Fridays from the Frontline

5 years full-time work experience with solid part time while in school: Local community bank, promoted twice. Teller, to credit analyst, to the only auditor by 22. Took 7 years, started in high school.

Currently working in Fortune 100 manufacturing. Promoted twice now - Auditor to Finance Analyst, to Senior Analyst. Have multiple quantifiable projects I can call out that saved money. Been here for just under 4 years.

Fair amount of volunteer work, as well as plenty of extracurriculars (in a band, running group, etc.)

If I can’t hit the targets, any thoughts on good fallbacks?

I went to a well known private women’s college for undergrad and also have a master’s in public policy from an Ivy with a 3.7 GPA. My GRE is low I know that…but I previously applied to all the top policy programs and got into all with scholarship $$. I simply didn’t have time to retake, quite frankly I work in education so I don’t have money to spend on test prep and figured I’d try my luck with that sh*t old score again. I was a humanities major in undergrad but my masters degree required me to take stats and Econ classes which I hope will supplement my very subpar GRE.

I am a pretty non-traditional applicant. My background is in education and non-profit work, I currently serve in a leadership capacity and oversee a team that directly impacts hundreds of educators and thousands of students across the country. I am first-generation (in all aspects), a black woman. I applied through the Consortium and just received a membership admittance and am waiting to hear back from member schools. My hope is to transition into DEI talent work in education and in my apps leaned into the personal aspects of how this work affects me as a diverse candidate who works in education leadership. I tried to highlight how what sets me a part from a more traditional applicant can be strengths in a business school community, and why the decision to pursue another graduate degree at this point in my career will help me broaden my skill set to propel my career forward.

I also co-founded a grassroots org that supplied technology directly to students and families during remote learning pandemic times, served in elected leadership in my master’s program, have completed a rigorous policy fellowship, and have served on an elected city task force where I live and have led on some large scale successful policy campaigns at work. I have received interviews at my schools and I think they went pretty well! However, I know my gre is trash, I’ve never been a standardized test taker but I hope I have a shot. Help.

I am one of the key leaders responsible for launching a low-cost airline in West Africa during covid-19 as well as securing a multi-million dollar investment at a critical phase in our in journey a well as bootstrapping the airline with my own personal funds and establishing a talent pipeline program to train a new generation of aviators ( pilots, engineers, cabin crew etc). I am considering the MSx program at GSB and the Sloan Fellow MIT.
I am aware that MIT Sloan Fellow program ( one-year program does not require test scores). However, GSB requires an admission test. I am planning to take my test in December. I don't feel prepared and nor do I feel that GMAT is a true reflection of an individuals intellectual vitality. Thus, I am relying on my strong work experience on the Africa continent +start-ups. Any advice?