Columbia - 03-10-2020 | Clear Admit ApplyWire

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March 10, 2020 2:07pm ET

Applying: Columbia, MIT Sloan, UT Austin / McCombs, UVA / Darden

Intake Year: 2021

Pre-MBA Career: Civil Engineer

Post-MBA Target Industry: Consulting, Investment Banking, Entrepreneurship

GPA: 2.68

Years of Work Experience: 3

Location: Louisiana

Notes:

Hello,

First off I really enjoy the podcast and appreciate all that y'all do for MBA candidates. So I am looking to beginning my mba in the fall of 2021 and the schools I will be applying for include MIT, Colombia, Darden, and McCombs. I finished my undergrad in Civil Engineering with a 2.68 and in knowing that my low GPA is a major hurdle I began working on my masters in Civil Engineering to help boost my chances. I will complete my masters in August and currently hold a 3.98 GPA. I am currently working full time while doing so and would have 3 year experience in the engineering field by the start of the program. I am also studying to take my Professional Engineering exam in April then soon after take the GMAT in which I confidentially feel as if I score in the 720 range minimal.
In your opinion how do you believe I stand in my chances on admittance?

Like (1)

Show Comments (3) Last: March 17, 2020

anon31314 Likes Earned: 111 Can you explain why your GPA was so low during undergrad? If you have a good reason (e.g. family situation, working a lot, etc.) that may be less of a hurdle, especially since you've demonstrated good grades in the master's program. Also, the GMAT score is still a variable. For CBS and Sloan I would shoot for 730-740. 720 could be enough but hard to tell. You'll also need to have a strong rationale for why you are shifting from engineering to consulting/IB/starting a business. A first glace, it doesn't look like you have that narrowed down. For that type of significant career pivot you really need to narrow down WHAT you want to do post-MBA and what you want to get out of the programs. If it's IB for example, you better have a strong story for why you can successfully transition into that kind of role when competing against others that have more comparable experience. Further, I think narrowing down what you want to do will influence school decision. This list of 4 may be the perfect list but it seems to be quite varied. This goes without saying, you'll need to have strong ECs and show impact at work. Good luck! (2)

alexbr4 Verified User. Likes Earned: 1572 I think @31314 nails the key issues. I'd also add that it will be important to show impact, at work. Are you involved in activities outside of work (other than school, of course). Three things stand out for me: why the poor undergrad record, lack of focus re post mba goals, shorter length of work experience. The latter two points are related, I think. (1)

alexbr4 Verified User. Likes Earned: 1572 More details on this candidacy in this episode of Wire Taps: https://www.clearadmit.com/2020/03/episode-89-wire-taps-which-schools-should-i-consider/ (0)