Chances for top MBA?

[tapuzina12]

First of all, I truly appreciate any time you spend looking over this and responding. I'm a semi-unconventional profile for B School - in the sense that I lack corporate/F500 work/elite fin or consulting work experience, so I'm desperately seeking constructive input.

GPA - 3.8 (magna cum laude), in double major, a science + one of the humanities
School - Elite, top 10
Testing- took the GRE, 165 V and Q (90-something percentile, equivalent to 750 GMAT)

Work experience:
1) research assistant at top B School (i.e., Kellogg/Booth/Haas/Sloan equivalent), ghost wrote (and credited for) several case studies used for seminar on inventory management for tech companies, TA for class on supply chain management - 1.5 years
2) worked for grad student I met at said B School (he founded a start up, hired me) - marketing/strategy. 1.5 years
3) Founded online commercial real estate consultancy with friend (13 months, up to present)

Extra curricular:
Mentorship for college bound at risk youth
intern analyst at (not name brand) geopolitical strategy think tank

Extras: have recommendation from the full, endowed prof at the top B School that employed me - VERY kind and enthusiastic letter.

I am considering: Harvard, Wharton, Stanford, MIT, Northwestern, UChicago, Columbia, Dartmouth, Duke. I am an alum from one of those schools, and worked at the other.

I plan to do MBA/MA in international affairs or public policy.

[ilovelab]

Will these schools accept the GRE instead of GMAT? I've heard from the Dean at our Business school that the conversion isn't ideal (whatever that means), so they don't take the GRE. I assume you've checked but just be sure. I don't know a lot about B-School but if you haven't already check out this forum. gmatclub (google it) from there you can look at specific schools and see the stats of accepted applicants. The most important part I think will be the essays, everyone applying will have similar GMAT/GRE/GPA/Work Experience. So the Letter of Rec and Essays are the only things to make you stand out. You can't control the LoR but the essay's are where you really stand out. I also wouldn't worry about not working for a F500 company etc, b/c if that's all B-Schools were looking for I'm sure they could fill the incoming class with Goldman-sachs/Bain/KPMG/Pricewaterhouse etc applicants. But looking at student profiles at the schools, they clearly are not.

[Chai_latte]

I think you have a shot.  As a non-trad., a lot will hinge on your essays.  Tell a story.  Make sure you explain what the companies/think tanks did, since they're lesser known.  And, of course, discuss your role.  Perhaps, write about a particular work experience that made you want the MBA.  Explain your path, future goals and why you need the degree from School X.  Your stats look good, so there's nothing to worry about there.  I think they'll like the Sci./Hum. combo and the mentoring...nice!  If you're applying Round 2, good luck!

[Chai_latte]

P.S. As a dual degree candidate with strong stats, the GRE will be fine.