Hi SJD,
I am sorry about the ding. As a fellow applicant, I have the following comments with my limited research. Your ding could have been because of various reasons.
1. Your current MBA as a degree to show higher academic capacity might not be a good selling point. First of all, post grad. GPA is not considered serious indicator of academic strength compared with under grad. And the second itching point is that it is another MBA. You would have to do very strongly to justify as why you are applying for another MBA when you are already enrolled in one. A second MBA might be justifiable if you had done first one long ago (say 10 years ago for your age). And you will have to do a lot to address these points in your essays.
2. Post MBA goals : At 40 and with multiple degrees, you can not possibly project yourself as career changer with elite schools. I am not saying it is impossible. But it is near impossible. On other hand, if you had projected yourself as career accelerator, then why not part time MBA? You will have to answer this question as well.
3. More than a post grad degree, your GMAT score carries more weightage to show your academic capacity at this age. In fact, your undergrads might not matter much if you had done them 10 years ago. Bumping your GMAT score by another 40 points might help in showing your academic rigor.
Elite schools usually look for either super achievers or someone with a lot of non profit activity or both. If you are in first category, then you might consider Sloan program for leadership at many top schools.
All the best.
tc
YM
SJD wrote:
Hello all,
I received the application decision from Oxford University Said Business School. Declined. Obviously, I am disappointed, but strangely, not discouraged.
Here is my information:
US Male / 40 yrs
3 bachelor of science degrees: BS Aerospace Engineering
BS Physics
BS Astronomy
Undergrad GPA: 2.5 (not so good)
Current Graduate GPA: 4.0 (perfect) studying at local AACSB accredited graduate business school)
Experience: 3.5 yrs (Metallurgical engineering)
GMAT results: 710 (50Q 37V 6.0 essay)
I enrolled in August of 2010 at a local MBA program to demonstrate to elite MBA programs that my undergradualte GPA was not indicative of my scholastic capability. Apparently, my academic excellence at the graduate level in an accredited business school did not weigh significantly in Said Business School's decision to admit. My GMAT score is comparable or better than the average GMAT score of students admitted to Said Business School. I also thought three undergraduate degrees would be a positive contributor to my application.
I'm curious what else I can do to demonstrate my ability to excel at an elite business school. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks in advance, SJD