Mr. Movie Producer

As often noted, Stanford GSB for white males and white International males from non-exotic countries (Greece is ~ non-exotic to them, not exactly sure how that score) is really hard. You need some X factor–that being some really big deal accomplishment like founding and growing an org. that combats adversity, etc.

Not clear to me that being a “Volunteer at ‘Make a Wish’, organizing and broadcasting the organization’s events in Greek National Television” = X.
Also your current job “Currently working in Digital Marketing doing Video Production Strategy for a big MNC.” seems a small come down.
sorry for the tuff love but it is a useful balance to the happy jive others have been giving you.

Your sort of glam media career before college is also a plus, altho not a deal maker, and the fact that

Hi Mr. Movie Producer! This is JP, Senior Consultant at The MBA Exchange. Long story short: your background is unique enough among MBA applicants to potentially make you a serious contender at the top programs. The key is going to be the execution. Having expert guidance will certainly help you increase the odds. I’d be happy to have a chat, simply get in touch with us via The MBA Exchange Website, stating that you put your profile here and would like to speak with ‘JP’. Cheers!

Hi, it’s Nisha from mbaMission! You have such an intriguing background – Greek, producing shows for major networks, military experience, meaningful community involvement. Clearly, there are a lot of positives and distinguishing factors here, I think business schools would be lucky to have you. A couple things I’d think about:

1. GMAT – even given your strong GPA, I’d retake GMAT since you’re currently 30 pts below GSB’s average. With such an incredibly competitive program, every bit can help. The extra points can only help with Anderson too, even though it’s considerably easier to get into (and for Emory, your score is fine, but sometimes higher scores can even lead to scholarships for standout candidates).

2. Crafting your story – what has driven your strong interest in media, and what kind of impact do you want to create ultimately? What have you observed that indicates to you strong potential in the Balkans? Schools always want to know the motivations behind your goals, so make sure you can explain this cohesively and describe the transferrable skills you’ll bring into your ST and LT goals and what skills/experiences you need from an MBA program.

With a higher GMAT score and a well-crafted application that shows the impact you’ve made within and outside of work (including in the Army), tells your story authentically, and indicates your fit with each target program based on its culture and resources within the media industry, I think you’ll be a strong candidate (especially for Anderson and Goizueta, GSB is hugely competitive but the distinctive factors in your profile put you in contention). Very best of luck and reach out if you want to discuss your profile further.

Mr. Movie Producer – thanks for posting your profile. Susan Cera, Director of MBA Admissions, here. You have a solid GPA and your GMAT score is in range for Stanford. More importantly, I think you have a compelling story that only YOU can tell. You will need to clarify your post-MBA goal (why the production department?) and identify areas for development through an MBA that will set you up for success in achieving your goals. My sister-in-law has worked in the media space for years and considered getting an MBA but found that the hands-on experience and technical knowledge needed to be successful in this industry was best obtained by staying in the industry. There are a lot of moving parts in production and distribution so perhaps you need to develop new skills to effectively manage these areas. For Stanford, you will need to show that you want to change the world. Don’t be afraid to dream big. I really like UCLA for you since they are in the heart of the entertainment/media industry. You might also take a look at NYU and CBS. Both offer great resources related to entertainment/media and their clubs host an annual Media, Entertainment and Sports conference – typically in the spring in NYC. If your schedule allows, I encourage you to attend the conference to get a feel for what MBAs are doing in the industry and to rub shoulders with industry leaders.
All the best!