Profile Evaluation Request- THANK YOU!

Question

Hello!

Thanks in advance for your response, it is greatly appreciated.

Profile:
- Age: 25 (27 @ matriculation)
- Male
- U.S. Resident
- GMAT 710 (Q47, V42)
- Undergraduate Institution: Ouachita Baptist University (liberal arts school in Arkansas)
- Undergraduate Degree: Biblical Studies, 3.35 GPA. Graduated in 3.5 years.
- Business coursework outside of major: Microeconomics (B), Accounting I (A), Accounting II (A), College Algebra (B), Personal Finance(A)
- Extracurricular in college: president of fraternity which grew from 12 members to over 80 while I was a member. Various community service leadership opportunities.
- W/E: 
o 2 years at one of the top 5 Health Insurance companies in the U.S. I was a Disability Analyst. Various leadership opportunities.
o (Current) 2 years at a Insurance Brokerage and Consulting Firm as a Consultant (boutique firm likely never head of by admissions committee). Work with company executives to customize benefit program that will make them an employer of choice. Consult regarding Affordable Care Act compliance, as well as be the liaison between various other vendors. Various leadership opportunities, etc. Company size- around 20 employees. 
o Both positions held in a major metroplex. Would likely have great recommendations from management.
- Community Involvement: Served as Associate Pastor for organization my wife and I started called Grassroots Christianity. Organization is focused on changing people’s perception of Church structure and function. Various community service events held.
- Target Schools (I will likely declare a Healthcare concentration if available):
o UT McCombs (in-state tuition. #1 choice)
o UNC
o Vanderbilt
- Stretch Schools
o Duke- Fuqua
o Cornell- Johnson
o Virginia Darden
- Less Competitive Target Schools
o SMU
o Rice
o A&M
- Timeline: I will apply in the fall of 2017 in order to matriculate in the fall of 2018 (class of 2020)
- Career Aspirations: Healthcare Consulting (not on the insurance brokerage side), but to be honest it is a bit undecided. I’m not completely aware of the paths available to me given my background.

Concerns:
- Undergraduate Degree: Will having a religious degree be the diversity that schools are NOT looking for? I know diversity is a big focus of MBA programs. The degree was from a Liberal Arts institution, thus I studied in multiple areas which allowed me to truly foster a passion for learning. 
- Work Experience: I’ve definitely shown progression in both positions (both in salary and promotions), but Insurance is often seen as an industry anyone can walk in to. Not sure how my experience will be viewed by ADCOM at the programs I mentioned. 
Questions:
- Given my somewhat low quant score (Q47), would you recommend I take a few business/math course prior to my application? I’m thinking maybe Calc. for Business, Stats. for Business, and/or some other finance course.
- My current company is somewhat small and the advancement opps are limited because of that. I’m considering looking for another company to work for during the two years leading up to matriculation.
o If I’m right at 2 years before switching companies, would that look negatively to ADCOM(job hopping)?
o I have a relatively large network, and my first thought is I would try to work for one of the big 4 consulting firms in an analyst type role. I think this would be a good opportunity for me personally, but would me taking a role like this hurt my “diversity factor”, since so many MBA applicants come from that background? 
- Are there other schools that you feel like my profile fits? My family (wife and 1 year old daughter) is flexible on location. Outside of the obvious stats(GMAT, GPA), do you feel like I would be a competitive applicant at the schools I listed?

Thank you for your time.

VeritasPrepDozie · Answer

You have a nice profile, it probably won't stand out too much at the top programs given your small undergrad program, limiting major, and non-brand name work experience but for your target programs and other Texas programs you are looking at should be good be enough to have you competitive. I don't think having a religious degree will impact you too much negatively, programs want to know how you did in the quant courses you took so if you can show you did well there then you should be in good shape. Also, working at a bigger name firm would be a positive these firms are a feeder for a reason so do not overthink this part.

UNCBOUND · Answer

Thanks  VeritasPrepDozie  ! Cheers.

UNCBOUND · Answer

Ok  VeritasPrepDozie  , follow up question. Would you recommend applying for 2017 intake or 2018 intake? I have a friend that is starting at Fuqua in the fall and he’s recommending I don’t wait any longer. This has got me thinking that I really don’t want to wait 2+ years to start a program. 
If I applied for 2017 intake: I’d likely stay in the same role I’m in now. Post MBA career goal would be to do strategy consulting for companies in healthcare industry. I’d be 26 entering the program. My fear is that I wouldn’t have enough experience to reach post-MBA career goal. I’d have less time to save for the MBA program, but I’d be making a better salary sooner in life so it would make up for it. 
If I applied for 2018 intake: I’d likely find a job for larger consulting firm NOW, that way I can increase the likelihood of convincing ADCOM that my post-MBA career goals are within reach. Assuming this job switch is overall beneficial and is not out of left field. I’d have more time to prepare for the program(savings, etc.)

Given my profile, how do you think both routes would affect my admission chances at the target schools given(if at all)? Thanks again!

VeritasPrepDozie · Answer

Not sure a year would make a big difference for you on the age front. It really depends on how impactful that year will be for your profile. I think the most important thing for you to is to make sure you have had the requisite interpersonal experiences where you have made impact. If you feel you have the rationale, application fodder, and time then go for it this year. If you feel you need more time to better position yourself then take the year

Profile Evaluation Request- THANK YOU!

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