Ms. Young Multi-Startup Girl

Hi Ms. Young Multi-Startup Girl,
I love your entrepreneurial spirit! This is Debbie Choy from mbaMission and GSB alum. Your can-do attitude and experience starting companies is something that top business schools are looking for. I also like that you’re well-traveled. I’m guessing that your travels have shaped your vision for your travel start-ups. As you put your applications together, be sure to connect the dots for the reader so you’re not simply presenting a travelogue, but helping the reader understand how your personal experiences have shaped your career and leadership style. Additionally, consider how you can boost your GMAT score. Although your solid GPA from Cornell will offset your GMAT score somewhat, it is still a few notches below the average GMAT score of the incoming class at GSB. Do retake it if possible. You may also want to look into the GRE, which is accepted by most top schools; some candidates find the format more compatible with their learning and testing styles. Wishing you the best in your MBA journey!

Hi Ms. Young Multi-Startup Girl, Melisa here from Stratus Admissions. I love to travel and am jealous that you have found a way to make it a career! I’m sure you’ve seen some interesting innovations/changes through Covid. I am guessing some of your experience overlaps with your time at Cornell. As a younger applicant at 23, you will want to be able to explain why now is the right time for you to get an MBA and showcase that your leadership experience punches above the average for your age. Starting your own business is definitely an indicator here – so make sure you go deep on what experiences you bring to the table as a leader and entrepreneur. I can see a logical transition from entrepreneur to consultant in your industry. What’s less clear in the limited info provided here is what impact do you want to make with that consultancy. Specifically with GSB, what problem do you want to solve. Stanford can give you all that you list – they will want to know how you want to better the world with these tools. Not knowing where you are on your test journey, I would suggest re-taking the GMAT/GRE if you have not already. Specifically I’d want you to focus on the quant side to balance your Communications major. If you took any quant classes and did well, you may want to highlight these in an optional essay. If you did not take quant classes, I would suggest looking to take a Math for Management course to show that you can handle the academic rigor. Berkeley and UCLA offer extension classes. If this is the year for you to get an MBA, I’d suggest expanding your list to include Stern, Cornell, Ross and maybe Duke. Best of luck and reach out if I can answer any questions.