H/S Chances?
Hi all - I’m beginning the MBA application cycle and looking to get a sense of my chances at H/S. I understand these are incredibly competitive, so wanted to see if I had a strong chance of acceptance given the following background
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Asian male
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Undergraduate: Econ major at top 5-10 college (Columbia / UChicago / Penn), 3.7 GPA, phi beta kappa
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Work Experience: 2 years investment banking in NYC at mid tier budge bracket, 2 years corporate private equity at large NYC fund ($40-$50bn AUM)
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Test Scores: have not taken GMAT but expect 700+ (received 2400 on SAT if helpful)
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No significant volunteer or charity experience
My sense is that H/S in particular have shifted away from hiring the “cookie cutter” finance guys, so curious to hear people’s perspectives, as well as what I can do in the meantime to help bolster my application over the next year. Thanks!
Based on what you provided alone basically 0 chance of H/S. It really is too cookie cutter as there are plenty of 3.8+ pe or top IB guys applying to H/S.
I think the advice anyone could give you is the typical advice. Try to differentiate yourself from the cookie cutter. I think you might have a chance for W but to me if you don't truly differentiate yourself this seems like a lower M7 candidate with a 750+ gmat.
Thanks. What are the ways to differentiate yourself? I see people with these stats and backgrounds who do get into H/S, so curious what you think makes these people differentiated?
You are not even applying W? That’s risky bro, HSW is a crapshoot, and there are plenty of MF PE folks at W (we are talking Carlyle, KKR, etc.) so take that as you will.
You definitely have a chance but would widen your pool to include Wharton + Booth. Given your SAT score, you should be fine on the GMAT but ideally you can get a 760+.
Plenty of people with your profile get into H/S, majority don't - whenever you have an ORM with good stats coming from PE, it's pretty much rolling the dice, no matter the extracurriculars. Tons go to Wharton so I'd say you have a pretty good shot there. Second adding Booth and another M7 if you're dead set on going to B School. Focus on the story, hire a consultant, and just set your expectations low.
There are like 8-10 Carlyle folks at Wharton 1Y alone (also some BX/KKR as well). I think H/S is consciously cutting down on MF PE folks in favor of VC.
Just went through this process myself - at your point, you are a great candidate for any top school but there are so many other great candidates such as yourself so it legitimately is a crapshoot. I would focus on securing that exam score cause worrying about this will drive you nuts. Once you get that killer exam score I hate to say this but I would maybe talk to an MBA consultant if you're sure this is what you want to do. They will help you twist a nice story up to help you stand out from being "cookie-cutter" which I feel is all BS anyway but honestly say the recruiter rn costs you fu***** 8k for their package or whatever its a drop in the bucket considering the total cost of school and what you're making coming out. Just something to think about. I didn't do it because I was late in the cycle but if I could do it over would have and I would have hit it in the early application rounds too.
Don't want to be a dick, and maybe you're starting to realize this, but you're just not that impressive/unique within your group. I mean, why don't you tell me. What do you think makes you unique? What makes you better than any other banking to PE guy?
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