Re: Do I even have a chance of getting in?
[#permalink]
10 Jun 2013, 12:38
My gut says you ought to wait at least a couple of years (ideally so you have a solid 3-5 years of work experience). You just have too many things going against you right now, I think.
Your GPA is one thing, but I think the fact that you switched around a lot does not help. It just sort of paints a picture of someone who was not focused or disciplined enough. NOT saying that that's the case, but I think it's fair to say that's what it looks like.
You mention your extracurriculars, but don't elaborate beyond having organized what appears to be a single day for underprivileged kids. Good but not overwhelmingly great -- schools are looking for _sustained_ interest in service/extracurriculars, i.e., not a one-time thing. Further, it sounds like this occurred in undergrad not afterwards -- another negative. What have you done lately that can add to your profile?
One thing you really did not touch on: What exactly are you looking to get out of an MBA? Why apply right now?
Overall, I think you need to build a real case for your admissibility -- like, what sets you apart from the rest, despite the raw #s (even with a 700+ GMAT, which is gonna be vital). Right now, I have a feeling that an adcom from any top school (say, Top 30) will have a hard time overlooking the negatives. Here are my suggestions, mostly rooted in the need to wait a few years:
- Move up in your organization and/or functions - show that undergrad was one thing but your professional nature and employability are another
- Really get involved in something(s) outside of work, and sustain that interest with leadership roles and initiative
- Without a doubt, build an alternative transcript (maybe like 3+ courses?), especially if you bombed quant courses in college
- GMAT - you're giving yourself a really short window if you truly intend to apply this fall. Delay your apps by a few years and you'll have PLENTY of time to do the GMAT 2 or 3 times to get the ideal score.
Long story short - you're so young with so much time before you should worry about b-school. With time, accomplishment, and patience, your positives will begin to outshadow your negatives, and that will mean a lot for application time.
Disclosure: I too had a lackluster GPA (2.8 overall), so I suppose take my remarks with a grain of salt.