| Author |
 Topic  |
|
AdmissionsConsultants
Admissions Expert
USA
2124 Posts |
 Posted - 06/06/2004 : 10:29:44
|
Hi and thanks for your inquiry.
I am wondering about my chances for the Langone part time program at NYU Stern. I am 31, with 9 years of work experience.
Langone is still accepting applications past the May 15 deadline. However, you are going to have rush to submit something soon and if you wait another year your work experience may really push the upper bounds of what they seek in applicants.
School: I graduated from Worcester Polytechnic Institute with a BSME, with about a 3.2 GPA. I scored my highest grades with my team-based project work, which included a semester abroad in Moscow working with the design team for the Int'l Space Station. My grades in high-level mathematics and science classes were average (B's/C's). I was very active in college with extracurricular activities (sorority/sports/drama).
The GPA can likely be mitigated, particularly with a strong GMAT score.
Work: I worked as an engineer for a year after college, but left to explore the film industry as a career. I quickly worked my way into a small catering company in NYC as an operations manager, and after a few years, left to start an event planning company with a partner. After 3 relatively successful but financially stressful years, I left to branch out and consult in other industries with larger companies to gain managerial and operational experience. I consulted in the healthcare industry as an operational and developmental manager for a year, where I re-developed the administrative department to facilitate a large growth spurt for the company, and managed 20 employees. Currently, I am employed as a full-time manager at another healthcare company, where I oversee 50 admin, clinical, and marketing employees. I report to the president of this small company and manage the daily operations and oversee corporate development of the company.
OK, I skimmed this as this is getting pretty long for the complimentary read over. I will be glad to assign you to a consultant who can take the time to fully review your background and, within an initial one-hour consultation, cover far more material than it is possible for me to cover here. Additionally, our consultants actually do the consulting (not yours truly) and they are far more knowledgeable about the admission process.
Other: I scored a lowly 500 on the GMAT, which I took in May '04. I have a 26 (44%) in verbal, a 33 (39%) in quant and a 5.0 AWA. However, I have well-developed extracurricular activities, including the creation and management of a film and theater group in NYC, which is very active. Regarding 'why nyu/why now' question, I feel I addressed that succinctly in my essays - I have the support of my company, and the finances, to take on a part-time program now, and the team-based approach of the Langone program is perfectly suited to my strengths.
Applicants with low 500 GMAT scores have gained admission to Langone in the past and it happens with some regularity. However, if you have already submitted your application, then I’m not sure what I can tell you as it won’t affect your outcome.
My essays were well developed and (hopefully) creative. The first included a more cohesive explanation of my work history, and detailed my escalating leadership roles in business. A second essay illustrated my teamwork ability via my experience producing a short film; and my 'creative essay' was a submission of a hand-drawn 'treasure map', where I tried to illustrate my past experiences in work and extracurricular activities as an adventurous road-map to success. I'm hoping that wasn't too 'out there' for the admissions committee, but they did say to be as creative as possible....
Those essays could work. I’d have to read them and know more about your story and other potential essay topics that weren’t used to determine if they were ideal.
Best of luck with your Langone application!
Sincerely,
David Petersam
DPetersam@admissionsconsultants.com
703.242.5885
Admissions committee experience from the top b-schools
AdmissionsConsultants
703.242.5885 |
 |
|
|
boojie
Underclassman
2 Posts |
Posted - 06/06/2004 : 12:55:40
|
Thank you David - and sorry about the length of my original post!  |
|
|
|
y82benji
'04 Poster of the Year!
USA
601 Posts |
Posted - 06/06/2004 : 17:58:51
|
| I honestly have to say that I am impressed by the effort that the admissions expert David puts into these responses. This site is really a good way to get word out about your company's consulting services and generate confidence in the product you offer. |
|
|
|
cavanbas
Underclassman
3 Posts |
Posted - 06/06/2004 : 21:57:46
|
Hi,
I will be starting the MPP program at Harvard's Kennedy School this fall, and I'm looking at MBA programs that have joint degree agreements with the school (MIT, Chicago, Kellogg, HBS, Tuck, Columbia, and Stanford).
(My background: 3.8 GPA in classics from second-tier flagship state school. Very limited quant. coursework, tho' I aced calc.) A lot of college leadership activities (one of which garnered national media attention). Started career consulting in China (9 months), co-founded an import company in the States (3 years), and then did international trade work at the Commerce Department (2 years). Passed level 1 CFA exam. Haven't taken the GMAT yet.)
1. What suggestions/recommendations do you have for someone in my position?
2. Is there any benefit to being a joint degree applicant who has already been accepted to the other half of the program? Neutral? Or might it be a disadvantage in any way? I've heard conflicting info about this.
3. I just turned 31. Do I need to address being a bit older than the average applicant, or just leave it be? (I didn't finish school until I was 24 because I changed my major and needed to do additional coursework; I also took a year off when I was 20 to travel.)
Thank you.
|
Edited by - cavanbas on 06/07/2004 16:46:01 |
|
|
|
AdmissionsConsultants
Admissions Expert
USA
2124 Posts |
Posted - 06/07/2004 : 07:57:42
|
Hi and thanks for your inquiry.
Hi,
I will be starting the MPP program at Harvard's Kennedy School this fall, and I'm looking at MBA programs that have joint degree agreements with the school (MIT, Chicago, Kellogg, HBS, Tuck, Columbia, and Stanford).
(My background: 3.8 GPA in classics from second-tier flagship state school. Very limited quant. coursework, tho' I aced calc.) A lot of college leadership activities (one of which garnered national media attention). Started career consulting in China (9 months), co-founded an import company in the States (3 years), and then did international trade work at the Commerce Department (2 years). Passed level 1 CFA exam. Haven't taking the GMAT yet.)
1. What suggestions/recommendations do you have for someone in my position?
If you do well on the GMAT, you will be fine. Business school isn’t that quantitative and you don’t have to ace 4 calculus classes and 3 stats classes to demonstrate the academic ability to succeed in the MBA classroom. The biggest thing you need to do is build a solid story explaining why you want an MBA, particularly in light of the fact that you have just started an MPP. There are some good reasons for such a joint degree and I’m sure one or more can be tailored to your specific background and ambitions. Just realize it will be even more important for you as you have to ensure you (1) avoid the professional student/degree collector label and (2) explain why you’re really not backtracking from a decision you made just a year ago to pursue a separate degree.
2. Is there any benefit to being a joint degree applicant who has already been accepted to the other half of the program? Neutral? Or might in be a
disadvantage in any way? I've heard conflicting info about this.
I would argue it is neutral, but, as I mentioned above, it does make the need to explain why you want an MBA even more crucial to your candidacy.
3. I just turned 31. Do I need to address being a bit older than the average applicant, or just leave it be? (I didn't finish school until I was 24 because I changed my major and needed to do additional coursework; I also took a year off when I was 20 to travel.)
This is a really good question. You are around the age when our consultants normally start advising their clients to begin addressing this issue. The three key factors here are (1) the demographics of the students at the specific school being targeted, (2) your specific applicant "story", and (3) your particular career progression. My gut says the determining factor would be just how much responsibility you had at the Commerce Department.
Thank you.
No problem! We have consultants with admissions committee experience from 4 of the schools you listed above. Please don’t hesitate to contact me directly if you would like professional assistance with your applications.
Sincerely,
David Petersam
DPetersam@admissionsconsultants.com
703.242.5885
Admissions committee experience from the top b-schools
AdmissionsConsultants
703.242.5885 |
|
|
|
JDMBA
Underclassman
USA
1 Posts |
Posted - 06/07/2004 : 20:11:59
|
Hi, I had a question.
I got sick during college, and it caused my GPA to suffer terribly for my first 3 semesters. In fact, it was about 1.7. I was treated at great expense, and for the rest of my collegiate career, my GPA was 3.78. I graduated with honors and a 3.39 CUM. I accepted a scholarship to law school only to get sick again, and because things had deteriorated financially in my family, I couldn't afford treatment, which cost close to $20,000 a year in meds. As a result, I got off to a deplorable start in law school and actually considered quitting in order to concentrate on my health. After discussing it with my family, I promised to muddle through without, and I did manage to survive albeit with a GPA of around 2.4. Simply, I just missed too much classtime to do what I had to do.
I have been working for a while now, and I now have the resources to pay for my own medication. I feel fine. What impact will my bad law school grades have? |
Edited by - JDMBA on 06/07/2004 20:20:22 |
|
|
|
AdmissionsConsultants
Admissions Expert
USA
2124 Posts |
Posted - 06/07/2004 : 21:09:42
|
Hi and thanks for your inquiry.
Hi, I had a question.
I got sick during college, and it caused my GPA to suffer terribly for my first 3 semesters. In fact, it was about 1.7. I was treated at great expense, and for the rest of my collegiate career, my GPA was 3.78. I graduated with honors and a 3.39 CUM. I accepted a scholarship to law school only to get sick again, and because things had deteriorated financially in my family, I couldn't afford treatment, which cost close to $20,000 a year in meds. As a result, I got off to a deplorable start in law school and actually considered quitting in order to concentrate on my health. After discussing it with my family, I promised to muddle through without, and I did manage to survive albeit with a GPA of around 2.4. Simply, I just missed too much classtime to do what I had to do.
I have been working for a while now, and I now have the resources to pay for my own medication. I feel fine. What impact will my bad law school grades have?
Good question. Generally more weight is given to undergrad grades given the more prevalent grade inflation present in graduate programs. However, the low GPA is not going to help you and it is the most recent example of your academic performance. If you can spin a good story about how the illness affected your grades without coming across as too excusatory and convince them that you will perform to the best of your ability in b-school, you could be competitive with the 3.78 “trend GPA” and a decent GMAT.
Best of luck with your applications!
Sincerely,
David Petersam
DPetersam@admissionsconsultants.com
703.242.5885
Admissions committee experience from the top b-schools
AdmissionsConsultants
703.242.5885 |
|
|
|
Tesh010979
Underclassman
2 Posts |
Posted - 06/08/2004 : 16:28:08
|
Hi,
I am very excited about the prospect of going to Business School. I have a few questions pertaining to where and if I am qualified enough to get in.
I'm thinking about going to get my MBA on a part-time basis. I currently work for Factiva, A Dow Jones and Reuters Company as a Commissions Accountant for 2 years. I graduated from Rutgers in 2002 with a very low 2.4 GPA, but my major GPA (Economics) was around a 3. I have scored a 640 on my GMATs. I am wondering:
1. If I have the qualifications to get into a part-time program in NJ perhaps FDU or Seton Hall
2. If not, what can I do so I can eventually go for my MBA.
Many thanks
Ritesh |
|
|
|
AdmissionsConsultants
Admissions Expert
USA
2124 Posts |
Posted - 06/08/2004 : 17:47:32
|
Hi Ritesh and thanks for your inquiry.
Hi,
I am very excited about the prospect of going to Business School. I have a few questions pertaining to where and if I am qualified enough to get in.
I'm thinking about going to get my MBA on a part-time basis. I currently work for Factiva, A Dow Jones and Reuters Company as a Commissions Accountant for 2 years. I graduated from Rutgers in 2002 with a very low 2.4 GPA, but my major GPA (Economics) was around a 3. I have scored a 640 on my GMATs. I am wondering:
1. If I have the qualifications to get into a part-time program in NJ perhaps FDU or Seton Hall
2. If not, what can I do so I can eventually go for my MBA.
Your work experience is a bit on the low side – assuming you have the average career progression as the typical applicant to these programs – and I didn’t get a good feel for your extracurricular activities and ‘wow’ factor. My gut though is that, with a well-prepared application, you would be a strong applicant at either of these two programs.
Many thanks
Ritesh
Best of luck with your applications!
Sincerely,
David Petersam
DPetersam@admissionsconsultants.com
703.242.5885
Admissions committee experience from the top b-schools
AdmissionsConsultants
703.242.5885 |
|
|
|
Grizzled
Underclassman
1 Posts |
Posted - 06/09/2004 : 12:41:11
|
First of all I will say that I have indeed read all twenty pages of previous posts to get a feel for the forum. It appears as though most of the posted questions pertain to applicants trying to gain admission to top-notch B-Schools.
I am more interested in getting some information on gaining acceptance to a, Fall 2005, local state university or online MBA (NOT Phoenix or the like, a traditional bricks and mortar institution) program. I feel this is a more realistic and practical alternative given my age, profession, and finances.
Quick rundown
Age: 43 (could pass for thirty three easily)
Personal: Married, one child
Work Experience: Currently consulting in IT and Training. I worked many years in the environmental services industry and in IT. I have also worked in academia as an e-learning developer at both the K-12 and Higher Ed levels.
Academics: Dismal. I graduated with about a 2.0, due mostly to substance abuse problems I beat twenty years ago! I have not taken the GMAT, but I did take the LSAT several years ago and NAILED it, 95 percentile score I believe. I am VERY good at standardized testing and actually have designed many. I feel confident that should I undertake this process, I can do very well on the GMAT. I have thought about retaking some calculus and stats classes to help demonstrate I can handle the quantitative end of things. No problem
Career Goals: Like many of the posters, I am looking for a leg-up (or out) of the rat race that is IT. I would like to think that even a “low end” MBA program would open up a lot of doors for me. I know this is generic but I plan on spending a LOT of time developing application essays.
Extracurricular: You gotta be kidding. I have traveled across the states and world earning a living for my family.
Bottom Line: Short or resorting to a degree mill like Phoenix, do I even have a shot of getting into a state university/online program if I really nail the GMAT?
|
|
|
|
AdmissionsConsultants
Admissions Expert
USA
2124 Posts |
Posted - 06/09/2004 : 13:09:41
|
Hi and thanks for your inquiry.
First of all I will say that I have indeed read all twenty pages of previous posts to get a feel for the forum. It appears as though most of the posted questions pertain to applicants trying to gain admission to top-notch B-Schools.
I welcome all reasonable inquiries and don’t mind stating something again that I typed up a few pages back. Don’t get me wrong, I’m impressed with your tenacity; I just want other readers to know I don’t mind occasionally restating certain things.
I am more interested in getting some information on gaining acceptance to a, Fall 2005, local state university or online MBA (NOT Phoenix or the like, a traditional bricks and mortar institution) program. I feel this is a more realistic and practical alternative given my age, profession, and finances.
Quick rundown
Age: 43 (could pass for thirty three easily)
Personal: Married, one child.
The schools are going to be far more interested with your real age.
Work Experience: Currently consulting in IT and Training. I worked many years in the environmental services industry and in IT. I have also worked in academia as an e-learning developer at both the K-12 and Higher Ed levels.
Sounds like there might be some good 'wow' factors here.
Academics: Dismal. I graduated with about a 2.0, due mostly to substance abuse problems I beat twenty years ago! I have not taken the GMAT, but I did take the LSAT several years ago and NAILED it, 95 percentile score I believe. I am VERY good at standardized testing and actually have designed many. I feel confident that should I undertake this process, I can do very well on the GMAT. I have thought about retaking some calculus and stats classes to help demonstrate I can handle the quantitative end of things. No problem
Depending on your GMAT score, I don’t think you will need an alternate transcript given your school aspirations (third or fourth tier) and the amount of time that has transpired since your 2.0 transcript was completed.
Career Goals: Like many of the posters, I am looking for a leg-up (or out) of the rat race that is IT. I would like to think that even a “low end” MBA program would open up a lot of doors for me. I know this is generic but I plan on spending a LOT of time developing application essays.
Unfortunately, you are going to be part of an extremely competitive applicant pool. Remember the admissions committees want well rounded classes so they want to put a limit on the number of students with IT backgrounds. With a little work, you should be able to differentiate yourself favorably from the majority of other IT applicants.
Extracurricular: You gotta be kidding. I have traveled across the states and world earning a living for my family.
This is another obstacle, but it too can be cleared with the proper spin in your story.
Bottom Line: Short or resorting to a degree mill like Phoenix, do I even have a shot of getting into a state university/online program if I really nail the GMAT?
With well-prepared applications, you should be competitive at the tier schools you are targeting.
Don't hesitate to contact me directly if you would like professional assistance with your applications. We work with applicants to many different tier schools and we have a consultant who was an Associate Director of Admission at a school similar to the ones you are targeting before she joined University of Chicago GSB with the same job title.
Best of luck with your applications!
Sincerely,
David Petersam
DPetersam@admissionsconsultants.com
703.242.5885
Admissions committee experience from the top b-schools
AdmissionsConsultants
703.242.5885 |
|
|
|
summer
Underclassman
USA
1 Posts |
Posted - 06/11/2004 : 19:08:58
|
I have applied to NYU Langone part-time mba and want to know my chances there.. female, 27, indian, work exp: 4yrs IT firm (3 yrs in India, 1 yr US), currently working as business analyst for insurance client.
I did some great essays with very good career progression and extra-curricular activities (with continuity, not one-time activities) - dance, music, sports, social service
Now that I had a chance to evaluate myself thru essays, Iam beginning to think I should go in for full-time MBA. I am aspiring to move to financial services and doing MBA part-time, I am not sure that I would have enough time to network and make a career switch.
What are my chances at top 10 B-school? I have GMAT 680, and Im willing to take it again and think I can improve by around 30-50 points. Ive got decent GPA 3.6 (graduated in computer science)
thank you for your time to read thru my inquiry
|
|
|
|
AdmissionsConsultants
Admissions Expert
USA
2124 Posts |
Posted - 06/11/2004 : 19:20:52
|
Hi and thanks for your inquiry.
I have applied to NYU Langone part-time mba and want to know my chances there.. female, 27, indian, work exp: 4yrs IT firm (3 yrs in India, 1 yr US), currently working as business analyst for insurance client.
I did some great essays with very good career progression and extra-curricular activities (with continuity, not one-time activities) - dance, music, sports, social service
With a well-prepared application, you should be extremely competitive at Langone.
Now that I had a chance to evaluate myself thru essays, Iam beginning to think I should go in for full-time MBA. I am aspiring to move to financial services and doing MBA part-time, I am not sure that I would have enough time to network and make a career switch.
One major reason a full-time, two-year MBA program is often recommended is to help aid the student in making a career switch. There are a lot of people in the IT field who also wish to begin new careers, so any advantage you can muster, such as making use of a summer internship, will definitely be beneficial.
I’m glad you have done the soul searching now before you possibly matriculate into Langone. If you feel a full-time program would be more beneficial, then you should respectfully decline any offer Langone might make.
What are my chances at top 10 B-school? I have GMAT 680, and Im willing to take it again and think I can improve by around 30-50 points. Ive got decent GPA 3.6 (graduated in computer science)
With a good career progression, good extracurriculars and a higher GMAT, I think you should be competitive at a top 10 b-school this fall.
thank you for your time to read thru my inquiry
No problem!
Best of luck with your applications!
Sincerely,
David Petersam
DPetersam@admissionsconsultants.com
703.242.5885
Admissions committee experience from the top b-schools
AdmissionsConsultants
703.242.5885 |
|
|
|
aehealy
Underclassman
2 Posts |
Posted - 06/14/2004 : 16:33:30
|
Hello David,
I would like to attend a top-25 business school in 2006. I graduated from a highly-ranked liberal arts college with a dual major in math and political science. As part of my math major, I took calculus and statistics but I never took any econ classes and the college did not offer traditional finance. I did well in college but my GPA might not appear stellar to a top-ranked MBA program - about a 3.3.
Considering I have more than a year before I will need to submit my business school applications, would you recommend that I take econ and finance classes at a local college or university to both boost my academic profile and demonstrate a commitment to excel at a top MBA program?
Thanks,
Anne |
|
|
|
AdmissionsConsultants
Admissions Expert
USA
2124 Posts |
Posted - 06/14/2004 : 16:47:16
|
Hi Anne and thanks for your inquiry.
Hello David,
I would like to attend a top-25 business school in 2006. I graduated from a highly-ranked liberal arts college with a dual major in math and political science. As part of my math major, I took calculus and statistics but I never took any econ classes and the college did not offer traditional finance. I did well in college but my GPA might not appear stellar to a top-ranked MBA program - about a 3.3.
Depending on the school’s policy concerning grade inflation and your GMAT, you might be able to get by with your current GPA. It is, indeed, a big below the average for the typical top 25 applicant but it’s not so low as to be a major hindrance in your admissions efforts.
Considering I have more than a year before I will need to submit my business school applications, would you recommend that I take econ and finance classes at a local college or university to both boost my academic profile and demonstrate a commitment to excel at a top MBA program?
Again, this depends. If you are working as, say, an investment banking analyst, it will not be necessary to demonstrate further interest in business. If your career is distinctly non business oriented, then a short alternate transcript may be one way to help your positioning.
Don’t hesitate to contact me directly if you would like to schedule a pre admissions consultation with one of our consultants. They can certainly delve into these issues – and many more – in far more detail and ensure you are optimally positioned for your applications as soon as possible.
Thanks,
Anne
Sincerely,
David Petersam
DPetersam@admissionsconsultants.com
703.242.5885
Admissions committee experience from the top b-schools
AdmissionsConsultants
703.242.5885 |
|
|
|
Topic |
|
|
|
Ask AdmissionsConsultants
