Hi howdy16267,
Thanks for posting your profile. I think you have had a lot of unique work and personal experiences - engineering to logistics commands. Your athlete achievements and international experiences in Bahrain and Singapore (where I grew up!) also make you a compelling candidate to business schools. Top business schools are looking for candidates with strong professional achievements and unique personal experiences, and I think your strengths lie in these areas.
That said, your grades (GPA 2.92) could be a concern for the Admissions Committee. Do consider explaining the circumstances that affected your GPA in the optional essay. For example, if there were specific classes that pulled down your GPA, or if you showed improvement in the later years of school.
To further alleviate any concerns the Admissions Committee may have about your academic capabilities, having a strong test score will be helpful. Your GMAT score (710) is competitive for many of the schools on your list - McCombs, Jones, Mendoza, Kenan-Flagler, NUS. However, it is below the average at the more selective schools on your list - notably HBS.
Just wondering - how many times have you taken the GMAT? You might consider retaking it – even a 10-20 point boost will make your profile more competitive for these highly selective schools.
As for whether it will help your profile to wait another 3 years to apply, the question is - how would 3 years of maritime regulation enforcement and inspection experience make you a more valuable business school student? Also, think about your long-term career path - is this additional experience necessary for you to achieve your future goals (with and without an MBA)?
Overall, I think you have a promising, differentiated profile that would be compelling to many business schools. If you would like to discuss your profile in more detail, feel free to schedule a 1:1 consultation with us. Wishing you the best in your MBA journey!
Sincerely,
Debbie
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