Profile Evaluation Request (650 GMAT, 3.54 GPA, 3 years exp)
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24 Jul 2011, 16:28
Good evening,
Please see below for my profile evaluation information as well as my short list of target schools. I'm interested in attending business school in the Fall of 2012. I look forward to your opinions and advice as to which programs I am competitive for.
Undergrad @ Clemson University: Major - Financial Management, Minors - Legal Studies, Accounting (studied businesses classes abroad in China)
GPA: 3.54 (cum laude and above average for all target schools)
GMAT: 650 (40M, 39V, 6 AWA)
Experience at Matriculation: 3 yrs. business analyst at large name management consulting firm (financial task manager for multimillion dollar contracts, co-authored green energy related deliverables for client, proposal co-pricing lead for multimillion dollar opportunity, leader of financial software users group to encourage collaboration across firm, promoted in 1.5 years, strong support and career progression from management)
Professional Certification: Certified Associated Project Manager (CAPM) from Project Management Institute (PMI)
Extra Curricular: firm liaison for Network For Teaching Entrepreneurship (NFTE) (will also be volunteering in classrooms starting this fall), college lacrosse team leader, Delta Sigma Pi (professional business fraternity), bonsai society club member, multi sport intramural player, also previous volunteer experience with Special Olympics and Habitat for Humanity
References: Strong, at minimum a close Clemson University math teacher and managers at current firm
Path After Business School: goal is to work for a small start-up company in energy or tech industry and/or to utilize network to find a position in venture capital firm to build on brief summer internship in which I worked for a holding company to determine potential takeover candidates
Full Time vs Part Time: One of the major advantages of full time is obtaining and working an internship. Have you ever heard of students that complete their MBA part time and then leave their current company and intern in a new industry in hopes of being pulled on full time? This would lower the amount of debt incurred and give the 3 years of experience. Please let me know your thoughts.
GMAT: 650 was the best practice test that I took, so I am happy with my score. Upon further analysis I think I could possibly increase to 670 or 680 with a lot of effort. With the schools below should I focus on applications or try to retake for a 20 point increase? I am within the range for all target schools.
Years of experience: Are internships counted as years of experience? If so I will have 3.5 yrs. at matriculation
Short List:
UVA (reach)
Michigan (reach)
Texas (reach)
UNC
Georgetown (full or part time)
Vanderbilt
Boston College or Boston University
Babson
Thank you in advance!