Mr. Sales Engineer

You’ve got a really strong profile for the schools on your target list. Your 732 GMAT score puts you nicely above the Kellogg class average of 740. Even though your GPA is on the low side at 3.0-, versus the latest Kellogg average of 3.6, it is in a difficult subject–mechanical engineering–and it’s from a top-rate university, Notre Dame. But what really impresses me is your work experience. You say you have a mixed engineering and sales role so that tells me that as a quant you get along well with people, otherwise you wouldn’t have anything to do with sales. The fact that you’ve been promoted twice in three years before moving on to work on a more exciting product also demonstrates that you have been highly successful in the world of work. So while Kellogg’s current acceptance rate is 26%, I think your chances of gaining an admit from the school is at least twice that. Good luck to you.

Hi Mr. Sales Engineer! This is Talon Rindels, Sr. Admissions Consultant at the MBA Exchange and proud Kellogg alum! Initially, I like what I am seeing, but would like it even more if you had a higher GPA! That said, it was from a great school and in a challenging subject matter… and even better, perhaps you have a good story as to why your GPA is on the lower end (or maybe you got your act together our senior year and your last few quarters were near 4.0?). Those types of things will help to make that glaring red mark a little less bright on the page. But, the rest of your profile looks great! Great work experience, connecting sales and engineering… indicating that you understand matrixed organizations and your role in them. Your post MBA goals (short and long term) definitely seem attainable with your experience and you’ve clearly explained why you need an MBA to achieve them. And, you seem to be involved beyond just work, which will be attractive to adcom, as they want to admit folks who will positively impact their community/school. I’m definitely rooting for you, but definitely come talk to us if you are looking for more support in how to craft your story for upcoming interviews, etc – I know you’ll have at least one at Kellogg!

I have to admit: I love engineers who venture into sales. From a b-school perspective, such a transition gives the schools confidence you’re not just “engineering” smart, but people smart as well – a powerful combination. Plus, you’ve got the promotions which validate to the schools that you’re a top performer. Yes, your GPA is lower than the average, but it’s from a tough program at a strong school. Not to say that the GPA won’t give them pause, but I think you can keep them interested by showcasing your other strengths.

One thing I’d want you to explore more: why entrepreneurship? (In what? What are you trying to solve?) and why MBB first? As an ex-Bainie, I know that consulting will help you refine your client management skills and develop an answer-first mentality. That said, consulting isn’t necessarily the best route towards entrepreneurship. All this to say: really think about what you’re marching towards in terms of your career and what are the steps that you need to take in order to make your long term goal a reality.

For what it’s worth, I worked with someone who had a 2.9 in engineering (chemical) recently – he was waitlisted at Kellogg, and in at Booth, Duke and Ross. So I love the mix of schools you’re considering and am confident that you’ve got enough strengths to keep Kellogg and other schools looking past your GPA.

Hello Mr. Sales Engineer! Krista Nannery from mbaMission here! And fellow Domer, Class of 1996! (Farley’s Finest!)
I honestly had never worked with property technology candidates until this year when I came across a few of them! B-schools seem to like them and I get it…you’re on the forefront of smart cities.
If you were my client, here’s what I would want you to do:
1. Take a class to help with that 3.0 GPA. You’re in the bottom 10% of most school’s GPA range. That can be a tough place to be. Given that you’ve already nailed the GMAT, you could HBX Core (or whatever they are calling it now) but it’s pricey and time-consuming. However, it does signal how serious you are about showing them that you are not a 3.0. Another option is Math for Management at Haas. Online, mostly self-paced. Cheaper than the HBS offering.
2. Network network network. I find that for clients like you, who have iffy GPAs, connecting with AdComs can really help. So go to all the info sessions, especially given that it still early in the season. Even if you’ve already been a school’s first info session in your city, go to the 2nd one. If you’re lucky, it will be the same AdCom and they will start to remember you. (If you are based in Chicago, please please please make sure you visit Booth and Kellogg in person.)
3. Refine that long-term goal. I get it, everyone wants to be an entrepreneur. But can you make it happen? Is there anything you can start on now that sets the tone for this longer-term? This could be taking a relevant class or participating in a relevant extracurricular.
Odd-wise, I like your school choices. I think Ross and Tuck will love you for sure. I think Booth and Kellogg will too but Booth in particular seems to be more of a stats snob so the 3.0 may be harder there. Haas will dig your smart buildings angle but make sure you can show your first and your research.
I think this will be an interesting process for you! All the best for your apps and Go Irish!
Krista

Hi Mr. Sales Engineer, this is Donna Bauman, Senior Admissions Counselor at Stratus Admissions, weighing in on your profile. Right off the bat I like several aspects of your profile. Being an engineer in a sales role tells me you have a great combination of hard and soft skills already. When I was a student at Kellogg there were many of my classmates with a connection to Notre Dame so you’d be in good company at Kellogg as a Notre Dame alum. Your GMAT is great and while the GPA is a bit lower I’d have to see your transcript to help you further. Engineering at any program is difficult, and certainly at Notre Dame so if you have a lot of B’s in general in difficult courses that is not an insurmountable problem. However if you had a particularly unusual semester where something else was impacting your grades then be sure to give that context without making any excuses. I like your promotion history and you are in the sweet spot in terms of number of years of work for a full time MBA. Be sure to show Kellogg some love—visit campus and make connections with the clubs and be prepared to articulate why Kellogg will help you reach your career goals. Kellogg does have a really interesting entrepreneurship option with the quarter in San Francisco through the Kellogg Innovation and Entrepreneurship Initiative (KIEI) so be sure to look into this when doing your research. In terms of entrepreneurial resources at Booth, research programs at the Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation. If you were a client of mine I’d use this time now prior to submitting applications to guide you in thinking a bit more creatively about your MBB consulting goal. I can’t tell you how many times I read essays with this goal when I worked on the admissions side. At least come up with a few niche’ consulting options and think more about how you can leverage your construction industry knowledge going forward in your post MBA goals. Overall I like your odds at the programs on your list and you might also look at Fuqua, Anderson and Darden.