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I originally planned to apply to MBA fall 2021, but Darden changed the rules and I’m tempted to apply with my SAT score (2150/1400 if I recall). I work for a well-respected business publication in a major metro area and previously worked at two daily newspapers covering crime. I’d love to put my writing and research skills to use consulting or marketing for the industry I cover.
Target School: Darden
See More Profiles For: Darden
Application Status: Open
Undergrad School: Upper tier northeast liberal arts college
Undergrad Major: Economics
GPA: 3.6
GMAT: 2150
Age: 27, Ethnicity: White
Extracurriculars: Gallery host at top regional art museum, Young professionals volunteer club, Fosters rescue dogs
Title: Business Journalist
Industry: Media
Company: Boutique Firm
Length of Employment: 2 yrs, 1 mos
Title: Crime and breaking news reporter
Length of Employment: 3 yrs
I’ve won a national SABEW journalism award for my business reporting as well as 5 regional journalism awards. Several of my stories have been picked up by national media outlets including The New York Times.
I’d love to work in consulting for the industry I currently write about as a reporter.
Join in! Click here to assess the odds of Ms. Business Reporter
Dawna Clark is going to love you! You are right to apply now and take advantage of a rare opportunity to get into a world class MBA program with an SAT score. A quick Google search tells me that your SAT score of 2150 is darn good: Out of the 1.67 million test-takers, 44,084 scored the same or higher than you. And if your “upper-tier” liberals arts college in the northeast is really well known, you would be in good shape. Your experience should prove highly valuable and unusual, though not unique, for an MBA program. I have little doubt that you would be a great asset in the classroom during case discussions and your ability to write on deadline would be highly desirable among …
Dawna Clark is going to love you! You are right to apply now and take advantage of a rare opportunity to get into a world class MBA program with an SAT score. A quick Google search tells me that your SAT score of 2150 is darn good: Out of the 1.67 million test-takers, 44,084 scored the same or higher than you. And if your “upper-tier” liberals arts college in the northeast is really well known, you would be in good shape. Your experience should prove highly valuable and unusual, though not unique, for an MBA program. I have little doubt that you would be a great asset in the classroom during case discussions and your ability to write on deadline would be highly desirable among your teammates at Darden. Take the time for introspection so that when you sit down to write your story, you write your way into the school. We’re rooting for you!
Hi Ms. Business Reporter! Kate Richardson, Senior Admissions Consultant here. Glad to see you are keeping up with all the recent changes, and I think the recent change at Darden is a perfect opening for an applicant like you with a less traditional work background. Your GPA and SAT score (if you are remembering correctly) should be sufficient indicators of your ability to do well at Darden, as I’m assuming you had to take some quantitative courses in your Economics major (that is often a gap with less traditional applicants in my experience). Sounds like you’ve had some great successes as a reporter and I think your goals are a logical outgrowth of that success and realistic to achieve with an MBA from Darden. So …
Hi Ms. Business Reporter! Kate Richardson, Senior Admissions Consultant here. Glad to see you are keeping up with all the recent changes, and I think the recent change at Darden is a perfect opening for an applicant like you with a less traditional work background. Your GPA and SAT score (if you are remembering correctly) should be sufficient indicators of your ability to do well at Darden, as I’m assuming you had to take some quantitative courses in your Economics major (that is often a gap with less traditional applicants in my experience). Sounds like you’ve had some great successes as a reporter and I think your goals are a logical outgrowth of that success and realistic to achieve with an MBA from Darden. So assuming you won’t be rushing your application / recommendation letters, I would give it a shot now. You’re at a good stage experience wise to apply with 5 years already, and I think with the uncertainty some schools are facing, they would be eager to snatch up an interesting profile like yours!
Hi Ms. Business Reporter, this is Donna Bauman with Stratus Admissions and I am very impressed with the diversity you would add to MBA programs. I imagine right now you are beyond busy with breaking news! I can just picture the value you would add to your class in the mock crisis press conference simulations where you could share your experience as a journalist. When you think about how any admissions team is building a unique class – and lets imagine it as a quilt—there are already so many banking and consulting squares on the quilt—but not as many journalists. Your profile reads as a breath of fresh air—and the fact that you cover business in your work gives you a great background. I could …
Hi Ms. Business Reporter, this is Donna Bauman with Stratus Admissions and I am very impressed with the diversity you would add to MBA programs. I imagine right now you are beyond busy with breaking news! I can just picture the value you would add to your class in the mock crisis press conference simulations where you could share your experience as a journalist. When you think about how any admissions team is building a unique class – and lets imagine it as a quilt—there are already so many banking and consulting squares on the quilt—but not as many journalists. Your profile reads as a breath of fresh air—and the fact that you cover business in your work gives you a great background. I could see you being an excellent candidate at Darden and is worth a chance to apply now given this unique situation around covid19 where many programs have extended deadlines. Depending on what you value, you should add other programs as well. For example a consultant can help you pick an application strategy based on your goals—so if you are seeking more scholarships that would change the mix a little compared to the list I would suggest if your goal is to get into the highest ranked school possible. Given the fact that you don’t have direct consulting experience, I would prioritize for you programs that have extensive experiential learning. To that end, look at Ross and Tuck. If you are interested in the Southeast, consider adding Fuqua and UNC Kenan-Flagler to your list. I’d be happy to talk to you further if you want to do a consult—whatever you do—act fast! As a breaking news reporter, I suspect you are prepared to write fast!
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