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Updated on: 29 Jun 2011, 05:09
Originally posted by johnnyGMAT2k10 on 28 Jun 2011, 17:49.
Last edited by johnnyGMAT2k10 on 29 Jun 2011, 05:09, edited 1 time in total.
Last edited by johnnyGMAT2k10 on 29 Jun 2011, 05:09, edited 1 time in total.
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Just had a rough time today with my GMAT, but want to start working on my applications. I wanted to run my profile by you guys, and ask your advice before moving on to one of the experts. Its long, so thank you for taking the time to read this if you do.
Age: 27
Race: AA/Black 1st Generation American (Caribbean descent)
Undergrad GPA: <3.0 Dont know exactly have to get transcript from 1st school, roughly 2.7
Degree: BS Civil Engineering from Top-5 Engineering School
Alternate transcript: 2 Classes via UCLA extension GPA: 4.0 (Plan on taking a 3rd class in Fall term)
GMAT: 690 Q49 V35
Work Experience: 4yrs Currently, 5yrs @ potential matriculation Civil Design Engineer/Project Manager for Telecom Engineering Firm. Provide Construction drawings, project management, A/E services, site-walks and design for the major cellphone carriers (In a nutshell i design cell phone towers and tower sites. Clients include: AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile, MetroPCS, Sprint, as well as many other cell phone providers and tower management companies.
Letters of Recommendation: I anticipate strong, I also plan on asking my academic advisor from my school.
Extra-Curricular: Undergrad (National Society of Black Engineers, American Society of Civil Engineers, Intramural Basketball);
Post UG EC: Very Active member in church (organized numerous events, helped with several ministries, ran sound system during service), Habitat for Humanity (helped ReStore and worked on site builds) Big Brothers, Big Sisters (Big brother) [started recently but it is something that means a lot to me and I feel that I can convey this in my essays if need be)
Post MBA Goals: I want to change careers into finance, specifically Investment Banking as I am interested in M&A.
Why MBA: As someone without a finance background I will need an MBA from a top program in order to transition from engineering into finance.
Schools (Preference/Choice):
Super Stretch:
Columbia (especially given my GMAT, considering not applying after my recent GMAT performance)(2/3)
Stretch:
NYU-Stern (1)(Dream School) via Consortium
UCLA-Anderson (2/3) (Love the school, only downside not in ny, hurts for finance) via Consortium
Reach/Less of a Stretch (I dont think I have any safeties given my gpa)
USC-Marshall (4) via Consortium
Emory (5) via Consortium
GaTech (6)
Questions concerns:
1.) GPA (obviously): low, but i feel it is something I can help to explain in my essays. While I feel that immaturity did play a part at first, i dont think it was the primary factor in my performance overall. I transferred after 2 years into a top5 engineering program from a good regionally recognized engineering school in the Northeast where I had a scholarship, was in the Honors College and on the Dean's List. My family went through some financial troubles soon after i transferred and i had to work to put myself through school. There were also some other issues i had to deal with during undergrad that I plan on addressing in my optional essay. My advisor at my school is aware of what I was going through and I plan on asking her for a LOR to help tell my story. Also I have started an alternate transcript where i have 2 As so far and am looking to add a 3rd
2.) Work Experience: While not "blue-chip", i think it is strong. The company I work for is a small firm which grew from 5 to about 30 employees in about 3.5 years. I started as an paid intern, working during my last semester of school. When i was hired full time I was the first outside hire made by the company, the other 4 started the company, as well as the only minority in the company. Since it is a small company there are no concrete "Titles" that we all have. My responsibilities have increased during my time as I am now in a Project Management role, I manage other engineers at times when I am assigned a project. i am also involved in training new engineers. How does my WE match up
3.) GMAT: 690 (49,35)
I got this score after my first attempt in December '10, I have since taken it again 2 more times, and have not been able to break this mark despite scoring in the high 700s on my practice tests, the final attempt was today 6/28 and I am now unsure of what to do next. I want to start working on my essays and the rest of my applications, but I do want to take it again perhaps in the fall after I get finished up with some of, if not most of my essays, as i am hoping for 720+ especially if i plan on getting into my top choices. Should I take the test for a 4th time, will it look bad even if i do get that 720+ eventually, is it worth it?
I apologize for the length of my post/profile but I wanted to be as descriptive as possible especially with my situation. Any feedback any of you can give is greatly appreciated. Thank you
-Johnny
Age: 27
Race: AA/Black 1st Generation American (Caribbean descent)
Undergrad GPA: <3.0 Dont know exactly have to get transcript from 1st school, roughly 2.7
Degree: BS Civil Engineering from Top-5 Engineering School
Alternate transcript: 2 Classes via UCLA extension GPA: 4.0 (Plan on taking a 3rd class in Fall term)
GMAT: 690 Q49 V35
Work Experience: 4yrs Currently, 5yrs @ potential matriculation Civil Design Engineer/Project Manager for Telecom Engineering Firm. Provide Construction drawings, project management, A/E services, site-walks and design for the major cellphone carriers (In a nutshell i design cell phone towers and tower sites. Clients include: AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile, MetroPCS, Sprint, as well as many other cell phone providers and tower management companies.
Letters of Recommendation: I anticipate strong, I also plan on asking my academic advisor from my school.
Extra-Curricular: Undergrad (National Society of Black Engineers, American Society of Civil Engineers, Intramural Basketball);
Post UG EC: Very Active member in church (organized numerous events, helped with several ministries, ran sound system during service), Habitat for Humanity (helped ReStore and worked on site builds) Big Brothers, Big Sisters (Big brother) [started recently but it is something that means a lot to me and I feel that I can convey this in my essays if need be)
Post MBA Goals: I want to change careers into finance, specifically Investment Banking as I am interested in M&A.
Why MBA: As someone without a finance background I will need an MBA from a top program in order to transition from engineering into finance.
Schools (Preference/Choice):
Super Stretch:
Columbia (especially given my GMAT, considering not applying after my recent GMAT performance)(2/3)
Stretch:
NYU-Stern (1)(Dream School) via Consortium
UCLA-Anderson (2/3) (Love the school, only downside not in ny, hurts for finance) via Consortium
Reach/Less of a Stretch (I dont think I have any safeties given my gpa)
USC-Marshall (4) via Consortium
Emory (5) via Consortium
GaTech (6)
Questions concerns:
1.) GPA (obviously): low, but i feel it is something I can help to explain in my essays. While I feel that immaturity did play a part at first, i dont think it was the primary factor in my performance overall. I transferred after 2 years into a top5 engineering program from a good regionally recognized engineering school in the Northeast where I had a scholarship, was in the Honors College and on the Dean's List. My family went through some financial troubles soon after i transferred and i had to work to put myself through school. There were also some other issues i had to deal with during undergrad that I plan on addressing in my optional essay. My advisor at my school is aware of what I was going through and I plan on asking her for a LOR to help tell my story. Also I have started an alternate transcript where i have 2 As so far and am looking to add a 3rd
2.) Work Experience: While not "blue-chip", i think it is strong. The company I work for is a small firm which grew from 5 to about 30 employees in about 3.5 years. I started as an paid intern, working during my last semester of school. When i was hired full time I was the first outside hire made by the company, the other 4 started the company, as well as the only minority in the company. Since it is a small company there are no concrete "Titles" that we all have. My responsibilities have increased during my time as I am now in a Project Management role, I manage other engineers at times when I am assigned a project. i am also involved in training new engineers. How does my WE match up
3.) GMAT: 690 (49,35)
I got this score after my first attempt in December '10, I have since taken it again 2 more times, and have not been able to break this mark despite scoring in the high 700s on my practice tests, the final attempt was today 6/28 and I am now unsure of what to do next. I want to start working on my essays and the rest of my applications, but I do want to take it again perhaps in the fall after I get finished up with some of, if not most of my essays, as i am hoping for 720+ especially if i plan on getting into my top choices. Should I take the test for a 4th time, will it look bad even if i do get that 720+ eventually, is it worth it?
I apologize for the length of my post/profile but I wanted to be as descriptive as possible especially with my situation. Any feedback any of you can give is greatly appreciated. Thank you
-Johnny
28 Jun 2011, 20:57
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Johnn, being an African American and applying through the consortium will certainly help to a certain extent, but as you have dutifully pointed out, the GPA will become an issue. The thing with GPA is that there's no way to hide it and whatever you try to explain seems to fall on deaf ears (maybe not that bad...). As you compete for a spot in the top business school in the nation, the easiest things to compare applicants are their GPA and GMAT scores. The question then becomes - why should, say, Columbia risk its class profile to admit someone with a 2.7 when knowingly the next applicant has a 3.7 from Cornell? The mere fact is that there are so many more applicants applying to top schools than there are spaces allotted for everyone. With that said, what's done is done and that's just what it is. It's great that you've taken 2 courses (and aced them) and planning to take a third. These classes will help solidfy the fact that you were ______ (fill-in-the-blank) in college. It won't completely overturn your 2.7, but it will definitely help. For the GMAT, 690 is a great score but now your academics are both below Columbia's average, as well as most of the other schools you mentioned. This is not a good thing and while I'm not a consultant, I would still recommend you to retake your GMAT one last time, and try your hardest to get that 720. I'm not saying a 690 can't get you admitted, but why not maximize your opportunities?
Your work experience sounds very interesting. You just have to be able to sell it well enough to convince the adcoms. One thing with the smaller companies is that applicants have a hard time being benchmarked by the adcoms. Again, the mere fact is that there are so many more applicants that adcoms can choose from, why risk it with someone who didn't work at Goldman or McKinsey? That's a fair question but not an insurmountable question to overcome for someone who didn't.
I'm sorry that I feel like such a downer but I'm trying to give you my unbiased perspective. At your current stage, Columbia, Stern, and Anderson will be hard to beat, especially with the high average GMAT score and GPA (the notoriously high UCLA GPA). You do have a chance at Marshall, Georgia, and Emory. Since your interest is to go into IB, try your best to get admitted to a top 20 school as most BBs tend to only focus recruiting at the top 20 schools.
Best of luck!
Your work experience sounds very interesting. You just have to be able to sell it well enough to convince the adcoms. One thing with the smaller companies is that applicants have a hard time being benchmarked by the adcoms. Again, the mere fact is that there are so many more applicants that adcoms can choose from, why risk it with someone who didn't work at Goldman or McKinsey? That's a fair question but not an insurmountable question to overcome for someone who didn't.
I'm sorry that I feel like such a downer but I'm trying to give you my unbiased perspective. At your current stage, Columbia, Stern, and Anderson will be hard to beat, especially with the high average GMAT score and GPA (the notoriously high UCLA GPA). You do have a chance at Marshall, Georgia, and Emory. Since your interest is to go into IB, try your best to get admitted to a top 20 school as most BBs tend to only focus recruiting at the top 20 schools.
Best of luck!
29 Jun 2011, 05:08
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bakfed
Thank you for taking the time out to assess and offer those words of advice. You werent at all a downer and I realize that I am behind/below average in the two objective metrics on the application. After sleeping on it I have come to terms with the fact that I havent seen that test for the last time and I think I will use the rest of the summer to work on my essays and putting my application together and probably give the GMAT one last go round in the Fall. I need to find out what the disconnect is and why I can score in the 770 range consistently on Prep tests but cant come through on test day. I think its more a question of execution rather than preparation. I realize that Columbia my chances are practically nil at this point and slim at absolute best for Stern and Anderson, do you think I can stand a decent or almost decent shot with a 720+?
Sidebar: I also plan on applying to Anderson, Marshall, Emory via CGSM i just forgot to place it in my original post, not that it would matter that much, just mentioning for truths sake.
Thank you again for reading and assessing my profile as well as for your responses to others as well, I have kept up with them for some time and I truly appreciate what you contribute to the forum.
-Johnny
Thank you for taking the time out to assess and offer those words of advice. You werent at all a downer and I realize that I am behind/below average in the two objective metrics on the application. After sleeping on it I have come to terms with the fact that I havent seen that test for the last time and I think I will use the rest of the summer to work on my essays and putting my application together and probably give the GMAT one last go round in the Fall. I need to find out what the disconnect is and why I can score in the 770 range consistently on Prep tests but cant come through on test day. I think its more a question of execution rather than preparation. I realize that Columbia my chances are practically nil at this point and slim at absolute best for Stern and Anderson, do you think I can stand a decent or almost decent shot with a 720+?
Sidebar: I also plan on applying to Anderson, Marshall, Emory via CGSM i just forgot to place it in my original post, not that it would matter that much, just mentioning for truths sake.
Thank you again for reading and assessing my profile as well as for your responses to others as well, I have kept up with them for some time and I truly appreciate what you contribute to the forum.
-Johnny
