If this is slightly familiar, I originally posted in the fall of 2011 and decided against business school at that time.
Age: 29 (upon matriculation), White (USA)
Undergrad GPA: 3.56 (top 10 liberal arts school)
Undergrad Degree: BA Economics/Russian
Grad GPA: 3.46
Graduate Degree: MA International Relations (for this specialty, my program is considered to be either #1 or #2)
Continuing Education Certificate in Survey Design and Data Analysis from a well-known university, 4.0 GPA (in progress)
GMAT: 740. Quant was 93ish%, Verbal 80ish% (don't remember precisely), AWA 6.0
Recommendations: I can get glowing recs from my most recent former supervisor and an ex-professor, I'm sure I can get one more strong recommendation
International Work Experience: 6 months in the former USSR, 8 months in Thailand, and frequent trips to Afghanistan (approx 40% coverage of my current job)
Other: Speak English (native), Russian (rather fluent), French (I don't embarrass myself), formal instruction in Spanish, Dari, Georgian and Thai (which I can back up with transcripts if not actual ability)
I'm currently the head of data collection, monitoring and evaluation at a small company that does work in conflict and post conflict countries. I oversee 3 people directly and 50-100 people indirectly depending on the projects we have going on. I've been in this position for over a year. I anticipate leaving the company within the next 3 months for reasons that do not have to do with me or anything within my control. I will not be able to stay on past August 31 of this year under any circumstance. I am currently looking at other M&E opportunities, but whatever it is, it won't be as impressive as this one.
I have been an economics research assistant for a number of research think tanks for a total of 2 years. I have been a public relations assistant for a total of one year.
My plan is to be a consultant for companies that want to enter or stay in conflict and post conflict regions, which offer unique opportunities. For the skeptical, the best example is Toyota in Afghanistan: The parts suppliers of all the other auto companies all left after the collapse of the presidential dictatorship in 1979, but Toyota stayed on. The Soviets let Toyota stay, and all of the other cars broke down. After 30 years of chaos, Toyota still has over 90% market share of the entire (and burgeoning) Afghan auto market. I need to go to a consulting firm to learn best practices, and then I'd strike out on my own.
I'm thinking maybe Kellogg or Stanford, but I need some guidance as to what is feasible for me.![]()
Age: 29 (upon matriculation), White (USA)
Undergrad GPA: 3.56 (top 10 liberal arts school)
Undergrad Degree: BA Economics/Russian
Grad GPA: 3.46
Graduate Degree: MA International Relations (for this specialty, my program is considered to be either #1 or #2)
Continuing Education Certificate in Survey Design and Data Analysis from a well-known university, 4.0 GPA (in progress)
GMAT: 740. Quant was 93ish%, Verbal 80ish% (don't remember precisely), AWA 6.0
Recommendations: I can get glowing recs from my most recent former supervisor and an ex-professor, I'm sure I can get one more strong recommendation
International Work Experience: 6 months in the former USSR, 8 months in Thailand, and frequent trips to Afghanistan (approx 40% coverage of my current job)
Other: Speak English (native), Russian (rather fluent), French (I don't embarrass myself), formal instruction in Spanish, Dari, Georgian and Thai (which I can back up with transcripts if not actual ability)
I'm currently the head of data collection, monitoring and evaluation at a small company that does work in conflict and post conflict countries. I oversee 3 people directly and 50-100 people indirectly depending on the projects we have going on. I've been in this position for over a year. I anticipate leaving the company within the next 3 months for reasons that do not have to do with me or anything within my control. I will not be able to stay on past August 31 of this year under any circumstance. I am currently looking at other M&E opportunities, but whatever it is, it won't be as impressive as this one.
I have been an economics research assistant for a number of research think tanks for a total of 2 years. I have been a public relations assistant for a total of one year.
My plan is to be a consultant for companies that want to enter or stay in conflict and post conflict regions, which offer unique opportunities. For the skeptical, the best example is Toyota in Afghanistan: The parts suppliers of all the other auto companies all left after the collapse of the presidential dictatorship in 1979, but Toyota stayed on. The Soviets let Toyota stay, and all of the other cars broke down. After 30 years of chaos, Toyota still has over 90% market share of the entire (and burgeoning) Afghan auto market. I need to go to a consulting firm to learn best practices, and then I'd strike out on my own.
I'm thinking maybe Kellogg or Stanford, but I need some guidance as to what is feasible for me.