Mr. Spaniard

As disappointing as it may be to get stuck on a waitlist, it does mean that you are considered a credible and viable candidate for one of the most selective MBA programs in the world. So congratulations on making it over the admissions hurdle and onto that list. Now you obviously need to get yourself an admit. Your basics are pretty solid, including the fact that you are an associate at a top global consulting firm. More than that, you have heart as demonstrated by the fact that you helped to built two schools in Africa schooling 500 kids. Columbia turned you down because of your GMAT at a time that its MBA program is over-indexing on standardized test scores. Make no mistake: MIT Sloan worships high GMATs as well and that is probably why you are on the waitlist rather than having been accepted outright. I think you will get an admit from INSEAD and you might very well get one from MIT. I certainly hope so. Good luck to you.

Hola Madrileño (if you are from the city). Soy Deepak Punwani de MBA Exchange. And if you are a Madrid fan you may have enjoyed the Classico a few days back ! Like your chances at all schools and love your goals to start up. While its always difficult to guess what may have contributed to the WL at MIT, my sense is that they may need to see some progress on your entrepreneurial goals. Have you already launched a company? Did you get selected by an accelerator program? Raised an angel round? If you have traction on your start up, you stand a much better chance to convert the WL. Even more than getting a 740 on a GMAT retake. INSEAD and MIT both love startup related goals (more than CBS) so INSEAD could be a credible option if MIT doesn’t come through. Good luck

Hola Mr. Spaniard! Krista Nannery from mbaMission here. Thanks for posting!
So you’re on the waitlist for Sloan! That’s fantastic news! What is your waitlist strategy? I ask this question because usually when I ask it, the answer is “Uh, I dunno. Wait?” and that is not the right answer. Continue to network with the school and send in meaningful updates. They like you!! Leverage that.
Then, for other programs…I know the CBS ding probably hurt but 710 can be a tough number for CBS. That being said, my sense is that a lot of US b-schools are totally in need of European applicants. That could be in your favor. Add a few schools with great innovation offerings. Haas comes to mind. Booth. Stern. All have great offerings.
Lastly, your goals…entrepreneurial goals are all very exciting but to truly pitch these successfully, I’d want to know that you’d made some progress on your entrepreneurial goals already. Have you built something? Do you have customers? Have you made any money? It can be hard to take a bet on a complete unknown. So if this is really want you want to do, convince them this is possible. Given that you are on the WL at Sloan, I think you probably did a good job of this already but I just wanted to check!
I hope that helps!
Krista

Hola Señor Spaniard. Madrid is one of my favorite cities, I have lived there and spent a lot of time in the Cantabria. I make a great paella and tortilla de patata. But I digress. In my time as an adcomm at Sloan, I read the files for many Spanish candidates, not sure what you think a “typical” candidate is – we saw a wide range. But you certainly present an interesting profile. As others have suggested, you want to keep in touch with Sloan if you have any updates. Thoughts on retaking the GMAT or is that what you think is your top score? If you think there might be room for improvement you may want to give it another shot as I suspect that may be something that is holding Sloan back. Would you consider expanding your list at all? Michigan Ross , Berkeley Haas, Indiana’s Kelly all have a good entrepreneurship programs.