dsadsf wrote:
Wanted to get some feedback on where you guys think my current candidacy for a top MBA program stands.
Took the GMAT yesterday, and got a 660 (Q43/V38) with a 6 on IR. Pretty solid considering I was consistently scoring 640s on practice CATs.
I graduated from UCSB Summa Cum Laude with a 3.9 overall GPA in Economics/Mathematics, so I feel like that helps lessen the burden of not having a 700+ GMAT.
I currently work for a high-growth tech company in San Francisco as a Financial Analyst with about 1.5 years of experience. I know b-schools put stock in being active in the community, and I am also an assistant head coach for a varsity basketball team out here in the area.
The five schools I selected to send my score reports to were UC Berkeley, UCLA, Chicago, NYU, and Duke. Based on my profile, would you guys say I have a solid chance for admission to any one of these programs? I realize that my GMAT score may be slightly below the average for these programs but am hoping that my overall resume can help beef up my candidacy.
Hi dsadsf,
Thanks for posting!
So a couple of things. First, congrats on beating your GMAT expectations. A 38V is a good start, but I'd like to see the Q lifted to 45-47. With a bit of practice and focused study, I think this would be entirely reasonable for someone who majored in math. What is your capacity to re-take the GMAT? Do you feel like you handled the time well on the actual test?
Second, your number of years experience is a touch on the low side - I'm assuming you plan to apply next year which will give you around 3 years total upon matriculation? From UCLA's stats, only 13% of the incoming class had between 0-3 years of work experience. Totally doable, but your essays on why you need an MBA so soon into your career must be very compelling.
How has your progression at work been? Things like promotions, pay increases, and number of subordinates play a big role in helping admissions determine your overall fit for their program. Are you someone who can rapidly move up in an organization and is a top performer or are you more middle of the pack (not you specificially! Just in general).
Apart from UCB, the schools you listed are going to be very difficult to gain admission to. NYU, Chicago, and UCLA place a good weight on the GMAT while Duke looks for leadership and career progression. I think with a higher GMAT and an extra year under your belt you can make yourself a much more compelling candidate, especially if you progress at work.
Hope this helps and let me know if you have any follow up questions!
Regards,
Personal MBA Coachwww.personalmbacoach.com _________________