Berkeley / Haas - 04-24-2025 | Clear Admit ApplyWire

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April 24, 2025 12:05am ET

Applying: Berkeley / Haas, Columbia, Duke / Fuqua, Harvard Business School, MIT Sloan, Northwestern / Kellogg, NYU Stern, Stanford GSB, U. Chicago Booth, UPenn / Wharton, UVA / Darden, Yale SOM

Intake Year: 2026

Pre-MBA Career: EMT/Paramedic for 7 years, State Government job in environmental compliance for 1 year

Post-MBA Target Industry: Consulting, Entrepreneurship Companies: Bain , BCG , McKinsey

GPA: 3.8

Years of Work Experience: 8

Location: Georgia

Notes:

Academics: Neuroscience major at large state school, initially struggled with mental health issues in undergrad failing about 6 classes and got academically suspended, able to retake 2 of my failed classes, very strong upward trend after getting life together.
Impact/growth at work: Worked as an EMT for 3 years full time while attending school, went to paramedic school for a year, then promoted to work as a medic for another 2 years finishing my undergrad. Had the opportunity to help save some lives and hopefully make their lives better. Left medical field about a year ago, now working in state government in an environmental compliance role.
Activities: Writing/mixing/producing music, rock climbing, long distance running, volunteer crisis counselor for suicide hotline.
Interested in MBB Consulting, Healthcare management, Biotech, and eventually starting my own business.
Plan on taking GMAT early August for R1 application, looking to score around 700

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Show Comments (3) Last: April 25, 2025

alexbr4 Verified User. Likes Earned: 1834 Georgia, country or US state?

How many years of experience do you have, since you graduated undergrad? Just a little confused by your pathway?

You should certainly use the optional essay to succinctly address your undergrad experience, so adcom can be assured that you’re now on a strong pathway. Getting a very good GMAT score will also help.

Key will be to show impact and growth at work, supported by strong recommendations. Also be important to narrow your post MBA goal focus, and make sure it’s realistic while being ambitious in the longer term.

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henry721 Likes Earned: 0 Apologies for the confusion. Atlanta, GA USA I started undergrad in 2015, initially full-time while also working full-time in retail/restaurant jobs to help support family. I tried to take on too much at once and my grades and mental health fell resulting in academic suspension in 2016. I continued working full-time and returned to school part-time the semester after my suspension. I became an EMT full time in 2018 then promoted to paramedic in 2021 while continuing undergrad part time. I then made school full time in 2022 and made work part time until I graduated undergrad in Fall 2023 where I started working full time again. So I have been working mostly full time since 2015, more so since 2018 when I started as an EMT in more of a "professional" career rather than the retail jobs I had beforehand. To narrow my post MBA goals, I am most interested in strategy/management consulting. I plan to cultivate those skills and eventually transition into a c-suite role at a biotech company. Although, I would still like to keep an open mind to other opportunities as I learn and grow at the program. (0)

alexbr4 Verified User. Likes Earned: 1834 So your pathway has been unorthodox, which will present some challenges in articulation. In terms of professional work experience, adcom will be most interested in your professional roles, within EMT and now with the Govt (and why the switch).

Having a focused post MBA plan is important for admissions and as a guide for navigating your MBA, but you can certainly keep an open mind for other opportunities.

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