IMD - 02-12-2024 | Clear Admit ApplyWire

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February 12, 2024 4:49pm ET

Applying: IMD, MIT Sloan, Northwestern / Kellogg, UCLA Anderson, Yale SOM

Intake Year: 2025

Pre-MBA Career: Healthcare

Post-MBA Target Industry: Other

GRE: 319

GPA: 3.5

Years of Work Experience: 6

Location: Boston

Post MBA Location: Europe or US (East or West coast, not in the middle)

Notes:

I feel I'm in a sticky situation. I applied this season to the Georgetown online program, have interviewed, am likely to get in there. My research and self-reflection have convinced me that a full-time program is probably the best for my career goals. My main concern is whether I'll be too old to start in the fall of '25. I'll turn 29 in October which would make me 30 at time of matriculation, 32 when I graduate.

That is one reason why I'm interested in the one-year program at IMD. The other is I just love the program's focus on self-reflection and think it would be super fun and challenging to live abroad for a year.

The problem is my GRE...I've taken it twice and got the same score both times. Q = 155, V = 164. I feel it's too low to apply to IMD now and get in for their January '24 class. I have another re-take scheduled in March but will have to make a decision on Georgetown before I hear back from IMD.

Trying my best but I'm not sure I can get the score up, so what should do? Should I put in an application to IMD with the low score, should I wait until next season, or should I accept the offer to Georgetown online (has the full-time MBA window closed for me)?

Some additional info:
-Major in college: Neuroscience and history
-College extracurriculars: Swim team, journalism club
-Work experience: HealthTech with a focus on surgical robotics. Project managed a team of contractors for 2 years. Now I am an Engineer working on software development teams (note: my title is engineer but I do not have an engineering degree, ergo the bad quant score).
-Extracurriculars: significant volunteering with LGBTQ+ organizations at work, board member for a well known heart disease non-profit (4+ hrs/month).

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Show Comments (5) Last: February 22, 2024

alexbr4 Verified User. Likes Earned: 1618 What are your post MBA goals? While I think a GRE retake is important, you might also do some additional coursework to brush up your quant profile? MBA Math, Business Fundamentals from GMAC are examples.

All said, might still be worth applying to IMD, but I’d want to know more about your goals to understand if one year programs, two year programs or online makes best sense?

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ajdecam Likes Earned: 8 Hey Alex, thanks for the reply. I would like to stay in MedTech. Short term pie in the sky goal is an LDRP at a big med device company. Long term, strategy / business development at the same. My sense is that an online program would accelerate current path in engineering leadership, which is fine (pays well, lots of flexibility, etc) but I wouldn't say it's the thing that I dream about doing. Not entirely sure how to think of 1-vs-2 year in that regard. I definitely plan on taking business fundamentals after the GRE re-take. My concern with putting an application in to IMD with my current profile is that it just doesn't measure up against what they tell applicants to aim for. I feel it would be silly to put in the application when they says in black and white what they're looking for. What do you think about my age? Am I too old now to wait and apply in the fall? (1)

alexbr4 Verified User. Likes Earned: 1618 Fair point, re IMD, if you don’t think your profile currently measures up. But no, you won’t be too old if you apply to programs next season. Key will be to improve the GRE, and show impact and growth at work. ECs look strong, and related. (0)

grichmond Verified User. Likes Earned: 1167 I presume you mean IMD for January of '25, not '24? Given that IMD's process has just begun for the next class, I would apply - and just indicate that you are not satisfied with your current GRE and that you will submit the new score as soon as it's available (you might also mention your pursuit of Business Fundamentals). I think IMD have a March and April rounds, and that these rounds are in the middle of their cycle, so you should be fine.

Also, for the record, I agree that your current test result is a bit low, but I think you bring a lot to the table - unique undergraduate major, solid marks, interesting ECs, clear career plans, etc., so you may be more competitive than you think. Also Switzerland isn't a bad place if you are interested in the healthcare industry.

Of course, a lot of this comes down to your own decision regarding in-person vs. online, since these are clearly going to be very different experiences.

Best of luck!
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ajdecam Likes Earned: 8 Appreciate the feedback! You're right I meant January of '25. I was in touch with an admissions officer at IMD as well as some recent grads who gave the same advice. I put in an application for their February 15th deadline with a re-take date for the GRE. I got an interview invite today. Thanks again for the advice and wish me luck! (1)