Dorina's Story to Securing MBA Offers & Scholarships at Harvard & Stanford

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!