Next up in our MBA Profile Series we’ll introduce you to Joe, examine his profile, and determine the best MBA programs for him to apply to. See the fourth post in our series here.

Who is Joe?

It’s time to learn about Joe…

1. Joe wants to go into strategy consulting at an elite management consulting firm.

2. He’s considering applying to the following schools: HBS, Stanford, Kellogg, Tuck, Darden, Chicago, Wharton, MIT, Columbia, Haas, NYU Stern, and Ross – all great for consulting in their own ways, and many especially welcoming to qualified applicants from the armed services.

3. Qualifications

• GMAT: 740

• GPA: 3.7 from Princeton, class of 2012; he was in the ROTC

• Transcript: Majored in econ

• Work/Military experience: Interned for boutique consulting firm in college; after college accepted a post-ROTC Army officer commission and served for 5 years at various posts in the Middle East and Asia

• Extracurricular activities: ROTC precluded doing a lot of other activities; he did some intramural lacrosse and volunteered with the school theater to build sets and do lighting

• B-school timeline: Wants to apply in 2016, matriculate in 2017, and graduate as the class of 2019

Where should Joe apply?

Joe has a highly competitive profile with his strong academic background and impressive, high-impact leadership from the military service. He will apply to HBS, Stanford, Wharton, Kellogg, and Tuck for Round 1, as they are all excellent consulting schools and attract the most competitive and qualified applicants – something he appreciates and would like to duplicate after Princeton.

He will apply to Darden, Haas, and Ross R2 if not accepted anywhere R1. They are schools with distinctive personalities/cultures and passionate students, which attracts him, along with the requisite consulting pipelines.  

Ask questions. Get answers. And then map out the route to the best MBA program for you. Grab your copy of Best MBA Programs: A Guide to Selecting the Right One for more details.

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By Cindy Tokumitsu, author and co-author of numerous ebooks, articles, and special reports, including Why MBA and Best MBA Programs: A Guide to Selecting the Right One. Cindy has advised hundreds of successful applicants in her fifteen years with Accepted.

Related Resources:

• What Are My MBA Admissions Chances Series
• Business School Zones
• U.S. News Ranks Best Business Schools in 2016