Alternative Transcript Courses / Profile Evaluation

[lawrencewchen]

Hi mbaMission,

I am looking to build an alternative transcript, and I was looking for some help picking 2-3 classes to take through UCLA extension. If you could also do a profile evaluation, I would appreciate that as well!

Here is some background on me:
GPA:
3.55 - Small liberal arts college (not a brand name, but within top 100 National Liberal Arts Colleges from U.S. News)
Double major
- Communication Studies (focus on Organizational Communication) top 3 in class, Lambda Pi Eta member
- Religious Studies (Christian studies and side focus on Asian religions especially Hinduism with India study abroad)
Music minor

GMAT:
750 (Q50, V41), IR 8, AWA 5.5

Industries:
Marketing/Fundraising/Brand Consulting for Non-profits (10 months and counting - plan to stay here until I attend b-school in 2016 - I will be matriculating when I am 25).
Previously IT Consulting (9 months)

Extra-Curriculars:
- Co-founding (COO/CMO) a non-profit for international students in the U.S., working towards 501(c)(3) status currently
- Music for all my life, and love it (Vocals, Guitar, Electric Guitar, Drum Set, Bass Guitar, Piano, Cello)
- Church - interned at 2 churches during college, led in multiple life groups, play music consistently for services, currently volunteer in the largest young adult's ministry in the US, local and international relief trips, many many other leadership opportunities.
- Founded Christian community non-profit in high school that grew to about 1,000 people, it is still active I am an advisor now.

Goal:
MBB consulting for two or four years then start/join a non-profit in cross-cultural and inter-religious reconciliation and dialogue.

Targets:
HBS, Stanford, Wharton, Tuck, Kellogg, Haas, Fuqua
Potentially with MA in International Studies or MPP dual degree program.

As for an alternative transcript, my reasoning is that I don't have a single quantitative course (except macroeconomics which I got a B in) in my undergraduate transcript because I was waived due to my high school SAT and AP scores. I got a 5 in AP Calculus AB and a 4 in AP Statistics in high school. Both of these scores are reflected on my transcript in college as 5 and 4 not a letter grade.

I was wondering if you could help me focus on what I should take. Should I even think about retaking Calculus and Statistics, or should I focus on Finance, Accounting, Economics instead? Does actually matter what I take in the end?

Thanks for the help!

Lawrence

[mbamissionjenK]

Hi Lawrence,

Thanks for your post. Your profile was quite interesting to read... as you said, no quant coursework at all, and yet you nailed that GMAT! Congrats on that. The GMAT score will go far in showing that you can handle the academic rigor of b-school and alleviate some of the non-quant background concerns. In terms of course work that could be helpful, statistics is great as very useful in b-school and the business world; finance or accounting would also work.

In general it sounds like you have a strong profile with a passion for what you pursue which will likely come across. Just be sure you spend a lot of time developing those essays, and aim to stress what makes you unique, and that you truly need the MBA and know exactly what you'll do with it, and that you show and explain why each school is right for you. Let us know how else we can help, and keep us posted!