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hk0620
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Joined: 11 Aug 2013
Last visit: 15 Jun 2014
Posts: 20
Own Kudos:
13
Given Kudos: 14
Location: United States
Concentration: Strategy
Schools: Marshall '16 (WA) Anderson FEMBA '17 (A)
GMAT 1: 720 Q49 V40
Schools: Marshall '16 (WA) Anderson FEMBA '17 (A)
GMAT 1: 720 Q49 V40
Posts: 20
Kudos: 13
Profile Evaluation (low GPA, 720 GMAT, attorney) 09 Sep 2013, 21:07
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Hi Linda, could I get an evaluation on my background please?

31 asian-american male
UG GPA: 2.86 (I'm pretty concerned about this), B.S. in managerial economics from UC Davis. Had an upward trend in GPA during my final two years of school due to me switching majors from bio-chem.
Law School GPA: 3.25 from a decent, but not great regional school (ranked around 50 nationally)
GMAT: 720 (49Q, 40V), 6.0AWA, 8.0 IR
Target Schools: USC F/T, UCLA P/T, NYU P/T. Applying R1 or R2 to all schools.

I worked in finance for a year after college and decided to go to law school. After graduating law school, I worked as in house counsel for 1 year at an online media company. Since then and for the past 3 years, I've been working as a regulatory compliance lawyer, assisting banks, lenders, and finance companies with issues in commercial and consumer lending. I'm planning on going to business school to begin a career in consulting, but would like to continue working in my current field, just on the business side rather than the legal side.

1. What do you think my chances are for getting into each of the schools I listed? Ideally, I'd like to attend USC F/T or UCLA P/T. However, if USC F/T is a stretch, I'd rather apply to the P/T program as a safety.

2. Will my experience as an attorney be a positive factor in admissions? I've heard mixed opinions on how adcoms view lawyers (eg: some are skeptical as to why they're going back to school, others feel they bring diversity to the classroom, etc.)

3. Nothing I can do about my UG GPA. Will my law school GPA help to counterbalance my lower UG GPA?

4. Anything you recommend that I do to help my chances? Any other schools you suggest I apply to?

Thanks in advance for your advice! It's much appreciated.
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Profile Evaluation (low GPA, 720 GMAT, attorney) 12 Sep 2013, 22:40
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hk0620
Hi Linda, could I get an evaluation on my background please?

31 asian-american male
UG GPA: 2.86 (I'm pretty concerned about this), B.S. in managerial economics from UC Davis. Had an upward trend in GPA during my final two years of school due to me switching majors from bio-chem.
Law School GPA: 3.25 from a decent, but not great regional school (ranked around 50 nationally)
GMAT: 720 (49Q, 40V), 6.0AWA, 8.0 IR
Target Schools: USC F/T, UCLA P/T, NYU P/T. Applying R1 or R2 to all schools.

I worked in finance for a year after college and decided to go to law school. After graduating law school, I worked as in house counsel for 1 year at an online media company. Since then and for the past 3 years, I've been working as a regulatory compliance lawyer, assisting banks, lenders, and finance companies with issues in commercial and consumer lending. I'm planning on going to business school to begin a career in consulting, but would like to continue working in my current field, just on the business side rather than the legal side.

1. What do you think my chances are for getting into each of the schools I listed? Ideally, I'd like to attend USC F/T or UCLA P/T. However, if USC F/T is a stretch, I'd rather apply to the P/T program as a safety.

2. Will my experience as an attorney be a positive factor in admissions? I've heard mixed opinions on how adcoms view lawyers (eg: some are skeptical as to why they're going back to school, others feel they bring diversity to the classroom, etc.)

3. Nothing I can do about my UG GPA. Will my law school GPA help to counterbalance my lower UG GPA?

4. Anything you recommend that I do to help my chances? Any other schools you suggest I apply to?

Thanks in advance for your advice! It's much appreciated.
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hk0620
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Joined: 11 Aug 2013
Last visit: 15 Jun 2014
Posts: 20
Own Kudos:
13
Given Kudos: 14
Location: United States
Concentration: Strategy
Schools: Marshall '16 (WA) Anderson FEMBA '17 (A)
GMAT 1: 720 Q49 V40
Schools: Marshall '16 (WA) Anderson FEMBA '17 (A)
GMAT 1: 720 Q49 V40
Posts: 20
Kudos: 13
Profile Evaluation (low GPA, 720 GMAT, attorney) 13 Sep 2013, 18:41
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Hi Linda,

Sorry, your feedback didn't seem to appear with your post. Did you have any comments regarding my profile?

Thanks!
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 [1]
Profile Evaluation (low GPA, 720 GMAT, attorney) 16 Sep 2013, 14:45
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Hi Linda,

Sorry, your feedback didn't seem to appear with your post. Did you have any comments regarding my profile?

Thanks!
Show more

Sorry about that. I did respond. Who well. Here goes for Take 2. To answer your questions:

1. I think your have a decent shot at USC FT and are competitive there, but you're also not a shoe-in. Make sure you address the low undergrad GPA in your app.
2. I think both reactions are valid. You will have to make clear why you need an MBA, given the JD. All applicants have to address [ url=https://www.accepted.com/mba/goalsessay.aspx]this question[/url], but those with advanced degrees have to work a little harder to do so well.
3. A little, but not much. Frankly, a 3.25 isn't a great GPA on the graduate level. It's good. It's respectable, but it's not great.
4. I wrote a short book on how to present yourself in an application. For general advice I would direct you to that book. Nothing specific jumps out at me in what you wrote above, except you didn't mention extra-curriculars or community service at all. Don't make your app all about work.

Best,
Linda
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hk0620
avatar
Joined: 11 Aug 2013
Last visit: 15 Jun 2014
Posts: 20
Own Kudos:
13
 [1]
Given Kudos: 14
Location: United States
Concentration: Strategy
Schools: Marshall '16 (WA) Anderson FEMBA '17 (A)
GMAT 1: 720 Q49 V40
Schools: Marshall '16 (WA) Anderson FEMBA '17 (A)
GMAT 1: 720 Q49 V40
Posts: 20
Kudos: 13
 [1]
Profile Evaluation (low GPA, 720 GMAT, attorney) 21 Sep 2013, 12:13
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hk0620
Hi Linda,

Sorry, your feedback didn't seem to appear with your post. Did you have any comments regarding my profile?

Thanks!

Sorry about that. I did respond. Who well. Here goes for Take 2. To answer your questions:

1. I think your have a decent shot at USC FT and are competitive there, but you're also not a shoe-in. Make sure you address the low undergrad GPA in your app.
2. I think both reactions are valid. You will have to make clear why you need an MBA, given the JD. All applicants have to address [ url=https://www.accepted.com/mba/goalsessay.aspx]this question[/url], but those with advanced degrees have to work a little harder to do so well.
3. A little, but not much. Frankly, a 3.25 isn't a great GPA on the graduate level. It's good. It's respectable, but it's not great.
4. I wrote a short book on how to present yourself in an application. For general advice I would direct you to that book. Nothing specific jumps out at me in what you wrote above, except you didn't mention extra-curriculars or community service at all. Don't make your app all about work.

Best,
Linda
Show more

Thanks for your advice and the link to your book, Linda! It really has some great reviews on Amazon, and I think I'll pick up a copy on my Kindle for more information on how to put together my apps.
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Last visit: 18 Dec 2022
Posts: 6,466
Own Kudos:
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Location: Los Angeles CA
Posts: 6,466
Kudos: 859
Profile Evaluation (low GPA, 720 GMAT, attorney) 30 Sep 2013, 19:02
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hk0620
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hk0620
Hi Linda,

Sorry, your feedback didn't seem to appear with your post. Did you have any comments regarding my profile?

Thanks!

Sorry about that. I did respond. Who well. Here goes for Take 2. To answer your questions:

1. I think your have a decent shot at USC FT and are competitive there, but you're also not a shoe-in. Make sure you address the low undergrad GPA in your app.
2. I think both reactions are valid. You will have to make clear why you need an MBA, given the JD. All applicants have to address [ url=https://www.accepted.com/mba/goalsessay.aspx]this question[/url], but those with advanced degrees have to work a little harder to do so well.
3. A little, but not much. Frankly, a 3.25 isn't a great GPA on the graduate level. It's good. It's respectable, but it's not great.
4. I wrote a short book on how to present yourself in an application. For general advice I would direct you to that book. Nothing specific jumps out at me in what you wrote above, except you didn't mention extra-curriculars or community service at all. Don't make your app all about work.

Best,
Linda

Thanks for your advice and the link to your book, Linda! It really has some great reviews on Amazon, and I think I'll pick up a copy on my Kindle for more information on how to put together my apps.
Show more

Thanks!