Post-Prep, Pre-GMAT Evaluation. Concerned with Mediocrity.

Hi,

Thanks in advance for checking this out. I've taken four practice GMATs and have two more to go before the real thing next weekend. About me:

Info: 25 years old, white male

Undergrad: University of Puget Sound, GPA 3.09, BA International Political Economics, Minor in Business

Practice GMAT: 610 (39V/35Q/4.5AWA). This is my current highest overall score, but I've scored several points higher on verbal in past tests. This is the highest quantitative score I've attained. My goal thus far is 700.

Work Experience: 3 yrs as only Financial Analyst at west coast luxury transportation service provider (motorcoaches for MLB, NFL, NCAA, tour providers, private charters, etc.). There has been heavy employee turn-around at this company for the last three years, but I have primarily supported the CFO. Responsibilities range from implementation of new accounting software and infrastructure; financial reporting (cash flows, P&Ls, balance sheets, various revenue metrics, etc.); tax filing/analysis; cost analysis; significant fixed asset accounting and analysis; and more granular tasks. I also have experience with various other non-financial tasks (IT, travel management,...)--I have worn many hats.

Of note, the company went through a bankruptcy recently (due to the unscrupulous financial practices and securities managing of the owner) where I was point-person for the bankruptcy estate in matters regarding fixed assets and fixed asset financing. The company was subsequently purchased, and I retained my title with more responsibilities at the new company.

Other Experience: I interned at the office of our state's governor for four months in college, during which time I also worked at a Habitat for Humanity construction site for two weeks. During the other downtime between undergrad semesters I worked full time at a bereavement support provider, where we assembled many different lines of products intended for mothers who had lost newborns or young babies.

I also spent four months abroad in Sydney, Australia (Macquarie University) studying political science and international business.

I want to pursue an MBA because I want to improve my knowledge of finances and economics in a more direct way than passively attaining it through job experience, alone. I want to be (and especially, feel) competitive in the job market and have something appreciable/tangible to bring to a firm's table.

With an MBA, I would like to be involved in perhaps the capital markets, or in some industry where my economic and financial analysis can contribute to the wealth of others (be they individuals, institutions, or governments) and help stimulate both domestic and international innovation.

I would like to attend a top 20 school (who doesn't, obviously), but I'm worried about my lack of extracurricular (community) experience, general quantitative exprience, poor gpa (for which I may have convincing reasons), and mediocre GMAT. I was planning on applying to schools this fall R1, but I've recently considered postponing for a year to increase extracurriculars. I would say that my dream schools are Haas or NYU. I picture myself ending up in the NY or SF area. So what do you think--could I eventually be a potential candidate for these schools? If not, which range of schools? Am I generally too inexperienced for MBA right now? Any other wise words? (FYI I have been reading the underdog-success threads and high-score-ding threads and everything in between, so I am poking around)

Thanks again for reading! Any advice is much appreciated.