Ms. Marketing Family Business

Hi, Ms. Marketing/Family Business – Julie-Anne Heafey here with mbaMission. I agree with Jennifer that your odds would probably improve with another year… but if you can articulate why now, I do occasionally see clients make it through the process successfully with lower than the usual 5 years, particularly women. The family business path in the future is a big signal that you’ll potentially need to build leadership skills sooner than the average applicant (because in family businesses, dynamic circumstances can call you up to the big leagues sooner than you think). I think if you can articulate a compelling personal story and show a habit of leadership, your odds are much better than the average applicant. It’s hard to say whether you should move to your family business or not but I would ask yourself which path is more exciting and challenging (plus the one issue with moving to the family business pre MBA is recommenders can be tricky in a family business so you’d probably ask the firm you left, and timing might make that more or less appropriate). Agree with the GPA and GMAT points too – IMO for the GMAT, I’d say you *probably* don’t need to retake, at least not for HBS– a 750 is very good!– but it might depend on your transcript and quant and what your quant component is within the 750. I recently consulted with someone with a 750 but lower quant where I did tell that person to retake, but it depends on the details sometimes. In terms of other programs you might consider, it depends but with what you’ve mentioned above, it kind of depends on the experience you’re looking for and I’d love to know more about that, but off the top of my head I’d add Columbia (good all around business school, very global, strong family business resources too), Wharton and Kellogg (both very strong in leadership, consulting, marketing). Feel free to set up a free consultation if you want to dig in more to your options and share details. Wishing you the best of luck!

Hi, it’s Jennifer Jackson from Stratus Admissions. There’s a lot to like about your profile! Your GMAT is very strong and I don’t see a real need to take it again (although it wouldn’t hurt you unless it took away time and resources from preparing applications). A 750 will be above the average at every top program. I’m curious what country you’re from in Asia! Not being from India or China is a bit of a differentiator since those countries are over-represented. Your work experience in marketing is solid, and I really love to see extracurriculars people are involved with that are related to a passion or interest. The fact that your mom suffers from a disorder that you’re helping combat in children is very compelling — it shows leadership, innovation and action. Looks like your GPA could be a bit on the softer side but you went to a top school and had a double major so I’m not too worried about that even though it’s under the average at top schools. I’ve given you a 15% chance at HBS, which sounds low but is well better than the average candidate. The interesting question you’re asking is about timing — will you be a stronger candidate in another year? I think probably yes but would also say that another year working wouldn’t get you admitted anywhere automatically so you have to balance a number of factors. If you’re really ready to go in 2022 then this is the year you should apply. You can make a case that now is the time because of X or Y. If you wait a year to apply, I’d say you would have a marginally better shot but not a guarantee so overall I counsel people to apply when they’re ready to go (unless it’s with just a year of experience and two at matriculation). You’d have 3.5 years of work experience when you matriculate, which is under the average but not by a ton. I might also suggest looking closely at Chicago Booth — they are wanting to attract more people in marketing. Wishing you lots of luck!