Profile Evaluation

The schools you want to apply to have average GMATs around 700, then you should retake. If the schools you are targeting have average GMATs at or below 650, then the retake is probably unnecessary.

Best,
Linda

Could you name a few colleges where I stand a chance with a 650 GMAT score.

What do you want to do after your MBA?

Linda

I'd want to be doing marketing, strategy and operations or consulting.

My first suggestion to you is that you narrow your MBA goal before you apply or even before you attempt to choose schools.

Consider Vanderbilt, Indiana Kelley, Tulane, Cox, and Michigan State.

Best,
Linda

Hi Linda,
I have checked out the schools that you have mentioned above and have shortlisted
1. Indiana – Kelley
2. Michigan State University – Broad
3. Southern Methodist University – Cox
I missed to check your thread before applying in the Early Admission round. In that round I applied to Duke – Fuqua, Emory – Goizueta, Cornell – Johnson. I got dinged from the first two schools and am not expecting a positive reply from Cornell too. After the rejects I realized that I need to choose schools with a lesser Avg GMAT and I came up with a list almost similar to yours. I now feel I should have read your reply not wasted effort in applying to those schools.
I need to shortlist a couple schools from the below:
1. Tulane Univ – Freeman
2. Univ of Georgia – Terry
3. Texas A&M Univ – Mays
4. Babson – Olin
5. Univ of Urbana Champaign
Your comments & any other schools suggestions are welcome.
Regards,
Ali.

I agree these programs make more sense for you since your GMAT exceeds their averages. You may also wish to look into University of Connecticut, George Washington, and University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
Best of luck!

Hi Linda,

After getting rejected from all the schools that I applied to last time, I decided to re-take the GMAT. And I've managed to improve the score from 650 to 710.

There have been significant improvements in the profile other than the GMAT score such as -
1. A promotion promotion at work place.
2. Appreciation award for efforts at work place
3. Volunteer at blood donation drives and at HIV/AIDS awareness drives
4. Member of the planning & organizing committee of the a CSR event fro 1500 employees at work place

This year I'm planning to apply to these colleges (some fresh applications and some as re-applications) -
1. Cornell - Johnson (re-applicant)
2. Indiana - Kelley (re-applicant)
3. Univ of Virginia - Darden (Fresh application)
4. UNC - Kenan-Flagler (Fresh application)
5. Texas - McCombs (Fresh application)
6. SMU - Cox (re-applicant)
7. Michigan Sate Univ - Broad (re-applicant)

I feel that I'm not having enough of the top schools on the list. Do you think so, too? Can you help me with 2 more schools that I should target?? FYI, I now know, unlike last year, that I want to do Consulting after MBA.

I wanted to apply to Kellogg's but the deadline has passed for it. The same is the case for Fuqua.

Congratulations on the improved GMAT! and the clearer goal. if you can specify what kind of consulting, that would be even better.

I actually think you have a nice mix of schools here. Cornell Johnson and Darden are not at all sure bets. You are competitive at kelley, Mc Combs, cox and Broad. probably kenan-Flagler too.

I want to point out that while a higher GMAT and clearer goal will really help your application, you should want to make sure that your presentation of your qualifications is as good as the substance. If you purchase one hour, we can at least look at one application and do a content review -- basically provide a reality check. It will be much expensive than applying and getting rejected.

Best,
Linda