Ms. High Tech Marketer

I think you have a really good shot at McCombs. What immediately stands out to me is your track record at work. Few people can claim that they have generated $6.1 million in new business throughout their careers. Equally impressive is your involvement in developing and executing a go-to-market strategy with a healthcare marketing campaign that closed at $1.1 million. Obviously, the weakness in your profile is your GPA in music (2.7 vs the 3.4 class average) and a below average for McCombs GMAT average of 704. Yet, I sense in your writeup a vibrant and smart person who is really passionate about what she has done and what she wants to do. I think the positives in your profile offset the weaknesses.

Hi Ms. High Tech Marketer, Julie-Anne Heafey here with mbaMission. You seem ambitious and hardworking, and I agree with John that a blazing essay (and video) could make a difference here. I also think there are some opportunities within that application to leverage your digital marketing skills, so make sure you do that to support your story. The hurdle here is academic – explaining what was going on with the 2.7, and showing that you can handle the challenging coursework of the MBA. They will definitely inspect your transcript – and I agree with Lisa/Melisa about the need for quantitative coursework somewhere. If you don’t have that, I suggest you enroll in some online programs (reputable and, ideally, graded) to show your quantitative readiness, particularly if that 680 has a low Q side feeding into it. If you can improve your GMAT, that will likely help too! Good luck!

Hi Ms. High Tech Marketer, Melisa here from Stratus Admissions. I think your strong track record at work will go a long way in overcoming your GMAT and GPA. Here are some things to think about as you approach your applications: 1) You’ll want to write an optional essay explaining your low GPA. Look at if you’re GPA increased through the years – or explain if there was something specific that led it. Also, you’ll want to think about your performance in any math classes in undergrad along with your quant score of your GMAT. If you have a lower quant score and have low or no math classes in undergrad, you are going to need to show McCombs that you can handle the academic rigor of the program. Maybe consider taking a Berkeley extension math class to give this evidence. 2) You didn’t list anything under extra-curricular. I would want to dig in deeper here. Since you are interested in tech disruption, could you get involved in some local hackathons or STEM in local schools. Or maybe you’ve led something within your company that is outside your role? The key is to show leadership outside of just your professional role. 3) Through what you’ve submitted, I’m not seeing the clear tie from Marketing to your passion in high tech disruption. Make sure this comes out clearly in your essays. What has inspired you to be interested in disruption. You may need to consider a mid-point step to marketing in high tech to transition into PM/Strategy. A lot of this depends upon the internship you get if it can be that stepping stone as well. Reach out to other students at McCombs who have made a shift to PM and learn about their experiences. Overall, I think you have a stronger than average shot at McCombs. Good luck!

Hello Ms High Tech Marketer, Lisa Cummings of Stratus Admissions. I love that you were able to parlay your music degree into a career in tech marketing. Your track record is outstanding and will stand out to admissions committees. Schools really like to see that you have had impact in the workplace. As you know your metrics are a bit low. Do you think that the 704 is your best score? Have you thought about some targeted tutoring to raise that even a few points? Your GPA is also low, committees will be looking at the classes that you took in addition to your GPA. Did you take any quant courses in college? You might want to consider taking a class to show strength in quant as a boost.

McCoombs is a great program. Are you looking to expand your school list? What about Fordham’s Gabelli School of Business or UCLA’s Anderson School? Good luck!