Please Evaluate: 700/3.56 Career Changer
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12 Mar 2012, 12:32
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!!!