Ms. Apparel Entrepreneur

Hi Ms. Apparel Entrepreneur, this is Kristen from MBA Prep School. I think there is a lot to like about your professional progression, community engagement, and career thought process. Your work experience is unique but nicely focused with the combo of high-growth ventures and fashion/apparel. It sounds like you have had opportunities to stand on your own two feet and lead, which will make for great stories in your MBA application. Your volunteerism is also inspiring and I especially like that you are finding ways to be involved both personally and on behalf of your company. Your passion for social improvement, entrepreneurship, and the fashion/apparel industry is perfectly embodied in your career goal. It is realistic and well thought-out, and you have a solid plan for achieving it over time. I know you are well aware of the weaknesses in your profile. As an English lit major, Admissions Committees are going to be looking for evidence of your quant abilities. You will have to make sure you can demonstrate this through work, or perhaps through an MBA Math-type prep course. The GMAT would also be another way to boost their confidence, and if you could get yourself into the 700s with another round of testing I think you would make yourself a stronger candidate. In the meantime, you will want to focus on putting together a strong story that captures the interest of the Admissions Committee apart from that one score and convinces them you would be a stellar addition to the class. You might also consider some other school possibilities to increase your odds. I would be happy to offer you a complimentary consultation to chat more about how MBA Prep School might be able to help!

Sure, your raw stats are a little low for UCLA but I like you and I bet Anderson will like you, too. I don’t know how many times you’ve taken the GMAT and I am sure you would hate to have to do it again (even if it is a second time and especially if it is a third or fourth time). But a nice round 700 will really help you and anything above that is obviously better. Your work experience at a pair of well-known companies and your accomplishments at each will bode well. And your extras are stellar. I also like your post-MBA goals and believe they are not only achievable at Anderson but they are goals that admissions would like as well because they build on the career you’ve already made for yourself. Clearly, you want to stay in LA (assuming you are already there) and that’s why you haven’t chosen other schools. I always tell people not to put all those eggs in one basket. Your odds of getting into a good school substantially improve if you apply to four or five places. So if UCLA is YOUR place, get at least that 700 GMAT and schmooze them over there. The MBA students are among the friendliest and nicest young professionals I’ve met and you should get to know them, too, as you go through the application process. Good luck.