Profile Evaluation please

[dvfedorov]

Hi,

Please evaluate my profile, summarized below. I'm planning to apply to the ten top MBA programs (Harvard, Wharton, etc) next fall in round 1.

Please provide your honest opinion on my admission chances to at least one of these schools, and what areas I should focus on improving. My best guess right now is that I need more direct community involvement (organizing fundraisers or something), and getting a good GMAT score.

25-yr old male
Russian (US/Russian dual citizenship)
2007 Econ grad, small liberal arts college
GPA: 3.5/4, but with vast improvement in last 2 years (averaged 3.8 over last four semesters while overloading; brought cumulative GPA from 1.9 to 3.5)
3 years work exp as analyst with Russian division of unique, market-leading financial services company dealing with shareholder activism and corporate governance
GMAT: haven't taken yet; currently enrolled in classes - please assume that I get a reasonably good score for the moment
Extracurriculars: VP of Membership of Toastmasters club; involved with online Christian help program; no other community leadership involvement at the moment
Rec. Letters: will be from college professors and two former managers

[mbamission]

Hello,

Thank you for your inquiry. Assuming that you do well on the GMAT, I think that your assessment of what you need to work on is accurate. You may need to focus on activities that will allow you to demonstrate impact and leadership outside of work, perhaps in the organizations that you are already involved with.
In the meanwhile, you can also If you haven’t already done so, you can work on developing your long term goals and researching the resources of the schools that you’re interested in so that you can articulate, in an informed way, how these schools can help you achieve your goals. Assuming that you do well on the GMAT, you’re in a good place!
Sincerely,

Akiba Smith-Francis

MBA Mission
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