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jesslyn04
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Joined: 03 Jan 2012
Last visit: 26 Jan 2016
Posts: 4
Concentration: Marketing, General Management
Schools: IESE '16 (A)
GMAT 1: 680 Q41 V41
WE:Marketing (Consumer Packaged Goods)
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Schools: IESE '16 (A)
GMAT 1: 680 Q41 V41
Posts: 4
Kudos: 0
Profile Review - A bit nontraditional/Retake GMAT? 06 Apr 2012, 11:35
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Hi there,

I would love any advice you guys could give me about my business school strategy approach. I would love to do my MBA in France, ideally at INSEAD but I have a sneaking suspicion I would have to retake the GMAT....

I am female, 28, American.

Education Background:
BA in Political Science from Boston University (Unsure of GPA)
Masters of Science in Wine Marketing and Management from Université de Paris Ouest Nanterre (Average 16.4/20, Mention Très Bien)
- for this degree, traveled to 23 different wine consuming or producing countries in Asia, South America, North America and Europe

GMAT Score: 680 (Q41, V41). Quantitative is 57 percentile, Verbal 92. I was scoring 700 - 730 in practice tests, with my highest test from the GMATPrep Software a 730 (Q44, V44). I didn't finish 2 Quant questions, and I feel that nerves definitely got to me.
Writing: 6.0

Work Experience:
- Currently managing the marketing for a winery in the Languedoc-Roussillon in France, reporting directly to owner and managing all aspects of marketing; most likely being promoted to Brand Manager for the company in about a month (in negotiations). Came to this position to get experience in wine production as I now live on the wineryand help in the cellar and vineyards when possible.

Previous positions:
- Account Executive at the top marketing/PR agency for wine and spirits (2.5 years). Managed accounts for major wine regions in France, as well as assisted with major spirits brand campaigns. Experience in PR, marketing, advertising, social media, events
- Sales Representative for French wine distributor (6 month externship to complete my masters)
- English Teacher in primary schools in France (1 year)

Although my ultimate goal is to work in marketing, my work experience has been tailored to get experience in all sectors of the wine industry - I worked in high end restaurants in college, did sales for an importer/distributor, and now am learning production - because I believe that understanding all aspects of the wine business helps me to create more successful integrated marketing campaigns.

Extracurriculars:
- Hold Advanced Certificate from Wine and Spirits Education Trust

Goals:
I would like work in Brand Management for one of the top global Wine & Spirits companies, ideally eventually becoming a Marketing executive working on international branding strategy.

Schools: I'm looking to apply in 2012.
Before the GMATs, my top choice was INSEAD. I would also consider other programs in France but want them to be highly regarded in the US as well.
I've also considered Columbia and Stern but am not sure what else I should be looking at?

I also feel that I have to strongly consider retaking the GMATs. The issue is that I took them during a trip back to the US, I don't want to take them in France with a different keyboard, and I would have to travel 2-3 hours to the closest testing facility. It will be difficult before the format changes, especially as I have 3-4 weeks of travel for work in that time.


Thanks so much for any help!
Jess
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OasisGC
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Profile Review - A bit nontraditional/Retake GMAT? 09 Apr 2012, 19:42
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jesslyn04
Hi there,

I would love any advice you guys could give me about my business school strategy approach. I would love to do my MBA in France, ideally at INSEAD but I have a sneaking suspicion I would have to retake the GMAT....

GMAT Score: 680 (Q41, V41). Quantitative is 57 percentile, Verbal 92.

Schools: I'm looking to apply in 2012.
Before the GMATs, my top choice was INSEAD. I would also consider other programs in France but want them to be highly regarded in the US as well.
I've also considered Columbia and Stern but am not sure what else I should be looking at?

I also feel that I have to strongly consider retaking the GMATs. The issue is that I took them during a trip back to the US, I don't want to take them in France with a different keyboard, and I would have to travel 2-3 hours to the closest testing facility. It will be difficult before the format changes, especially as I have 3-4 weeks of travel for work in that time.

Thanks so much for any help!
Jess
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First point, if you are planning to apply to INSEAD, i suggest you re-take GMAT, INSEAD gives serious consideration to your verbal/quant splits.

If you want to apply to INSEAD in 2012, you can apply in the third round that is in Aug 2012, so you can re-take gmat and apply with new score, do not worry much about the format change, it will take some time for the admission officers to seriously consider IR score, so better start working on GMAT and re-take.

As far as programs in france that can give you leverage in US markets are concerned, i believe its very difficult to find one. INSEAD is a great school, but believe me there will be challenges for you to search job in US market ( US by far produces maximum QUALITATIVE MBAs across world ), but if you have strong network in US , this exercise might become easier.

Do not consider any program other than INSEAD if you want to settle either in US or France post your MBA.

If you want to consider US programs, with 700, you should be a good fit for any top 15 programs, but then again the third round is extremely competitive, you can surely apply to first round for US schools for programs starting in 2013 sep.
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rni
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Profile Review - A bit nontraditional/Retake GMAT? 12 Apr 2012, 07:47
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Your verbal score looks good, and it would not be too difficult to improve the quant score , so retaking GMAT can be beneficial.
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GMATPill
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Profile Review - A bit nontraditional/Retake GMAT? 12 Apr 2012, 08:09
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Great verbal score - it comes down to your quant. From a marketing concentration standpoint, they'll want folks who can analyze and make sense of charts, etc...

If you take the exam after June 5 - the new version with integrated reasoning - for the same score but a good IR score - you can demonstrate you have the business acumen to succeed and do well.

Other than that, your background is spectacular - bschools look for candidates who can add diversity of experiences to their class - coming from a wine background is unique and you should spin yourself as such - as you have.