Berkeley / Haas - 11-19-2025 | Clear Admit ApplyWire

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November 19, 2025 6:33am ET

Applying: Berkeley / Haas, U. Chicago Booth, Columbia, Duke / Fuqua, Harvard Business School, Minnesota / Carlson, MIT Sloan, Northwestern / Kellogg, UPenn / Wharton, Stanford GSB

Intake Year: 2027

Pre-MBA Career: IT Security - Local Government

Post-MBA Target Industry: Entrepreneurship, Technology, Venture Capital

GMAT: 755

GPA: 3.0

Years of Work Experience: 2.5

Location: United States

Notes:

-Undergraduate at Minnesota / Carlson: Management Info. Systems; 3.0 GPA
-GMAT FE: 755 (83Q/90V/90DI)
-Work Experience: 2 years IT / Security Manager at small gov't municipality; 2 summer internships at mid-market IB's (doing IAM/cybersecurity)

GPA is low and work experience is mediocre at best. I'm hoping GMAT score will help compensate.

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Show Comments (4) Last: December 2, 2025

alexbr4 Verified User. Likes Earned: 1830 GMAT helps, but only so much. Showing impact and growth at work will also be very important, supported by strong recommendations. The shorter experience might make things more challenging. Is this year the best time for you to pursue a top MBA?

Are you also involved in activities outside of work? Any additional hobbies and interests?

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em-secure0101 Likes Earned: 0 Thanks for the response! Here's a little more context plus some follow up questions :) I'm aiming for fall 2027, which I believe is a good time for me to pursue an MBA, but I certainly recognize that this isn't the traditional timeline for most people. At my current organization (first position out of undergraduate), I joined as the only dedicated IT staff and lead an initiative to implement several cybersecurity measures. Since then, I have moved into my current position as Information Technology and Security Manager. I have a good report with the Board of Managers and would likely be able to request strong recommendations. Outside of work but professionally adjacent, I'm interested in AI safety (I'd like a career in this field post-MBA). As for hobbies, I compete in competitive strategy gaming (Pokémon TCG), competing in several World Championships over 10+ years. A couple things I could use some advice on: 1) For my letters of recommendations, I am debating whether I should request individual recommendations, or a letter from my Board of Managers as a collective. 2) Regarding my outside hobbies/interests and EC's, I'd like to heavily emphasize my experience in competitive gaming as I see it as one of my most significant life experiences. I do recognize, however, that this is very niche and it's relevance may not be recognized my many adcoms. If you have any thoughts, insights or advice, that would be greatly appreciated! Thanks! (0)

alexbr4 Verified User. Likes Earned: 1830 1. Always individual letters of recommendation. 2. Absolutely! This should really help you stand out.

Frankly, aside from the lower GPA, I think you’ll have a strong profile in a year. The super GMAT helps. Cyber security and AI safety are hugely important areas right now.

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alexbr4 Verified User. Likes Earned: 1830 More details on this candidacy in this episode of Wire Taps: https://www.clearadmit.com/2025/12/mba-wire-taps-459-695/ (0)