660 GMAT + 1 Year of Experience

[tdockery]

This is a bit lengthy but I wanted to provide as much context as possible.

Vital Information

Undergrad: Columbia '09
GPA 3.5 Major: English
Demographics: African-American Female, First Generation College Student
GMAT: 660 1st try, retaking because my practice tests were all above 700 and I basically froze on test day =(

Professional Experience

Sophomore Year Summer 07
-Worked as a corporate strategist/researcher for one of the nation's largest labor union to develop a nationwide strategy to organize food service workers
-Coordinated canvassing operations for Chicago-land area

Junior Year Summer 08
-Selected as 1 of 60 interns out of a candidate pool of 1700 applicants to be in inaugural Google sales intern class
-Designed and completed MBA-level project assessing company's growth opportunity in the trade show industry (presented to Sales Director)
-Created more than 20 in-depth client profiles to track continued growth with Fortune 500 companies

Post Graduation Summer 09
Selected as a Rachel Robinson International Fellow to work for 3 months in Tanzania CARE International
- Developed and executed comprehensive training module to teach CARE staff how to write effective human interest stories
- Authored 10 human interest stories for Women And Girls Empowerment Program for external marketing and fundraising
- Designed new, updated program brochure for Kinondoni branch of Women And Girls Empowerment program

Since September 09
Working in Google Affiliate Sales Network as an Account Coordinator.
-Support and help manage a 10 million + annual book of business with Tier 1, Fortune 500 Retailers

Extracurriculars (Undergrad)
President of Black Students Organization
-Managed $10,000+ Annual budget and raised $4000+ through grants and strategic partnerships
-Initiated several new programs that are still in existence today

President of my Sorority
- Generated more than $1,500 additional funds through aggressive grant application strategy
- Recognized nationally at 46th Eastern Regional Conference as Chapter of the Year and Academic Excellence Chapter under my leadership
-Also held a regional chair position

Elected as a University Senator in my Senior Year

Taught SAT Prep Classes for students Newark, NJ and Harlem for two years

Extracurriculars (Professional)
- Revamped MOSAIC Chicago (Employee diversity group) by creating internal website, promo video, and planning several office-wide events to increase membership and awareness

- Working as a Team Lead on independent Black Business Outreach Project to increase digital savviness of black owned businesses

- Mentor for Summer Intern

Why Now:

Went to Tanzania, basically changed my life and ignited (confirmed) a passion to work in East Africa. Want to work in Google Africa in Business Development, but a base requirement is a MBA to join that team. Also, i would like to round out my liberal arts undergrad education with the more practical business acumen an MBA would provide

Target Schools

HBS (top choice because of strong brand (duh!), general management focus, and their receptiveness to younger applicants, but obviously long shot)

Yale (I feel I might have a better chance of getting in and I liked what i have read of their program)

Kellogg (Mostly for their 3 year JD/MBA program, but I know the B school is also a serious reach)

In terms of quant, I plan on taking a finance class at U of C in the fall, but i dont know how I can integrate this into my app since I will be applying Round 1. Additionally, I use a quite a bit of excel in my day to day job, especially in regards to clients' revenue numbers and projecting our own quarterly revenue targets.

I would just like general feedback about my chances and how to address obvious weaknesses in my application (lack of professional experience and lack of quantitative experience).

I would appreciate ANY feedback!
Thank you!

[mbamission]

Hi TDockery,

Thanks for sharing your profile details. You definitely have a unique background and a focused reason as to why you want to get an MBA after just one year experience. You will want to make that story as clear and compelling as possible in your essays. You will also want to coach your recommenders to stress your maturity, leadership, and that you have handled MBA work already.

Since the requirement to work at your dream job doesn't specify where your MBA needs to come from, you may want to introduce some less competitive schools into the mix. You may be sacrificing brand name, but you will be able to reach your goal of joining Google Africa quicker.

Either way, it is OK to mention in your optional essay that you are taking these extra quant courses even if you're just starting them when you write your essays. You mention you are already retaking the GMAT, and if you can break the 700 plane you will likely ease one of the concerns in your profile.

Since it is impossible to change your age, you will need to try and optimize your application by stressing what you have accomplished in a short period of time, the impact your Tanzania trip had on you, and why it's critical you get back there sooner rather than later.

Best of luck!
Daniel Richards
http://www.mbamission.com

Read the mbaMission Insider's Guides (14 individual school titles)

Visit the mbaMission Blog

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[mbamission]

Hi TDockery,

Thanks for sharing your profile details. You definitely have a unique background and a focused reason as to why you want to get an MBA after just one year experience. You will want to make that story as clear and compelling as possible in your essays. You will also want to coach your recommenders to stress your maturity, leadership, and that you have handled MBA work already.

Since the requirement to work at your dream job doesn't specify where your MBA needs to come from, you may want to introduce some less competitive schools into the mix. You may be sacrificing brand name, but you will be able to reach your goal of joining Google Africa quicker.

Either way, it is OK to mention in your optional essay that you are taking these extra quant courses even if you're just starting them when you write your essays. You mention you are already retaking the GMAT, and if you can break the 700 plane you will likely ease one of the concerns in your profile.

Since it is impossible to change your age, you will need to try and optimize your application by stressing what you have accomplished in a short period of time, the impact your Tanzania trip had on you, and why it's critical you get back there sooner rather than later.

Best of luck!
Daniel Richards
http://www.mbamission.com

Read the mbaMission Insider's Guides (14 individual school titles)

Visit the mbaMission Blog

Follow mbaMission on Twitter