Mr. Public Health

Well, lots to like, including URM guy with two years experience at “top firm” and now nine months at a start up with what seems like real track record in Healthcare. Your write up could be more clear about what companies you work for actually do, too much of your descriptions are generic and jargony.
Also, as I often say, HBS will blink once, but not often twice, and that is what you are asking them to do by blinking at both low grades and low GRE. There are just a lot of URMs with better stats and similar work ex, so HBS may prefer those guys.

You also say, in addition to HBS that you are “Considering: Wharton, Columbia, MIT Sloan, Stanford GSB, Chicago Booth.” Grrrr, same analysis may apply. Wharton, Col. and MIT are stat biased, other places may give you a quick hearing but as noted, top schools do not blink twice and they may actually have concerns about your ability to do some of the more demanding quant work of the 1st-year program. Some real tuff love, take GRE over and keep taking it, nothing else you can do will have as big an impact.

Hi, it’s Nisha with mbaMission. First of all, I love your professional passion – the question of how data and technology can be harnessed to widen access to healthcare indeed is a very important one, and it seems like it’s led you to make meaningful impact in your career thus far. You’ve also got intriguing personal interests, and business schools like multidimensional individuals.

HBS, along with the other schools you’ve listed, is intensely competitive, and your GPA and GRE are below the average. I definitely recommend retaking the GRE and aiming for mid-160s on each side. Additionally, you’ll want to: make sure you fully communicate your professional and personal achievements in your resume/application (emphasizing leadership), clarify your goals (what type of roles do you hope to have post-MBA and how will the degree help you achieve them?), and make a strong case for why each program is right for you based on its culture and resources (this is more important for the non-HBS schools).

A couple of excellent – and more attainable – schools I’d add to your list given your interest in healthcare: Duke Fuqua and Michigan Ross (Ross even offers a healthcare-specific scholarship). Hope that helps!

Mr. Public Health – Thanks for posting your profile. Susan Cera here from Stratus.

Over the past few years I’ve worked with a number of clients with background and/or goals in the healthcare space. I like your commitment to public health and developing the skills to be more impactful.

I’m giving you 5% chance at HBS because I think your stats are too low to be overcome by your story. I suggest that you broaden your list of schools beyond top 10 programs to those that have great strength in the healthcare space: Duke Fuqua – Health Sector Management concentration, Michigan Ross – great resources and now scholarship for healthcare, UCLA, WashU Olin, Vanderbilt Owen.

Wishing you the best on your application journey!