Ms. Green Energy

Congratulations on your Fulbright! As an applicant from South East Asia with a STEM background, you’ll be among the most over-represented international demographics. The fact that you are applying from energy (rather than tech, consulting, or banking), will be differentiating, especially as a female applicant. This makes the demographic headwinds less strong, but you should still be mindful of them so you can craft your MIT application with the aim of setting yourself apart.
The MIT application is particularly well-suited for your candidacy because the application essay is a coverletter. Your journey to solar energy from traditional carbon energy sources and your ambition to solar power your native developing country is a straightforward narrative that works well in coverletter form. You can use the first paragraph to lay out your passions and global experiences, the second to outline your plan for your career, and the third to provide watertight rationale as to how MIT in particular will get you where you want to go. MIT especially prides itself on supply chain excellence and and operations management. This curriculum may be very much in line with the green power delivery ambitions you have for your future.
Making the case for “Why MBA” – a question you’ll be asked in any M7 interview – should be fairly straightforward. Making a case for “Why MBA *now*” – another common question, will be slightly harder given that you have about double the years of work experience of a typical applicant. You’ll need to talk about what you’ve done professionally in a way that makes it clear that you haven’t stagnated and want to use an MBA to recharge your career or that you haven’t gotten burned out and want a two year break from your grind. These are red flags associated with older candidates that you’ll want to tacitly address in your application in order to be successful as an older applicant.
M7s increasingly seek applicants with a global perspective, and this is where you’ll really shine! You’ve worked in multiple developing countries and you are a fulbright scholar. Flex that! If you want to go back to your region immediately post-MBA, say so – AdComs will love that. This is something that will differentiate you from other international candidates who will want to stay in the US (and will require sponsorship from employers). MIT wants to have a global alumni network, so they will appreciate a candidate who wants to go back to their country of origin, not just in the long term, but in the immediate to medium term.
Your solar background is indeed differentiated and your experience in the developing world outside of the standard tech or professional services will be unique in the applicant pool. Assuming flawlessly executed strategic positioning, I’d put your odds of acceptance at MIT at around 40%, which is much higher than the average for applicants from your geographic demographic. Best of luck to you!