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TC2006
Underclassman
USA
1 Posts |
 Posted - 02/26/2006 : 08:01:33
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Hello David--
I have a question about HBS admissions decisions. I have interviewed with the school in R2 and am curious to know when I can expect to receive their decision. Does HBS hold all decisions until the last day or do they give decisions to applicants at different times until the decision deadline?
Thank you for your help! |
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AdmissionsConsultants
Admissions Expert
USA
2131 Posts |
Posted - 02/26/2006 : 13:32:47
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Hi and thanks for your inquiry.
Dear David:
Thank you in advance for taking the time to address my questions and concerns…I plan to apply to business school in 2008….aiming for top 15 programs, particularly interested in Kellogg, Ross and Marshall...I think a MBA with a marketing focus will further my career as a brand manager...
General Background: us citizen, female, asian american, 29
Academics: undergrad GPA of 3.3 from a second tier national university (philosophy major, business minor)…higher grades in business classes, a GPA of 3.8 in the final 2 semesters…
Masters in simultaneous interpretation GPA 3.75...GMAT: 730 and 750.
I'm not sure why you took it twice, but I would not encourage you under normal applicant circumstances to take it yet again.
Work Experience: moved to China after college as an Expat… did advertising, marketing and account services for several top international companies…held mid to lower senior level positions...decent amount of leadership/ management experience.
Other Experiences: 4+ yrs interpretation/translation work (all in the general business field), taught a lecture series at a chinese university…bi-cultural...published writer/columnist ...speaks 3 languages fluently.
I have several questions and concerns…
1) How much will my lower undergrad GPA affect my chances of getting into a top MBA program? will my higher grades in business class make a difference? Will my higher GPA in my master program be considered in the application process? Is my GMAT score and work experience enough to counter the impact of my undergrad GPA?
The trend looks strong and your GMAT is good. I wouldn't worry about the undergrad GPA. It can be mitigated.
2) I am considering some online UCLA extension courses in the future to review some basic math and business skills (calculus, accounting, finance). Is this a good idea and will a good grade in these courses help me in my future application process?
I'm sure there are other, better uses of your time to improve your positioning.
3) Over all, do you think I stand a fair chance of being accepted into my target schools?
With well-prepared applications, you should be competitive. My only concern is your extracurricular/volunteer activities which weren't discussed here.
I have heard great things about your company. I plan on counseling with your company soon but would love to get some advice in the mean time…Thanks again for your time…
Thank you! It all comes from our consultants, many of whom are full time, meaning they spend their full time working with applicants and not answering posts, maintaining a website, etc. They are the true experts, not yours truly.
My back-of-the-envelope advice would be to quickly shore up any extracurricular activity deficiencies. I did say quickly because you are getting towards the upper end of the age bracket for the MBA.
Best of luck with your applications!
Sincerely,
David Petersam
President
AdmissionsConsultants, Inc.
DPetersam@admissionsconsultants.com
AdmissionsConsultants
703.242.5885 |
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AdmissionsConsultants
Admissions Expert
USA
2131 Posts |
Posted - 02/26/2006 : 13:35:46
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Hi and thanks for your inquiry.
I hear “alternate transcript” mentioned a lot? What is this exactly?
Thanks in advance…
Some applicants will increase their admissions chances by taking some additional classes in specific subjects to demonstrate to an admissions committee that they can clear the academic qualifications hurdle.
Unfortunately, we see all too often cases of applicants who harmed their chances by taking the wrong courses or wasted a lot of time and money by taking too many such classes.
Best of luck with your applications!
Sincerely,
David Petersam
President
AdmissionsConsultants, Inc.
DPetersam@admissionsconsultants.com
AdmissionsConsultants
703.242.5885 |
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AdmissionsConsultants
Admissions Expert
USA
2131 Posts |
Posted - 02/26/2006 : 13:41:27
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Hi John and thanks for your inquiry.
Hi David,
I recently started studying for my GMAT and I hope to apply later this Fall to top US business schools.
One question I had was surrounding 'extra curricular activities' that admission officers may be looking for. I believe that I can build a solid story around my academic and professional background, however I don't have a lot of 'extra curricular activities' per se.
I have been part of leadership teams within my church communities in the past, but other than that, I've primarily been engrossed in my professional life. Do you feel that I can continue to focus on my professional career or would it be more wise to balance my time to show a more 'outside of work' leadership experience? If so, and any suggestions of types of activities that you typically find in successful applicants?
Without knowing more about the type of professional work you do or how long it's been since you've been active in the church communities, it's impossible for me to give you a competent answer to these questions. I can foresee more detailed scenarios where our advice could go either way.
Btw, how do most admission officers view church related leadership exp? Have you found it to be a positive, negative, or neutral subject matter?
It's more or less neutral.
Thanks in advance :)
Cheers,
John.
Best of luck with your applications!
Sincerely,
David Petersam
President
AdmissionsConsultants, Inc.
DPetersam@admissionsconsultants.com
AdmissionsConsultants
703.242.5885 |
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AdmissionsConsultants
Admissions Expert
USA
2131 Posts |
Posted - 02/26/2006 : 13:45:25
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Hi and thanks for your inquiry.
Hello David--
I have a question about HBS admissions decisions. I have interviewed with the school in R2 and am curious to know when I can expect to receive their decision. Does HBS hold all decisions until the last day or do they give decisions to applicants at different times until the decision deadline?
I'm sure you didn't mean it as such, but that's actually a loaded question. Why? Because to increase their yields, some schools make some offers before the stated deadlines. There is no way I'm going to be deemed a "snitch" or exacerbate anxieties by saying anything about any of the schools.
The best thing I can do is tell you to sit tight and wait until their notification deadline.
Thank you for your help!
Best of luck with your applications!
Sincerely,
David Petersam
President
AdmissionsConsultants, Inc.
DPetersam@admissionsconsultants.com
AdmissionsConsultants
703.242.5885 |
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suhas
Underclassman
India
1 Posts |
Posted - 02/27/2006 : 04:20:49
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Dear Dave,
I am sure that you would help me in understanding my chances for top 10 schools.
_________________________________________________________
My details:
Country: India / Age: 27.5
GMAT: 720 (96%), Q 47, V 42
Graduation:
Agriculture (4 year degree), First class with distinction (highest rating you can get in Indian university system). Done well in economics, stats etc.
Have done two year full time post graduate diploma in management. (GPA 2.9 /4.0.. not so great). This involved advanced economics, business subjects
Work Exp: 5 years (Aiming for 2007 admissions, by that time 6.5 years)
1) Started as an Area Sales Manager with an Indian subsidiary of a Crop Biotech Major (3 years). Led a team to develop market for genetically modified cotton in rural India. Very tough environment & highly aggressive targets, dealt with hostile farmers, NGOs, government officials. Developed distribution channel from scratch and successfully built the business in my area from almost zero.
2)A German MNC in agro chemicals business (current job): the company has acquired a biotech firm.
I am working as Manager: Strategic Initiatives- a specially created position to ensure intagration of the acquired company. In my job I form and lead cross functional project teams. In this job I worked on integration plans, led many cross functional teams on various strategic initiatives including reorganization, capacity enhancement, setting up green field plants,strategic planning etc.
One of the interesting initiatives I am currently working on, is elimination of child labor from supply chain of the company. The parent company is facing a major threat to its image because of this problem.
The initiative involves implementation of many social projects to mainstream the children working in supply chain, strategizing to resolve the issue and avoid any damage to the parent company's image, dealing with hostile & friendly NGOs, developing a system for monitoring of the supply chain, building a separate organisation to ensure implementation of the initiatives, ensuring 'no child labor' certification by third party,dealing with press / media etc.
-To manage this project I am leading a cross functional team of supply chain managers, communication managers, government affair managers etc.
Extra Curriculars:
- My child labor project gives me plenty of opportunities to interact with Social organizations. I helped some of them in strengthening their internal processes/systems, organization dvelopment, recruitment etc.
-Participated in many cultural activities in college. Managed a virtuall stock exchange...was involved in students politics etc.
______________________________________________________
Could you please let me know where do i stand.. what I need to do to improve my chances...how can I avail some professional help to improve my chances |
Edited by - suhas on 02/28/2006 04:07:27 |
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dreamscream
Underclassman
4 Posts |
Posted - 02/27/2006 : 22:33:31
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quick follow up question...what is considered the upper age bracket for the top 10 MBA? how does applying in early 30's effect chances when compared with applying in late 20's...
thanks so much...
gin |
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imarobot
Underclassman
2 Posts |
Posted - 02/27/2006 : 23:32:02
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been working aboard for 5 years...but grew up and went to school in the states...
was told that my work situtation will make me an international applicant? is this true? |
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AdmissionsConsultants
Admissions Expert
USA
2131 Posts |
Posted - 02/28/2006 : 12:35:21
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Hi and thanks for your inquiry.
Dear Dave,
I am sure that you would help me in understanding my chances for top 10 schools.
_________________________________________________________
My details:
Country: India / Age: 27.5
GMAT: 720 (96%), Q 47, V 42
Graduation:
Agriculture (4 year degree), First class with distinction (highest rating you can get in Indian university system). Done well in economics, stats etc.
Have done two year full time post graduate diploma in management. (GPA 2.9 /4.0.. not so great). This involved advanced economics, business subjects
If you straight lined this from a 100 score, it's probably skewed too low – which is great for you!
Work Exp: 5 years (Aiming for 2007 admissions, by that time 6.5 years)
1) Started as an Area Sales Manager with an Indian subsidiary of a Crop Biotech Major (3 years). Led a team to develop market for genetically modified cotton in rural India. Very tough environment & highly aggressive targets, dealt with hostile farmers, NGOs, government officials. Developed distribution channel from scratch and successfully built the business in my area from almost zero.
2)A German MNC in agro chemicals business (current job): the company has acquired a biotech firm.
I am working as Manager: Strategic Initiatives- a specially created position to ensure intagration of the acquired company. In my job I form and lead cross functional project teams. In this job I worked on integration plans, led many cross functional teams on various strategic initiatives including reorganization, capacity enhancement, setting up green field plants,strategic planning etc.
One of the interesting initiatives I am currently working on, is elimination of child labor from supply chain of the company. The parent company is facing a major threat to its image because of this problem.
The initiative involves implementation of many social projects to mainstream the children working in supply chain, strategizing to resolve the issue and avoid any damage to the parent company's image, dealing with hostile & friendly NGOs, developing a system for monitoring of the supply chain, building a separate organisation to ensure implementation of the initiatives, ensuring 'no child labor' certification by third party,dealing with press / media etc.
-To manage this project I am leading a cross functional team of supply chain managers, communication managers, government affair managers etc.
I like this work experience a lot. This should give you plenty of fodder for building your story and answering the admission essay questions.
Extra Curriculars:
- My child labor project gives me plenty of opportunities to interact with Social organizations. I helped some of them in strengthening their internal processes/systems, organization dvelopment, recruitment etc.
-Participated in many cultural activities in college. Managed a virtuall stock exchange...was involved in students politics etc.
These look pretty good too!
______________________________________________________
Could you please let me know where do i stand.. what I need to do to improve my chances...how can I avail some professional help to improve my chances
I'm sure you're already aware how competitive your demographic is. Even with a slightly lower-than-average GMAT, I think you can be competitive at the top 10 schools.
To sign up for our services, you can go to our website or call us at the number below. We have an American, native English speaking consultant in Beijing who has been with us for over 5 years now. He works almost exclusively with your demographic.
Best of luck with your applications!
Sincerely,
David Petersam
President
AdmissionsConsultants, Inc.
DPetersam@admissionsconsultants.com
AdmissionsConsultants
703.242.5885 |
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AdmissionsConsultants
Admissions Expert
USA
2131 Posts |
Posted - 02/28/2006 : 13:11:26
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Hi Gin and thanks for your inquiry.
quick follow up question...what is considered the upper age bracket for the top 10 MBA? how does applying in early 30's effect chances when compared with applying in late 20's...
Good question. The clear-as-mud answer is, "It depends." It depends on the applicant's career progression, story themes, etc. As a general rule though, yes, it becomes more difficult to gain admission to a top 2-year campus MBA program as a 30 something applicant than as a 20 something applicant.
thanks so much...
gin
Best of luck with your applications!
Sincerely,
David Petersam
President
AdmissionsConsultants, Inc.
DPetersam@admissionsconsultants.com
AdmissionsConsultants
703.242.5885 |
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AdmissionsConsultants
Admissions Expert
USA
2131 Posts |
Posted - 02/28/2006 : 13:23:00
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Hi and thanks for your inquiry.
been working aboard for 5 years...but grew up and went to school in the states...
was told that my work situtation will make me an international applicant? is this true?
You will most likely need some themes that are a bit more similar to an international applicant to be successful, but, no, you are not an international applicant.
Best of luck with your applications!
Sincerely,
David Petersam
President
AdmissionsConsultants, Inc.
DPetersam@admissionsconsultants.com
AdmissionsConsultants
703.242.5885 |
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Kleyau
Underclassman
1 Posts |
Posted - 02/28/2006 : 21:40:42
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Dear David,
My situation seems to be a little different, so here goes.
I'm currently a sixth year undergraduate finishing my second undergraduate degree. My first was in Psychology, my second is in Biology. I've transferred schools a couple a times from the University of Missouri-Rolla to Southwest Missouri State and back to UMR again after I finished my Psych degree.
I went back because my fraternity there was in deep financial and school trouble and I thought I'd help, and possibly earn a useful degree (then I switched to biology after a semester). I didn't know what I wanted to do after school, so I thought I'd stick around awhile.
As the treasurer I helped get them out of debt for the first time in a decade, and as president we had a full house for the first time in as many years. But, I didn't spend as much time on school as I should have, and I crammed an entire degree into a year and a half skipping most of the prerequisites for courses.
So, my overall GPA is 3.1 and it's been about 2.7 for the past 2 years. However, my GMAT was 48Q (86%), 44V (97%), and a 750 overall. My only prep was one practice test.
I also spent a lot of undergraduate time playing club rugby and doing amateur muay thai kickboxing, and I was curious how these extracurricular activities are looked upon. I was also on student council, a lab technician for a semester, and did psychological research for a semester.
I've worked a lot of part-time and summer jobs, but these were mostly peon labor, not management.
Now, I want to go to business school, versus graduate school, because I enjoyed the organizational aspects of running my fraternity more than any of my classes.
So, my question is: what do you think my chances would be for schools like Duke and UNC (I still like the Triangle, even if I'm not going into biotech as a scientist) after a year of full time work, which will be about 6 months at the time of application? I'll be 25 at the time of entry on this schedule, by the way.
Thanks in advance, and I apologize about the length.
Kent |
Edited by - Kleyau on 02/28/2006 21:48:02 |
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AdmissionsConsultants
Admissions Expert
USA
2131 Posts |
Posted - 03/01/2006 : 11:01:51
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Hi Kent and thanks for your inquiry.
Dear David,
My situation seems to be a little different, so here goes.
I'm currently a sixth year undergraduate finishing my second undergraduate degree. My first was in Psychology, my second is in Biology. I've transferred schools a couple a times from the University of Missouri-Rolla to Southwest Missouri State and back to UMR again after I finished my Psych degree.
I went back because my fraternity there was in deep financial and school trouble and I thought I'd help, and possibly earn a useful degree (then I switched to biology after a semester). I didn't know what I wanted to do after school, so I thought I'd stick around awhile.
As the treasurer I helped get them out of debt for the first time in a decade, and as president we had a full house for the first time in as many years. But, I didn't spend as much time on school as I should have, and I crammed an entire degree into a year and a half skipping most of the prerequisites for courses.
So, my overall GPA is 3.1 and it's been about 2.7 for the past 2 years. However, my GMAT was 48Q (86%), 44V (97%), and a 750 overall. My only prep was one practice test.
I also spent a lot of undergraduate time playing club rugby and doing amateur muay thai kickboxing, and I was curious how these extracurricular activities are looked upon. I was also on student council, a lab technician for a semester, and did psychological research for a semester.
Your extracurriculars, within the confines of the story outline I'm envisioning for you are fine.
I've worked a lot of part-time and summer jobs, but these were mostly peon labor, not management.
Now, I want to go to business school, versus graduate school, because I enjoyed the organizational aspects of running my fraternity more than any of my classes.
So, my question is: what do you think my chances would be for schools like Duke and UNC (I still like the Triangle, even if I'm not going into biotech as a scientist) after a year of full time work, which will be about 6 months at the time of application? I'll be 25 at the time of entry on this schedule, by the way.
I may not have stated this for quite a few threads, but I haven't worked with an applicant in years. Quite simply, this is your future at stake and I spend my time on administrative duties while our consultants focus their time on our clients. (It's a great formula for a high success rate.)
This said, I'm pretty sure UNC requires 2 years of full-time work experience. Of course, to be completely honest with you, I'm not optimistic about your chances at any of the top schools right now. You're at least 2 years away from being competitive and you have your work cut out for you.
Thanks in advance, and I apologize about the length.
Kent
Best of luck with your applications!
Sincerely,
David Petersam
President
AdmissionsConsultants, Inc.
DPetersam@admissionsconsultants.com
AdmissionsConsultants
703.242.5885 |
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mp_waiting
Underclassman
3 Posts |
Posted - 03/01/2006 : 15:08:09
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I would love it if you answered this gentleman/lady's question. I think there are many of us wondering the same thing.
quote:
Originally posted by dsauvage
I asked this quesiton a little while ago, and while I really do appreciate your taking the time, I was wondering if you could go into a touch more detail. That is, regarding HBS round 2 interview invites:
1) Are they evenly spread out or clustered toward the beginning or the end? So if they are clustered, where does the majority fall, given all of your experience with this stuff?
2) Do the invites go out by region? What's up with California/Los Angeles then?
3) Will the dreaded rejection email come on the same timeline? Or do they prolong the agony and wait till all the interview invites have gone out first?
Thanks again for responding to this neurotic...
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AdmissionsConsultants
Admissions Expert
USA
2131 Posts |
Posted - 03/01/2006 : 15:17:40
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Hi and thanks for your inquiry.
I would love it if you answered this gentleman/lady's question. I think there are many of us wondering the same thing.
HBS interviews do not go out by region.
The clustering varies from year to year.
Some years, they have been short staffed and the "agony" has been prolonged.
The very best thing you can do is patiently wait. One of the worst things you can do is call and pester their admissions board.
If you put forth your very best application and you have a backup plan in the event you are not admitted, you should have nothing to fear.
Best of luck with your applications!
Sincerely,
David Petersam
President
AdmissionsConsultants, Inc.
DPetersam@admissionsconsultants.com
AdmissionsConsultants
703.242.5885 |
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