helme009 wrote:
Here is a quick overview of my profile.
[*]--> Canadian (black), underrepresented minority
[*]--> 29 years old
[*]--> Bachelors in Public Administration from a Canadian university (3.2 GPA)
[*]--> 6 years work experience --> sales, policy analyst with federal and provincial levels of government. Currently working for major Canadian bank
[*]--> Extra-curricular --> Volunteer at community radio station at my old university. I help conceptualize and develop radio content. Super fun! Lots of work! I am also co-founder of a small NGO, a statistical project for innovation, research and empowerment in Africa. MBA will provide tools to get project off the ground running.
[*]--> GMAT --> wrote in March 2017. Bombed with a 350. Cutting my losses and switching over to GRE. Cant crack GMAT math. Looking to write Nov 2017
[*]--> Post MBA - use existing expertise in policy formation and analysis to build a career in business-government relations. An MBA will bridge the gap between my background and where I want to go.
What do you think of the profile
So, the good news; you have a pretty good profile.
If you can effectively communicate your goals & your person, you ought to be okay.
Keep in mind we're big on team in your application phase.
We're going to be graded together, working a lot together and ultimately changing the world together.
The not so good. That GMAT.
I didn't have a great GMAT myself so I feel your pain, but I was closer to the class average (650).
If you're switching to the GRE, you have to ace it.
The GRE is scheduled so if you haven't, find those dates.
I would encourage you to brave a GMAT retake(you can pick your own dates).
Take a prep course for it too. You can only get better. I was scoring as high as 660, 690 on practice tests leading up to my test day.AdCom won't judge your profile based on the lower GMAT but they will be aware of it(when you send it in).
The better news, I've met some of the current class, incoming class, staff and one of our professors.
I would do everything I can to get in.
As long as you can bring up your GRE to the rest of your profile, it is then up to expressing yourself, references and demonstrating your fit.
Keep in mind being black or underrepresented minority does not work the same as in the US.
You either have it or you don't for an MBA.
I'm black as well so I'm rooting for you.
You can do this!
If you haven't, get in touch with an application advisor for their opinion too.
That matters more than what we here can say.
I hope it helps.
Thanks for your reply.
I actually took a prep course with Kaplan here in my city. Even took advantage of their free retake. It was utter garbage and a waste of money. Kaplan's curriculum was not jiving with me. Big emphasis on strategy but no coverage whatsoever on content. I spent the majority of my schooling years avoiding math. I took math for just the first two years of high school and never touched in again in university.
I switched over to Manhattan and it was much better. Spent all summer working through Manhattan's self study syllabus. Did I get anywhere? Yes. Is it enough? No. I was not able to answer all 600-700 level quant questions. Even after diligent practice in one subject area. However, I was smoking the verbal portion.
I took a GRE practice test yesterday and I did not score as low as my first GMAT diagnostic.
Plus, scheduling the GRE is like the GMAT. Book an appointment when dates are available. The paper-format though is only offered 3 times a year I believe. I connected with another member on the forum with a background like mine. He was admitted to Rotman via GRE and was also offered a generous scholarship.
These standardized tests are really a tick in a box. I find them to be a total cash grab. How well I do answering an algebra data sufficiency question at a 700-800 level has nothing to do with how well I do in graduate studies. I have enough charisma, confidence and humility which will allow me to blow these applications out of the water.
Thanks again for your kind words. I will PM you so we can connect via Linkedin.