LifeLiver wrote:
Hello,
I am an African-American male with ~1.5 years of experience as an engineer thus far. I have a really poor undergraduate performance (~2.3 gpa) b/c I was somewhat lazy and was more interested in socializing/partying. I majored in Aerospace Engineering with a minor in energy at an elite undergrad (Stanford, Princeton, MIT, Cornell). I took the GMAT last year and got a balanced 730 (Q49 V40) 6 AWA. I currently work as an aerospace engineer for a top 3 defense contractor (Boeing, Lockheed, Northrop). I have leadership positions in two extra-curricular activities post-college, one is sports and one is volunteering. I should be getting my first promotion next month (average wait is 2-3 years). I also have a small leadership role in my group (lead peers hired the same year as me).
1) Is my GMAT good enough?
2) Will it matter if I apply fall 2013 (3 years experience upon matriculation) vs 2014 (4 years experience)? Assume there are no significant leadership gains
3) Will an external transcript with finance courses help much?
4) Anything else I can do between now and next fall to improve my profile?
Post MBA I'd like to go into either energy or back to aerospace in a higher impact, non-technical role. Eventually I'd like to start my own energy company or aerospace manufacturing company. (Still doing some soul-searching...)
Which schools should I realistically target?
Thank you
Thanks for your post. To answer your questions:
1) yes.
2) Possibly. Waiting until 2014 puts more distance between you and your undergrad GPA. It allows you to create a track record of achievement and maturity. However, I see little downside to applying in 2013 and reapplying if you don't get in.
3) If the transcript has a few A's on it, YES!
4) Continue with your progress at work and your community service. If you can add an int'l element to your work (or life), that would strengthen your profile, but it isn't required.
You're hard to peg. You are an under-represented minority with a high GMAT and good work experience, but that low GPA. I suggest you apply to a range of schools -- the hardest ones R1. Consider MIT Sloan, CMU Tepper, Stanford, Yale, Ross, Darden, Cornell Johnson, UCLA, Haas, and UT Austin. Apply to 6-8 -- half R1 and half R2. Some of these schools are Consortium schools and you could save yourself time and money -- plus possibly get a fellowshp if you apply through the Consortium.
If you would like
help with your MBA application, please keep Accepted in mind.
Regards,
Linda
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However, I think 3-4 A's would be a strong demonstration that you have learned how to apply yourself in an academic environment and that you can do well in business school. You can take courses like accounting, economics, statistics for business, finance 1, etc. If you had the classes and did poorly previously, it would make sense to retake and ace them.
