Swiss female applicant with 10+ years of experience
Application Round: Round 1
Dorina, an executive with over 10 years of experience in the food industry was referred to us by a former client who secured an INSEAD offer. Dorina initially had the same goal of pursuing her MBA at INSEAD and we started working together on achieving this outcome. We quickly identified that her years of experience and level of seniority could be a challenge for her, but felt confident that we could use it to her advantage.
Challenges
Her age and extensive career history, while reflective of substantial industry impact, positioned her atypically compared to the traditional MBA applicant pool. Business schools typically show preference for younger applicants, as most hiring firms are looking for a very specific demographic when hiring MBA graduates (4 - 6 years experience is the most preferred). In addition, despite numerous attempts and hundreds of hours of study for both the GMAT and the GRE, her scores were 100+ points below the class’ average at top business schools.
Strategic Approach
Working with Dorina, we gradually discovered many aspects of her profile that could positively differentiate her from other candidates. By diving into her life and career experiences, we identified a few key themes around intra and entrepreneurship, social impact (through her involvement with the Global Shapers community and with local associations in West Africa) and a real passion for the food industry. We became convinced that she not only would easily secure the admissions offer at INSEAD but would also be a competitive candidate for HBS and GSB and convinced her to apply despite her initial desire to only pursue a 1-year MBA in Europe.
Vision Crafting
By intertwining her professional experiences with her passion for food and social impact, her long-term vision was crystal clear: “to revolutionize global food systems so that all stakeholders thrive, the planet stays healthy while feeding over 8 billion people, and consumers enjoy nutritious, delicious, and affordable food”. This one-line mission statement was powerful and unique to her story, making it both genuine and relatable.
Addressing the Test Scores
Typically, we advise applicants against using the optional essay to justify lower test scores. We would usually encourage them to apply for the next cycle as many would have that flexibility. However, given that it was now or never for her, we decided to highlight her 8 test attempts over 9 months to showcase her commitment and perseverance.
Results
Dorina received all three offers, including scholarships at both HBS and GSB (65%). She was our most successful student in that cycle, proving that beating the odds isn't just for the movies.
Conclusion
Having successfully assisted many older applicants in the past, we were confident in our ability to achieve solid results for Dorina. Despite the added complexity of her lower GMAT/GRE scores, we addressed this issue in the optional essay. Her success not only underscored the significance of core factors such as career progression, achievements, and extracurricular activities but also highlighted the crucial role of narrative building and strategic planning in maximizing application outcomes. Above all, Dorina's achievements reaffirmed our fundamental belief in empowered ambition, pushing her to exceed her initial expectations. We are excited to see her making waves in the food industry!
Words from Dorina:
“I truly enjoyed working with the team. My trainers patiently and cheerfully helped me improve my GMAT and GRE scores. Jonathan probably changed my MBA journey by suggesting to apply to US schools, which ultimately became my final choice. He supported and cheered me up throughout the whole process. He also provided sound advice about this parallel world of the MBA business. I really loved my MBA application journey thanks to Jonathan and team. Work with them, you will love the journey and the destination!”
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