Profile Review - Part-Time MBA

Hi mbaMission,

I am targetting Goizueta or Scheller Evening MBA programs here in Atlanta for Fall 2020. My academic background is not the strongest but I may have made up for it with my work experience, GMAT score, and extracurriculars.

• 27, White Male from US
  
• Will have 5 years of financial services / accounting experience by Fall 2020
  
• I attended a state school in New York and graduated with a 3.0 in Economics. For the first four semesters I was on the Deans' List with 3.5+ GPAs. Beginning junior year I started to take Pre-Med classes which brought my overall GPA down. Then I realized that wasn't a realistic path for me and I went back to pursuing my major studies but my grades remained low, B's and C's, and even a D that I had to retake. I finished with a 3.0.
  
• GMAT: 690, 44Q, 40V (85%, 50%, 90%, respectively)
  
• As of today, I've had 4 years of financial services / accounting experience (no CPA). I've worked for 2 companies. 3 years at a large bank and 1 year (so far) at a privately-held, award winning, world renowned real estate investment firm.
  
• At my first job, I was promoted in 8 months, 4 months earlier than traditional trajectory. In this new role, I received the highest possible rating on my annual review however a department head overruled my manager and it was knocked down one notch. I was never given an official explanation for this but I was told by a co-worker that upon receive the highest rating you are automatically promoted and I had not been in my current role long enough. However, some months later I was offered another promotion, again much earlier than traditional trajectory, surpassing some of my peers. I had to turn this promotion down as I was moving from Boston to Atlanta, although I remained in the same company. Despite rejecting the promotion and retaining the same title, my new role was of higher value and my new salary was higher than it would have been if I accepted the promotion and stayed in Boston.
  
• I have been in my current role at a privately owned real estate investment firm as a portfolio accountant for a year. I have nine portfolio consisting of dozens of properties, hundreds if you count my portfolio of single family houses. Each property has an accountant that reports to me although I am not their supervisor/manager. I communicate daily with C-level executives of property management companies.
  
• I volunteer monthly at the Children's Hospital of Atlanta, Habitat for Humanity of Atlanta, and volunteer for the Special Olympics of Georgia when they are in town. I also raised $4,302 for the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation 5k in 2018, which made me the highest individual fundraiser (by a long shot). I am also in the process of launching an online boutique for women's clothing with my fiancee. It should be up and running by the time I submit my application. There must be room to talk about this somewhere.
  
• My post-MBA goal is to become an analyst/associate for a private equity/real estate investment firm in Atlanta.
  
• My target schools are Goizueta and Scheller

I really have my heart set on Goizueta. I really love the collegiate atmosphere of the student body and campus. It's not known for it's football or engineering program, but it's academia. I also really like the tight-knit community that I've heard students and alumni refer to as their second family.

I know that they're going to scoff at my transcripts. They probably won't be too impressed with my GMAT either as my Quant is exactly 50th percentile and they want to see 50th and above. I've attended several information sessions and sat in on a class. I am hoping that my activism in the community, which I think is a huge deal for them, coupled with my proven interest, essays, and resume will be enough to get me accepted.

Thanks for reading and I hope to hear from you.

Zach