school accepts GMATs as low as 540, the class average is about 665. You’re well under the average at 570. And your GPA is also a bit low. But I love your story: “Overcame dropping out of college by working my way up in restaurants, eventually managing two restaurants at age 23. Went back to study at a top hotel management institution where I contributed to the school and local community, and was recognized for it.” That’s why I think your chances of an admit at Bocconi are better than your stats might indicate. One other point: It’s not clear if you are an American, but if you are that also is a positive for an admission at Bocconi.

Hello Mr. Hotel International! Thanks for posting. Krista Nannery from mbaMission here…I am writing this to you from a…hotel! In London, England. Normally I live in South Florida!
I love the hotel industry — I think b-schools do to. They understand it and can easily understand your work and your impact. What I worry about for you is your GMAT score. I’d really encourage you to work with a tutor to get that school up. I love that Bocconi invited you to interview, but we have to get you IN and the interview is only one datapoint. So it may make sense to start that GMAT prep now so you are prepared for the Bocconi outcome. Talk about your score with a private tutor or two and see what they would suggest.

The other thing I want to chat about is your list of schools. It’s an interesting mix! I encourage you to review the employment reports and confirm that each school will make your post-MBA goals possible. With the exception of Bocconi, there seems to be some Southeast America bias, which I find intriguing. Does it make sense to consider any other European programs? ESADE? IESE? IE? Not sure.

I think I’d really need to know a lot more to make a fair assessment but I think you’ve put together a realistic school list which will help your chances.

Krista