gfbroke wrote:
I've been a financial advisor five years (series 7 + insurance license). Own my own franchise. I won 2 quality of advice adwards for providing outstanding advice to clients. I am willing to retake gmat but will that help? I still have a month to study for gmat before round 1 deadlines. Should I consider strengthening my app before applying to top 10 like doing more volunteer work etc? 28 seems to be pushing the age limit though
I really want to go to a top school. Appreciate any suggestions on how to better my chances. PS The schools I chose have graduates that end up with the top positions, the schools just happen to be on the east coast. I would go to Stanford if they would have me.
I see Wharton and Columbia as being more likely admits than MIT or Harvard. (or Stanford
) Also consider schools like NYU, Chicago, Michigan, Yale, UCLA, and Haas.
I'm concerned that your GPA
and GMAT are a little under these schools' averages. The combination is a problem. To be on the safe side, I think you should retake the GMAT, unless this was a higher score than you anticipated. So yes, prepare again for it and retake. If you don't raise your score, then also apply to lower ranked schools, like Georgetown, or Rochester.
A consistent volunteer responsibility would strengthen your app, but don't wait a year to create it and apply. As soon as you complete prep for the GMAT, make a community service commitment, which you will be able to talk about in interviews and write about in wait-list letters, if necessary. You probably will not have much to say about it in your application. If you are rejected, then next time you will have a lot to write about. If you are accepted, well then, look at all the good you will have done.
Good luck!