Dartmouth / Tuck - 06-14-2025 | Clear Admit ApplyWire

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June 14, 2025 7:27am ET

Applying: Dartmouth / Tuck, Harvard Business School, MIT Sloan, Northwestern / Kellogg, U. Chicago Booth, UPenn / Wharton, UVA / Darden

Intake Year: 2026

Pre-MBA Career: Pharma Consulting

Post-MBA Target Industry: Other, Pharmaceutical Companies: Amgen , Astra Zeneca , Johnson & Johnson , Merck , Novartis , Pfizer , Roche

GRE: 326

GPA: 3.58

Years of Work Experience: 5

Post MBA Location: Northeast US

Notes:

Curious about a) my candidacy for target schools, and b) if I should consider taking the GRE once more or if it's better to focus now on essays / applications

Currently in life science/pharma consulting and interested in staying in healthcare post-MBA, but working AT a life science company in a commercial role (rather than consulting), ideally in biotech at some point. Target school list focuses on programs with relatively high healthcare placement/reputation (not considering Duke due to geography, although I know they have a great healthcare program). Hoping to land in the Northeast

GRE: 326 (V164, Q162)

Undergrad @ Top 5 Public University (per US News rankings)
Major: Biology and Spanish
GPA: 3.58 (slightly lower than averages at target schools, but with STEM undergrad major)
Extracurriculars/Awards (high-level): President of academic organization, new student orientation leader, Girl Scout troop leader (volunteer), grant-funded genetic research, merit scholarship (small $amt but given to 1 student/year)

Work Experience: 5 years (FTE)
Current Role (1yr): Engagement Manager @ boutique life science consulting firm
Prior Full-Time Roles (4yrs): Consultant (2yrs) & Analyst (2yrs) @ same boutique life science consulting firm
Prior Part-Time Roles (during undergrad): Product Management & Marketing intern at life science products company; undergraduate genetic research

Current Extracurriculars
Girl Scout troop leader
Board Member of local chapter of global organization supporting women in healthcare careers
Youth running coach
Captain, co-ed volleyball and flag football team

Demographics
Female, 26 years old

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Show Comments (4) Last: June 24, 2025

alexbr4 Verified User. Likes Earned: 1830 Showing impact and growth at work will be key, supported by strong recommendations. Outside activities do look strong, with nice consistency and likely impact.

I’d think that overall, you’ll present a strong profile. The question is, would a higher GRE score be an advantage? And it always will, even if in small margins. Do you think there’s much scope for improvement?

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mksb5 Likes Earned: 5 Thank you for your input Alex! I could certainly try to squeeze out a few more points on the GRE, but wondering if the extra time spent there (if I were to take the test again in early August) would be at the cost of focusing on essays. Also hoping to maximize my scholarship opportunity, but not sure which path (applying in round 1 with my current score, or waiting until round 2 with a possibly higher GRE score) would be enable more scholarship dollars. (0)

alexbr4 Verified User. Likes Earned: 1830 Maybe split your apps over both rounds? A slightly higher GRE May well boost scholarship opportunities and access to the very best. You’re not over represented, so Round 2 should still be fine. (0)

alexbr4 Verified User. Likes Earned: 1830 More details on this candidacy in this episode of Wire Taps: https://www.clearadmit.com/2025/06/mba-wire-taps-431/ (0)