<p>I am going to apply to MBA programs in the coming months for classes starting fall 2012. I have a question about one's 'personal story'</p>
<p>I was born and raised 6000 miles away in the middle east, and came to the US when I was 20. I was the first in my family to go to college, and I had to work full time through university to support myself and my parents - still got a GPA>3.9 - I graduated from the a top State university in the US by the way. I've been an engineer in the automotive industry for two years now; started right after graduation.</p>
<p>Is this story something interesting to mention on my application? How much will it support my application? What do you know about this personal story section, and where should I indicate it on my application..</p>
<p>At the moment I am considering 5 of the top 10 MBA programs only
thanks</p>
<p>Well, to be honest, kudos to you for all your hardships you have survived, but the story may really sound like a cliche… just think about it - the poor guy that comes to the USA from the middle east to persuade his American dream, have to work through college but still gets a perfect GPA. Imagine how many people with similar experience will apply and share their story. You need to write about something unique, you need to stand out and be special.</p>
<p>I think your background is all fine and dandy, but I don’t see it as something that is going to get you in.</p>
<p>Your GPA, work history, degree, and GMAT scores however probably will get you considered, and such a story might help tip the scales. Just don’t rely on it, get a good GMAT, and other than that you really can’t do much else.</p>
<p>Remember the US is a nation of immigrants. Your story is nothing unusual among that group and there are a lot of first generation immigrants applying to the top business schools and they attended top Ivies as undergraduates also.</p>
<p>By no means am i relying on this to get me in, however…</p>
<p>as far as numbers, i’ve got a 3.93 undergrad GPA in mechanical engineering, 720GMAT
my work experience includes several instances of me managing projects and launching products (with evidence of career progress)- i work at one of the big 3 automakers, this has also given me the chance of working with several international partners (i speak 4 languages)</p>
<p>first i thought, i had the right ingredients for a decent application, recently i realized that there might be a lot of applicants with a similar background - hence i asked the original question ;)</p>
<p>PS: no one has control over their nationality, and thus it is unfair to treat one in a special manner just because they were born in one place and not the other…</p>
<p>The numbers alone are enough to warrant serious consideration by any admissions committee. At the top 5 schools, however, most applicants will be similarly qualified in terms of academic strengths; with any GMAT score above 680, the differentiating factors will usually be the intangibles (work experience, ‘story’, etc).</p>
<p>If admission to only the top schools is important to you, consider enlisting the aid of an admissions consultant to help with crafting your essays and making the strongest impact.</p>