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Maher Darwiche
Successful MBA application
I was an Economics (track management) student at the Lebanese American University in Beirut Lebanon, and I am very interested in pursuing my MBA education at HBS. However, my problem is that my academic record is not that strong and according to your article I definitely need some mitigation actions:
1- My GPA is 3.11/4 (my Alma mater is ranked among the top 10 best universities in the MENA region, however its world ranking drops way back on the list (maybe among the top 350-400 best universities world wide)).
2- I have taken more than one grade below C (5 grades exactly: Business Statistics D+; Principles of Accounting II D+; Introduction to Econometrics D; History of Art I D; Monetary Theory and Policy C-.
3- It is true that my major is a quantitative one, however I have not taken any Calculus courses since my BS is in Economics track management (which did not require me on taking any calculus courses).
4- I do have multiple Cs on quantitative courses. Here is the list of quantitative courses on which I have taken Cs and Below:
Introduction to Econometrics D; Business Statistics D+; Principles of Accounting I C; Principles of Accounting II D+ (I have then repeated the course in the summer semester and got an A); Monetary Theory and Policy C-; Macroeconomics C; International Economics C+; Intermediate Microeconomics C+.
In order to compensate for my week academic record, I have registered for the Harvard Summer School. I am still undecided on which courses to choose, since I am not sure which courses would be most helpful for my MBA application later on.
I have also considered enrolling for the Harvard Extended School program for the Fall 2015 but I am not completely sure that this would be 100% helpful.
Regarding my work experience, I have been working for a couple of years with my brother (who is my age): we have founded together a small company that imports consumer goods (essentially food products) from the US and Europe. The business is doing good more or less but it is not excelling and that I think is due to our lack or work experience in big, already established businesses. We have jumped into investing right after our graduation.
Regarding the GMAT, I have not yet done the GMAT exam but I plan on doing it in a couple months or so, supposedly before summer school. I know that HBS requires exceptional GMAT scores, therefore I should be aiming as high as 720 on the GMAT.
Can you please give me advice on how to improve my academic record and do you think it would be possible to get admission at HBS with a high enough GMAT and an improved academic record (taking into consideration my low GPA) or is it a long shot?