Mr. Top Three

Mr. Top Three, you have some explaining to do. The good news, however, is that you have impressive work experience, particularly the fact that you were selected out of 2300 people for what you call “a highly coveted strategy position” for a short term assignment in Asia. You’ll need to explain your low GPA of 2.7, though it was in a difficult major, because the latest class average for Kenan-Flagler is 3.34. Your GRE is also a tad low, 310 vs. the 317 average for the school’s latest cohort. Given your low undergraduate grades (which is something you need to explain to admissions), it would be preferable if you had a slightly above average GRE the school as the offset. Still, recent application declines have pushed up the latest acceptance rate to 53% and your work history is strong. Judging from the brief description you’ve provided, I also think you are a highly likable candidate. So I think your chances of admission are pretty good at Kenan-Flagler. With a higher GRE, they would be better at UNC and give you a real shot at Darden. Forget about Wharton. Your GPA will be virtually impossible to overcome at Wharton.

Hi Mr. Top Three! This is Talon Rindels, Sr. Admissions Consultant at the MBA Exchange and share the Minnesota-living aspect of your profile. Can you get accepted at Kenan-Flagler or the other schools on your list? You betcha (see what I did there?), but it will definitely require crafting your story in the right away with those stats (both GPA/GMAT below the average)! So, we’ll have to find a way to prove to adcom that you are smart, despite the fact that neither of these figures prove it. This is where all those other things you mentioned come into play… selected out of 2300 for a role in Asia?! We’ll want to know more about that for sure! You’ll also want to explain how your experience abroad has impacted how you think about working with people different than you, as global perspective is very important. Given your age is higher than most in a 2Y MBA program, you may want to consider alternative options as well. I think you’d be a prime candidate for an EMBA and I know Kenan-Flagler has a strong online option as well. Online degrees used to get a bad rep, but they are really gaining credibility as folks are getting weary of taking two years off work, moving, etc. for an MBA. Despite your stats, I’m giving you a 25%, but with the support of an expert who can help you tell your story in a way that will be most compelling to adcom, I’d up that to 50-60%.

Hi, it’s Nisha from mbaMission. The good news is that you have really impressive work experience, with the impact you’ve made on people and assets as well as the fact that you were selected out of so many for a coveted international assignment. You’ll want to make sure that you fully communicate your accomplishments on your resume and application and that your recommenders speak in detail to how you’ve stood out vs. peers in terms of strengths, achievements, and growth.

What I’m most concerned about is your academics – your GPA is well below the average of KF and other top schools. To help offset it, I highly recommend retaking the GRE to achieve 160+ on each side – that will go a long way at the schools you’re targeting. Additionally, I’d consider taking a quantitative course, either local or online, in the area of calculus, statistics, accounting, or microecon – getting an A would also help assure the AdCom of your academic focus. And in any case, you’ll want to explain the drivers behind your GPA in the optional essay in a way that indicates ownership and responsibility, even though neuroscience undoubtedly is a tough major.

Regarding extracurriculars – I see you were quite involved in college. Are you involved in any initiatives currently? While extracurricular involvement isn’t mandatory per se, it can show the AdCom that you’re multidimensional and further demonstrate your passions and leadership/teamwork skills.

Finally, you’ll want to paint a cohesive story around your goals. What has motivated you to work with emerging technologies? What types of organizations would you target in the short-term (that have relationships with the MBA programs you’re applying to) and in the long-term?

Hope that helps!

Hi Mr. Top Three, this is Donna Bauman, Senior MBA Admissions Counselor at Stratus Admissions, reaching out about your profile. The challenge of having both a 2.7 GPA and a GRE a bit below the bar for UNC Kenan-Flagler is going to be the big hurdle. However, you have some strong international exposure and some impressive work experience. I am not sure if you would consider Kenan-Flagler’s online MBA program but there are going to be more students closer to your age in that program. UNC Kenan-Flagler has made a strong effort to integrate online MBA students into the overall Kenan-Flagler community and also offer 4 in person trips each year—two international—that will help you develop the same kind of interpersonal relationships that you would gain from the Full Time MBA program. I suggest you search for UNC Kenan-Flagler MBA student ambassadors to read about the profiles of current students and reach out to students with backgrounds that interest you. UNC Kenan-Flagler also hosts an Inside Kenan-Flagler Diversity Day usually in November and that is another way to learn more about the program and make some connections. Consider also applying to UNC Kenan-Flagler Full Time MBA through the Consortium program as UNC Kenan-Flagler is a member school. For Fuqua I suggest you schedule an interview during the early open period as your profile may not be strong enough to be invited for an interview if you wait to be invited. You can schedule an interview for both UNC Kenan-Flagler and Fuqua if you reach out early in the process—which gives you a chance to tell your story and impress them with your work experience and interest in their programs. I think you will have a harder time breaking in at Darden or Ross. I have worked successfully with many candidates with stats below the averages in applying to UNC Kenan-Flagler and Fuqua would be glad to talk to you further if you have interest!