Mr. Sovereign Wealth Fund

Hi, this is JP from The MBA Exchange. I disagree with the 5% assessment from the other experts. I have an MBA from Harvard and 10 years in Asia, so I can say with confidence that you have a background that would make you a valuable classmate. Importantly, you’re planning ahead, which can make a tremendous difference in the strength of an application. If you’re willing to start planning and taking the right steps immediately to further strengthen your profile, you’ll absolutely be able to maximize your chances at HBS and other top programs. In fact, I’ve written extensively about how starting a campaigning 12-24 months in advance is the right way to go. Email me at jpo@mbaexchange asap so that I can give you more details.

Hi Mr. Sovereign Wealth Fund, this is Julie-Anne Heafey with mbaMission. There’s not a ton of information to go on here, but there’s some promise. You already have good GMAT score and a good GPA in econ at an Ivy League school, enough to check the boxes, though not really outperforming any of the averages. I like your international work experience and your volunteer work is great to see, so keep it up. The issue right now is that we don’t see outsize leadership and impact in what you’ve described above, so make sure to push yourself to take on challenges and grow over the next few years. One thing I wonder about is your future goals – if you’re planning to make a pivot, take baby steps toward it now to build skills you might need in that future role, and spend time learning about your target industry and getting to know the players. That way, when you apply, you’ll have an easier time demonstrating that you’ll be successful with future job placement. Since you’re not there yet, I agree that it makes sense to rate you lower than the average admit rate, but of course hopefully you’ll be able to improve those odds in the future. Best of luck!

Hello Mr Sovereign Wealth Fund it’s Lisa Cummings of Stratus Admissions. You have solid stats here, your GMAT score is right at the median for HBS, your GPA is just a little low but certainly in the range. You are smart to start thinking about the process now because even with strong stats you will need to stand out in a pool of stand out applicants. Use this time to think abut your story and how you want to present yourself as an applicant. Are there any “holes” in your candidacy? I love that you worked helping others gain financial literacy. Are you involved in that group still or with any other groups now? If not, think about reaching out to an organization that aligns with your passions or where your skills can be additive. Additionally, look for ways you can demonstrate your leadership, both at work and through volunteering. You can show strong leadership and influencing skills even without a title. Also look for stretch roles that will allow you to grow your overall skills and give you the chance to make an impact. I rate you low right now because at this juncture your odds are low but with careful thought on how to use the next few years you could have a solid package. Best of luck.