Paul:
This is my story -

Indian Male 30 yrs.
B.S. in Civil Engg from a mediocre school in India - Graduated top of the class. (GPA = 3.6 approx)
9 months of work ex. Solved some labor disputes on a construction site.

M.S in Civil Engg from a mediocre school in U.S. (say top 70) (GPA = 3.8)
Leader of the theate troupe for the Indian association for 2 years

GMAT in 2 weeks (650 to 700, may be more)

60 months of work ex so far in Traffic Engineering (Real Estate permitting to be specific) (FLORIDA)

300 % bonus increase in 3 years

50 % salary increase in 3 years

Registered Professional Engineer

Work Profile: Consulting - Advise developers, investors, municipalities and governmental agencies on feasibility of a development based on the impacts it will have on the surrounding transportation system

PM on permitting aspect of real estate development for over 40 projects. Revenues (close to $500,000 this year)

Managed 13 employees

Testified as Expert Witness and defended clients in public hearings

Leader of the division's quality improvement program for 3 years, a division with 60 employees

Company's Toastmasters club leader (2 years)

Organized picnic events for employees (mostly helping HR)

Ocassional Habitat for humanity

Target Schools - Columbia, Stern, UCLA, UNC, UT Austin, Cornell, CMU Tepper or Duke.

Goals - to get into Real Estate fianance and development

Please let me know what do you think.

Paul,
Thanks for your reply. It was very helpful. I have the following reasons.



I was struggling with immigration and green card for so long. If you are not aware, changing my status to students visa (non-immigrant visa) after filing for immigrant visa would show conflict and will pose problems. Because my employer started filing for my green card in 2004, I was not able to switch between non-immigrant and immigrant status. Is this a good reason ?



I forgot to mention that I used to play in the semi-professional Cricket league for about 18 months and later conducted a quadrangular cricket tournament and participated in it. Will this suffice for community/extracurricular ?

I am planning to get my application into Columbia for 2008 ED. Columbia is my first choice school. Do you think this will increase my chances with a GMAT (scheduled nex week) between 650 - 700?

Please let me know. Thanks again.