Thanks for reaching out! Let's dig in:
hajboom
Hi Maria,
Could you kindly review my profile and share your valuable inputs.
Nationality: US citizen
Sex: Male
Age: 27
Educational Background:
Undergraduate College: Benedictine University (Division 3 liberal arts college outside of Chicago)
Major: Biology (Pre-Med)
GPA: 2.82
GMAT: 670 (Q47, V35)
You mention below that you're taking 2 classes at Booth right now to offset the undergrad GPA; while this is great, after those courses are done (and after you get the highest grade possible in them, of course)

if I were you I'd shift my focus to re-taking the GMAT and getting a score that is closer to the average scores for some of the more elite programs you're targeting. Ideally, you would get a score
ABOVE a school's average, since your undergrad academics are so far
below the typical profile for the top schools. Think of it like a see-saw that can balance out -- a higher GMAT score could go a long way towards proving your academic chops.
Quote:
Two sport NCAA collegiate athlete:
- Football (2 time varsity letter winner) (Conference Champions and NCAA D3 National Football Playoff Appearance)
- Track and Field (4 x All Conference Selection, Freshman of the Year, and Team Captain Senior Year) (Led team to win Back-to-Back Conference Team Championships)
- Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (a mentor for incoming freshman student-athletes)
Work Experience:
- Served 4 years in the US Navy as a Nuclear Operator serving in roles as a Team Leader and Division Supervisor. (Non-Commissioned Junior Officer)
- Graduated the training program earning top honors (Top 20% out of 400) (received Academic Excellence Award)
- Developed and executed operating guidelines for highly classified new technological systems leading to the initial delivery and certification of a brand new $13 billion aircraft carrier, most expensive and largest in US Naval history.
- Coordinated amongst varying parties, ranging from the Navy HQ to ship-wide departments, and led a team of 15 personnel to the repair and process improvement of ship essential technical systems, resulting in the safe operability of $200 million worth of nuclear equipment aboard a 5,000 personnel ship.
- Developed and implemented a new weekly 6-month on-boarding training program for 70+ personnel, resulting in 50% faster qualification and career progression rate of incoming junior members in the department. (Awarded Junior Sailor of the Year for the Department)
It's great that you did so many athletic things; this will help explain the GPA (which you can explain via the optional essay; I have advice in
ApplicantLab for how to write a compelling / effective optional essay).
For the other leadership, the onus is on you to explain to the reader why these things are a big deal -- since most people are not as familiar with hierarchies in the Navy as they would be with, say, the hierarchies at Deloitte. You'll also need your recommenders to really go to bat for you to explain why these accomplishments are beyond the norm.
Quote:
Personal Background Fact:
- Born in Pakistan. Moved a lot when I was younger (lived in Pakistan, U.A.E, Morocco, and the U.S.) mainly grew up in Morocco.
- Transitioned out of the military end of this past year.
- Currently taking 2 courses at Chicago Booth School of Business as a Graduate Student at Large this winter quarter to help offset my undergrad GPA.
Main Reasons for pursuing an MBA:
- Did not want to pursue the jobs offered to me by the Navy Headhunters and Military Recruiters (consisted mainly of roles at Data Centers and Nuclear Power Plants)
- Want to pursue a career in 1) Management Consulting or 2) General Management (rotational leadership programs).
- To challenge my self and continue working on my leadership skills, as well as grow as an individual
Wait, so are you unemployed right now? If so, that can be problematic. Please try to find a solid job, ideally in your desired post-MBA industry, as soon as possible. Any periods of unemployment longer than three months usually need to be explained to admissions committees. It's not fatal or anything, but you do need to explain what you've done with your time.
In your case, I would not put "management consulting" in my application. Check out the "Career Vision" module in the free trial version of
ApplicantLab to understand why. At this point, with a 670, you might not even get invited to interview for management consulting jobs, unfortunately.
General management -- but in a specific industry -- seems like a much more solid choice.
Quote:
Schools Choices:
- Booth
- Kellogg
- WashU Olin
- Emory Goizueta
- NotreDame Mendoza
If to wait till next cycle (addition to above):
- Tuck
- Fuqua
- Haas
Sorry for the long profile. My main concern is, should I still apply to MBA programs during round 3 or wait till round 1 for the next application cycle? I feel, like applying this late only makes me competitive at Olin, Goizueta, and Mendoza. If I wait till the next round, I am confident I would be able to increase my GMAT score by then, but then how does my employment and transition play into effect during the applications. Currently I am not working, if choose to wait another year. I would have to find a job, and it probably will not be in management consulting, probably some other industry and field. Would that look bad for my applications? Or I could take a "gap year" and pursue coaching track and field at a college or something that I always wanted to try. But, would all that play a negative role in my application for MBAs? What is your input on me applying to the current target schools with my stats right now?
Also, any other feedback or input on my profile in general or things I should address, would be greatly appreciated! Thank You!
Minhaj
I do not think it is responsible to apply in Round 3 with your current mix of low GPA, low GMAT (relatively low for the top 10-15 schools), and current unemployment. Round 3 is almost impossible for anyone to get in (possible, just very difficult), so I don't recommend trying it. If you want to try for something now, perhaps, as you mentioned, Olin, Emory or Notre Dame... that might work -- for them, your GMAT score is near the average, and I suspect they have more spots available in Round 3 than, say, a Booth would have. I would not advise you to apply to Booth, Kellogg, etc. during R3 with the current GMAT score unless your leadership experience really put you near the tippy-top of your previous role in the military.
If you wait until Round 1 or even the next Round 2, that will give you time to 1) retake the GMAT and 2) start to get established in a civilian career, ideally in the post-MBA industry that most appeals to you (e.g. the industry you'd most like to do a post-MBA rotational program in). The idea to perhaps take a "Gap year" might make sense, but primarily if it allows you to build a stronger professional background.
I do not at all advise taking a "gap year" at this point to become a track coach -- well, I mean -- you can do it if you think it's your life's calling, but I don't advise it from a "Will this help me get into business school?" perspective. If you do volunteer track coaching in your spare time, while also having a more "businessy" full-time job, then that is awesome.... but could you blame an AdCom for being a little skeptical re: "
Does this person ACTUALLY want to even GO to business school?" if the only civilian work experience at the time of applying is coaching track? It will present quite a HURDLE (see what I did there?) to your candidacy.
In sum -- hold off on applying (at least to the higher-ranked schools), get that GMAT score up, and try to find a civilian job in a businessy role (or even reach out to the consulting firms to see if they have special recruiting for veterans?) to bolster your profile before applying.
Best regards,
Maria