Dear Stacy,
I just took the GMAT and scored a bit lower than my practice exams and thus, I was hoping to get your view on my candidacy for a few full-time MBA programs. As it currently stands, here’s my profile:

GMAT: 700 (44Q, 41V)

Undergrad: B.A. - 3.56 - Brandeis (Politics), cum laude, senior leadership award, thesis award, crew team; research fellowship at Harvard Law School (1 year);

Grad: M.Sc. with Merit (no GPA) – LSE (Development Economics); certificate in French;

Work experience: 4 years; Foreign Affairs Officer at the U.S. Department of State; various awards and honors; served in Washington and Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; traveled to 40+ countries; worked very sensitive/national security issues; wrote key U.S. foreign policy positions; represented U.S. in key international meetings (including the UN);

Recs: Both strong - one ambassador and my current director;

Extra-curriculars: Volunteer for small non-profit; mentor at the office; Boy Scout (Eagle Scout); half-marathon runner; avid traveler;

Vitals: 27yo, Caucasian male (American);

Target schools: Harvard, Wharton, Columbia, Tuck, Chicago; (Applying Rd-1 for entry in 2013);

Goal: Change careers from international diplomacy to international private equity. I want to use my knowledge of developing market economics from the LSE and diplomatic experience in Ethiopia to help a PE firm develop its portfolio in sub-Saharan Africa.

Concern: Low GMAT quant score coupled with C+ in freshman year calculus. (Should I retake the GMAT? Does my LSE quant experience make up for this? What quant score would my target schools be looking for from me?)

Thank you so very much!!!

Conrad,

Thank you so much for the advice.

I will certainly call for a consultation once I retake the exam.