Good morning. I'm seeking thoughts on my MBA candidacy. Thanks for your time!
1) Full-time work experience.
I'm the editor of a newspaper for a Native American tribe in the western U.S. Have been here about 4 years. I manage a team of four and do most of the writing and all of the editing, plus administrative stuff, for a biweekly newspaper. We also handle a number of special projects throughout the year, including much PR work for the tribe. Before this, I spent a year as a reporter covering city government and health for a daily paper. I'm a white guy.
2) GMAT.
750 (Q49/V44/AWA6/IR8).
3) College info.
Did two years at BYU studying English, then transferred home to the University of North Florida. Graduated 2007 with a BS in communication. Cumulative GPA: 2.77. No real extenuating circumstances besides immaturity in freshman/sophomore years. I can make a case for an upward trend (3.12 last 60 hours, 3.44 senior year).
4) Extra-curricular activities.
Was managing editor of the student newspaper in college, running a team of about 18 to produce a weekly paper. Also completed three semester-long internships senior year. Since college, have been board member and secretary of the local chamber of commerce, volunteer webmaster and marketing guy for a nonprofit motorcycle rally, Cub Scouts leader, and finance clerk in my local church.
5) Certifications.
None, although I have won more than 60 individual and team awards in national and regional journalism contests in my current role.
6) Target programs.
Plan to apply to quite a few (six through Consortium plus four others). Looking for programs with a) an energy focus and/or b) a dual degree program in public policy. Here's the list in order of current preference:
Texas-McCombs
Rice-Jones
UNC-Kenan-Flagler
Michigan-Ross
Cornell-Johnson
Virginia-Darden
Georgetown-McDonough
Oklahoma-Price
BYU-Marriott
Florida-Warrington
7) When you plan to apply.
R1 this fall for next year.
8) Your post-MBA goal.
The tribe I work for has become massively successful in energy development. I'm interested in working with other tribes in the U.S. and Canada in a similar vein: help them take an inventory of natural resources and develop and implement plans for cultivating those resources. This could be as a consultant or as an in-house strategy guy.![]()
1) Full-time work experience.
I'm the editor of a newspaper for a Native American tribe in the western U.S. Have been here about 4 years. I manage a team of four and do most of the writing and all of the editing, plus administrative stuff, for a biweekly newspaper. We also handle a number of special projects throughout the year, including much PR work for the tribe. Before this, I spent a year as a reporter covering city government and health for a daily paper. I'm a white guy.
2) GMAT.
750 (Q49/V44/AWA6/IR8).
3) College info.
Did two years at BYU studying English, then transferred home to the University of North Florida. Graduated 2007 with a BS in communication. Cumulative GPA: 2.77. No real extenuating circumstances besides immaturity in freshman/sophomore years. I can make a case for an upward trend (3.12 last 60 hours, 3.44 senior year).
4) Extra-curricular activities.
Was managing editor of the student newspaper in college, running a team of about 18 to produce a weekly paper. Also completed three semester-long internships senior year. Since college, have been board member and secretary of the local chamber of commerce, volunteer webmaster and marketing guy for a nonprofit motorcycle rally, Cub Scouts leader, and finance clerk in my local church.
5) Certifications.
None, although I have won more than 60 individual and team awards in national and regional journalism contests in my current role.
6) Target programs.
Plan to apply to quite a few (six through Consortium plus four others). Looking for programs with a) an energy focus and/or b) a dual degree program in public policy. Here's the list in order of current preference:
Texas-McCombs
Rice-Jones
UNC-Kenan-Flagler
Michigan-Ross
Cornell-Johnson
Virginia-Darden
Georgetown-McDonough
Oklahoma-Price
BYU-Marriott
Florida-Warrington
7) When you plan to apply.
R1 this fall for next year.
8) Your post-MBA goal.
The tribe I work for has become massively successful in energy development. I'm interested in working with other tribes in the U.S. and Canada in a similar vein: help them take an inventory of natural resources and develop and implement plans for cultivating those resources. This could be as a consultant or as an in-house strategy guy.