Harvard Business School - 08-28-2019

August 28, 2019 7:28am ET

Applying: Harvard Business School, INSEAD, London Business School, Stanford GSB, UPenn / Wharton

Intake Year: 2020

Pre-MBA Career: Private Equity/Start-up

Post-MBA Target Industry: Private Equity Companies: Bain Capital , Blackstone , Carlyle Group , Goldman Sachs Principal Investment Group , TPG , KKR

GPA: 3.3

Years of Work Experience: 4.5

Location: Kenya

Notes:

Japanese born and raised with work experience in a top investment firm in Japan but currently working in Kenyan Startup as a Corporate Finance Lead. Aiming for Emerging market Private Equity after MBA.

Profile:
- Good track record of getting promotion and achievement in Private Equity/Emerging market field(experienced 10+ deals).
- Top 10% GPA within my school (Different scaling system from US).
- Good academic and extracurricular activities(with Award from United nation for my research).
- Athletic achievement(chosen to be a National player in the past)

What would be my minimum GRE score? and what is my likelihood of getting into HBS/SGSB/Wharton? Any advice will be helpful!

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Show Comments (4) Last: September 9, 2019

alexbr4 Verified User. Likes Earned: 1576 It sounds like you've a very interesting profile. For your GRE, don't target a minimum, but make sure you prepare thoroughly, which I'm sure you will, based off your successes to date. If your test score hits the averages for top programs, I'd think with good app execution, you'd be an interesting candidate for the very best. What is your long term goal? (0)

anon31742 Likes Earned: 2 Thank you for the comment, my long term goal is to finance the poor(it has always been my passion. Even for my previous role at private equity, our goal was to bridge the gap between power, telecom, and transportation sector which were in the devastating position after Fukushima earthquake and sleeping money in developed countries.) Specifically, I would be targeting at private equity fund/VC's in the emerging market since from my experience at the current role, I know just giving money to poor doesn't solve the problem. My strategy was to apply HBS/Wharton/Stanford in 2nd Round and Insead/LBS in 3rd Round if I didn't get into any of schools I would apply in 2nd Round. any advice? Based on the short and long term goal, which school do you think would suit me? (0)

alexbr4 Verified User. Likes Earned: 1576 Long term goal is laudable, and works well with your experiences I think. Important to address the "how" behind the goal, if asked. I'm a bit confused by your choice of rounds. Try to avoid Round 3s where you can. Might also consider 1-2 more M7, outside of the top 3. That said, with your goals and your profile, you need to ace the GRE and attend the very best program you can. (0)

alexbr4 Verified User. Likes Earned: 1576 More details on this candidacy in this episode of Wire Taps: https://www.clearadmit.com/2019/09/episode-51-wire-taps-mbb-aspirations-startup-experience-dual-citizenship-and-more/ (0)