jimmygm23 wrote:
Hi,
First of all, thank you for taking the time to read this and offer your advice. As I take upon this journey, all of this expertise is really invaluable to me.
Male, 26, in Chicago, Illinois
GMAT: 690, Q48, V37, AWA6, IR7
Undergrad: B.S. in Integrated Mathematics, 3.1 from Ohio Dominican University
Work Experience (in order):
-1 year as a high school and middle school math teacher
-Intern, SQL Server Developer
-1 year as a Quality Assurance Analyst for the City of New York
-1 year as a promoted, Management Analyst for the City of New York, directing new technology, reporting, database and management initiatives for a new, prominent New York City division.
-Currently a Senior Business Analyst for a well known e-commerce company.
Additional Skills (to name a few)
-SQL
-Tableau
-Microstrategy
-R
-VBA
-IBM Cognos
-Salesforce
-Data Modeling, Mining, Analytics
-Relational Databases and Database Solutions
-Business Intelligence and Enterprise Reporting Tools
-Employee Training, Teaching and Coaching
-Business Operations and Process Optimization
-Quality Assurance and Data Governance
-Software Development Life Cycle, UAT, Regression Testing
Additional Experiences:
-8 years of lacrosse coaching
-Volunteered on multiple humanitarian trips to orphanages in Mexico, impoverished Mississippi and inner city Chicago.
MBA Goal: I would like to get into a top 20 school, preferably a top 10 school, with my eye on a school like Tuck, Darden, Yale, and Fuqua. However, with a low GPA from a no name school, I was hoping for a much higher GMAT score but was disappointed to get a 690. I know it's still a good score, but I am not sure how much it can counter-way my undergrad performance.
Having taken the GMAT, I actually do not want to pursue an MBA anytime soon, and am thinking of applying in around 3 to 4 years from now. I currently have a great job for a great company, and feel that not only do I want to enjoy the opportunities that I have now, but that adding three or four more years to my professional experience and progression would make me much more attractive and strengthen my chances (I feel that being a Senior Business Analyst for a large e-commerce company is in and of itself attractive). I am wondering, however, what aspects of waiting / applying to schools with a 690 score 3 or 4 years from now will hurt me. Will a 690 hold less weight 3 to 4 years from now than it does now? I've also read that schools like to have a more recent GMAT score relative to the time you apply, and having an older GMAT score may end up hurting you.
With all this being said, I am curious what my prospects are in the crystal ball of 3 to 4 years from now. Do I have realistic chances at schools such as Tuck, Darden, Yale and Fuqua, and what other schools would I be best to consider that would be more willing to look at my profile / what schools would I be a strong candidate for?
Thanks, you're awesome!
Jimmy
Jimmy,
Good to hear from you!
I got a few words of advice for you which should help you improve your chances:
1. Don't wait 4-5 years, but 2. This will put you at the optimal age for applying
2. Retake the GMAT is you can do better. These days Top school average GMATs are going northwards of 720, and if you have a similar score it will help LOTS
3. In the meanwhile do EVERYTHING you can to improve your profile - this means seeking out more leadership, adding more community service, being more active.
4. Additionally, when you listed your skills you listed a lot of Tech skills. If you want to succeed in B-school you will need to re-conceive of yourself as a LEADER. The tech stuff matters less than the people from here on.
I hope this helps!
Best,
Jon