Ms. Community Dentist

Hi, this JP, Senior Consultant at The MBA Exchange. Having an MBA from HBS myself, I can say with confidence that someone with your medical and NGO experiences would be a welcome addition to the school’s MBA classroom. In fact, there are usually a few such individuals in each section/cohort every year. Secondly, I’ve had the pleasure of guiding a number of applicants with medical backgrounds in their MBA campaigns, and all had the same level of diligence and the ability to work hard. So I’m certain that you have these traits too. The key to success in your MBA campaign will be to make a strong case for the school(s) you pick that they offer the right tools for your goals. But you will also need a strong understanding of which aspects of your profile the admissions committees want to know about. I highly recommend seeking expert guidance for this, especially if you’re targeting top-20 programs. Send me an email at jpo@mbaexchange.com and I’ll be happy to give you more details.

Hi Ms. Community Dentist! This is Kate Richardson, Senior Admissions Consultant. That is excellent to hear you’ve worked with those high-profile organizations, and the work you are doing is admirable. I also like that you are PM of such a large team. That said, if only 1 year of work experience is correct, I have to wonder if you’d be better off waiting another two years or so to apply, since the average years of work experience at Harvard is just under 5 years. Agreeing with the other expert, I would love to dive deeper into your career motivations and how you came to consider an MBA. Hopefully there are some strong “aha moments” that can be woven together into a compelling narrative. You do have great GPA / GRE stats, so I think you’ve got a shot, though again wonder if waiting might strengthen your application and leadership. Good luck!

Hi Ms. Community Dentist, this is Donna Bauman with Stratus and I am happy to give you some feedback. There’s got to be an interesting story in why a dentist wants an MBA—and HBS at that. This plays directly into telling HBS what MORE they need to know. I’d want to know what you experienced in your work to date to add an MBA to your dentistry degree. I don’t see leadership dripping off your profile here—but it may be there in your work to eliminate tuberculosis or in your work with the charitable orthodontic clinic. If you have a compelling reason why and can align your story to something bigger than you—which it seems you may be able to do—I think you have a chance. Your scores are certainly strong and you bring a different perspective with your dental background. So yes—I say go for it—but also be sure to give some insight into your unique motivation and mission and demonstrate your leadership in all areas of your life. Best wishes and let me know if you want to talk further in a free consult.