Duke / Fuqua - 11-22-2023 | Clear Admit ApplyWire

November 22, 2023 3:28pm ET

Applying: Duke / Fuqua, Emory / Goizueta, Indiana / Kelley, Michigan / Ross, Northwestern / Kellogg, UNC Kenan-Flagler, UVA / Darden

Intake Year: 2024

Pre-MBA Career: Epidemiologist/Data Analyst

Post-MBA Target Industry: Pharmaceutical Companies: Johnson & Johnson , Merck , Novartis , Pfizer

GRE: 315

GPA: 3.64

Years of Work Experience: 3

Post MBA Location: South USA

Notes:

I have a MPH with a GPA of 3.94. I understand that my GRE is bad but given this is EOY, I am so swamped at work that I’m half dying. I would love love to get scholarships though.
My why? I am an epidemiologist who pivoted into data analytics to be able to utilize my quant skills but DA is just not how I see myself and I’d like to move back into healthcare, albeit the pharmaceutical/business side of it hence MBA.
EC: I actually volunteer to help international student qualified under certain immigration categories petition for green cards. I volunteer with my local group and volunteer with Food for the Hungry in sponsoring a child in Bolivia. In the past, I’ve worked with children of immigrants to learn ESL.
I don’t want to rewrite GRE because there’s no time to improve my scores in time to submit for Round 2. Am I reaching?

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Show Comments (4) Last: November 23, 2023

grichmond Verified User. Likes Earned: 1167 Thanks for sharing your profile. You have a really unique background given the pivot you made from epidemiology into data analytics, and your desire to take the next step with the MBA and head back into healthcare on the business side makes great sense.

The MPH GPA of 3.94 will pair with your strong ugrad GPA and suggest you are a very good student - assuming ugrad was a challenging major and that you have attended decent schools. ECs sound very strong too. Ideally your work experience to date has been strong - and you've had enough time to demonstrate leadership and have an impact?

Overall, assuming good execution on the applications (compelling essays, great LORs, etc.) you should be competitive at many of the schools on your list.

With that said, I would be remiss if I didn't tell you that the GRE will be a pretty big hurdle for some of the top-16 programs, where averages are north of 315. Have you taken the test more than once? Many candidates take it twice and improve their scores...plus, doing so shows perseverance.

As to your comment about scholarships, the big $$$ tends to go to the candidates schools covet most - the ones with amazing numbers or a truly unique or underrepresented profile. Do you fall into any of those sought-after categories (female, URM, first-gen, etc.)?

Best of luck and happy Thanksgiving!

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anon17005 Likes Earned: 7 Thank you for your reply. I was hoping that my essays would help make me a competitive candidate. I’m a first gen immigrant and female . I will be able to show growth and impact at work. I just don’t know if these would be enough to get me in and get me big $$$ (0)

alexbr4 Verified User. Likes Earned: 1618 It would clearly really help your case if you were to have a higher GRE score. If you can’t retake before the deadlines, how about scheduling a retake for late January, and letting programs know you’re doing this in the optional essays. (0)

grichmond Verified User. Likes Earned: 1167 I agree with Alex here; if you are really set on maximizing your chances for admissions + "big $$$", I'd push for clearing the 320 mark if not heading towards 325+. This doesn't mean you won't get into these programs with your current score - but if we are talking about scholarships being critical, the numbers come into sharper view.
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