Unconventional work experience to top MBA? Is it possible?

IvyLeaguer11
Wed, 12 Nov 2014 01:09:28 +0000

First of all, I truly appreciate any time you spend looking over this and responding. I’m a semi-unconventional profile for B School - in the sense that I lack corporate/F500 work/elite fin or consulting work experience, so I’m desperately seeking constructive input.

GPA - 3.78 (magna cum laude), in double major, a science + one of the humanities
School - Elite, top 10
Testing- took the GRE, 165 V and Q (90-something percentile, equivalent to 750 GMAT)

Work experience:

1. research assistant at top B School (i.e., Kellogg/Booth/Haas/Sloan equivalent), ghost wrote (and credited for) several case studies used for seminar on inventory management for tech companies, TA for class on supply chain management - 1.5 years

2. worked for grad student I met at said B School (he founded a start up, hired me) - marketing/strategy. 1.5 years

3. Founded online commercial real estate consultancy with friend (13 months, up to present)

Extra curricular:
Mentorship for college bound at risk youth
intern analyst at (not name brand) geopolitical strategy think tank

Extras: have recommendation from the full, endowed prof at the top B School that employed me - VERY kind and enthusiastic letter.

I am considering: Harvard, Wharton, Stanford, MIT, Northwestern, UChicago, Columbia, Dartmouth, Duke. I am an alum from one of those schools, and worked at the other.

I plan to do MBA/MA in international affairs or public policy.