Strategy Guides

Hello all,

I want to get your thoughts. I am a 30/white/male applicant from Caucasus.
2.87 GPA (71.65/100), 750 Gmat Classic. 7+ years of Product management experience (Fintech/Banking, AI, and Govtech domains). Several extracurriculars, Volunteer experiences, and lots of activities.

I have applied through the last 2 cycles; m7 and t15 schools. I got an interview from Booth and Stern last year and both went well, but I got rejected, and I got an interview from Ross this cycle and got rejected after waitlist.

So questions:

Should I apply through 3rd round and consider t20 schools? or

Should I stay till round 1 next cycle and apply again?

Which makes sense more? Will being 31 before matriculation for US schools weak point of my application? Post-MBA goal is also PM-related positions in Big Tech companies. Should I reconsider my goal? Is the current situation in the US tech job market an issue for me as an international?

Thanks in advance

I’m a final-year Business Data Analytics major at ASU with a 3.55 GPA and multiple Dean’s List honors. I’ve completed three internships across strategy consulting, analytics, and supply chain, and recently accepted a full-time Data Analyst offer at a mid-sized firm in Phoenix. I plan to work for 1–2 years before starting my MBA, with long-term goals in consulting or strategic leadership roles at top firms or global corporations.

I’ve had the opportunity to connect closely with Tre Coles from Tepper, who shared, “Your background and leadership skills would be a great fit at Tepper, and we would be lucky to have you.” He also encouraged me to highlight my personal story, resilience, and leadership journey in my application. Tre further supported my interest by offering a full application fee waiver, which I truly appreciated as a sign of Tepper’s belief in my candidacy.

Outside academics, I’ve demonstrated perseverance and leadership—most notably during my recovery from a serious ankle injury and surgery while still managing full-time coursework and an internship. I’ve also earned 11 intramural soccer trophies during undergrad and served as a leader in various extracurricular activities, which helped sharpen my teamwork, grit, and time management.

Tepper is my top choice for its quantitative rigor, tight-knit community, and flexibility to explore different career tracks. I’m visiting campus this week and am truly excited to engage in the class visit and student lunch. I look forward to further strengthening my candidacy and would appreciate any feedback to improve my profile.