Ms. Middle Aged MBA-er

You’re a really compelling candidate and it’s no surprise that both Michigan Ross, your first choice, and Yale SOM have already put you on their waitlists after you applied in round one. I have a strong feeling that you can get invites off the waitlist if you reach out and let Ross know you really want to go there. Given your experience having developed advertising and media plans for three Fortune 50 companies and the fact that you have been a guest lecturer at DePaul and Columbia College, you would bring valuable insights to MBA class discussions. Sure, you’re a older candidate–by seven years–than the average MBA student at Ross who is 27 at matriculation. I bet that’s why you are on the waitlist and haven’t been admitted yet. That is why it is super important for you to schmooze folks there in the adcom office and to meet with a faculty member or two in the field you’re interested in. The fact that you are considering a transition to a university professor tells me you would have a lot to talk about with a faculty member or two. I think your chances at Kellogg would be pretty good, if you do the same thing: Reach out and make connections with admissions and a couple of faculty.

Agree with John that chances of getting off of the waitlist are good, given your Mich connections and solid career in advertising (a plus). If you retook the test and got a 730+, well, that would super work! That’s my bet but that is a lot to ask. 😉 A more interesting question is why you were waitlisted in the first place. “Become a university professor and progress up in my current company to oversee organizational leadership and management”–not sure what the prof part means. Company goals are fine. Age is real high side of normal and possibly beyond that, there are always some 34-35 year olds in 1st year class, but they often have a reason that is clear; pilots, military, etc. Anyway, good luck.

Hi there, this is Deepak Punwani from MBA Exchange. Firstly congrats on the “wins” at Ross and Yale. You are oh so close and still far and I know that’s a bittersweet feeling. A lot of experts have weighed in already and there is some very good feedback here. Am going to stick my neck out and “speculate” why you didn’t get the admit. At 34, if your long terms are not specific enough and say what you have mentioned – “Become a university professor and progress up in my current company to oversee organizational leadership and management” – chances the schools will become less sure of your need for a full time MBA. I would have preferred to see something on lines of “Lead the digital marketing for a for a traditional Fortune 500 company and transform the marketing function at a consumer goods company for the internet age” OR “launch my own ad-tech firm in next decade focusing on ROI on online marketing spends”. You get the picture ! You could be really more specific on what you want to achieve professionally and personally. They have liked your profile but my sense is that they weren’t clear about your motivations. Good luck.

Hi Ms. Middle Aged MBA-er, Julie-Anne Heafey here from mbaMission. What cool work experience you have! I can’t know for sure, but I’m guessing they really hesitated on fit – your age and goals align more with EMBA and PT MBA candidates, and they may have been genuinely concerned about your happiness – will you want to sit in class with a bunch of 25-26 year olds? I worked this year with a guy your age who was a R3 WL candidate from last year who planned to reapply in R1. I encouraged him talk to people, and go to some EMBA presentations, and he came to realize that he would be much happier pursuing the more senior program! (he got in and will attend this year) Of course, everyone is different and maybe you have a reason for the 2 year one (?). In this case, keep showing the love, network and visit if you haven’t yet, and be patient! Best of luck, Julie-Anne

Hi Ms. Middle Aged MBAer, This is Donna Bauman, Senior MBA Admissions Counselor for Stratus Admissions and it is an honor to weigh in on your profile. You have some very impressive work experience—in an industry where you don’t see as many people in the class—advertising—so your high level international advertising experience would be a plus for any program. Your experience with the media budgets of blue chip CPG companies like P&G and J&J also make you stand out. My biggest question for you is that if your goal is to become a university professor in organizational leadership and management, why not apply to Ph.D. programs for that? I think you’d be an amazing candidate in these programs because of your impressive multinational work experience with blue chip CPG firms. You can go the MBA to Ph.D. route but you don’t have to. So before you switch to exec MBA programs or even sign up for a FT MBA program, I encourage you to contact some of the Ph.D. programs directly. I am rooting for your success!