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westwhiskey1234
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Profile Review Request: White Male / Low GPA / High Salary&Career Updated on: 01 Sep 2020, 18:22
Originally posted by westwhiskey1234 on 01 Sep 2020, 18:10.
Last edited by westwhiskey1234 on 01 Sep 2020, 18:22, edited 1 time in total.
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Hi All
My profile below, I am actually coming here for some advice in regards to what GMAT score I should be targeting in order to get into a part time MBA program. I expect to remain fully employed throughout my MBA so part-time is only option.
I am taking the GMAT this October so wondering what score I should realistically by targeting to improve my chances at acceptance

Background:
Profile:

29 Y/O White Male, 7 years W/E at matriculation

Work Experience:

2.5 Years at Satellite Company (1 promotion): Promoted from Financial analyst to Sr. Financial Analyst within 14 months. Pretty standard corporate analyst position with no direct reports

5 Years at Aerospace Company (Fortune 500) 2 Promotions:
1 year Sr. Financial Analyst - moved here for substantial salary increase but relatively same role as before.
2 Years Program Manager - Role managing very complex aerospace program (~$120M) from bid phase through development (hardware & software) to delivery. No direct reports due to matrix organization but managed IPT of 8 people - systems, software eng, UI design, media, finance, test engineering, materials planning etc.. Very successful execution of program with airline winning several awards for product we delivered
2 Years Sr. Program Manager - Transitioned to very critical airline program (one of ME3) in company portfolio on high complexity program. Same position as before but with higher visibility - managed many meetings with airline CTO, COO, SVPs etc..

Current salary is ~$141K base + 15% year bonus

GMAT:

Need to take, curious what score I would need to offset my low GPA..
Will be trying to break 700 mark at minimum.

Education:

California state school with some prestige (mainly on west coast)

GPA
2.76 - Very low I know. No real excuse just didn't focus on my academics first couple years. My major GPA is slightly better (2.9) and trends somewhat upwards but definitely my anchor on my applications.

Extracurriculars:

Also a bit weak, working 60 hour weeks is not very conducive to outside commitments, but I am part of my company's volunteering committee so we do events every couple months (5k charities, gift gathering, etc..). I also run my company's soccer team which plays in a competitive so-cal league.

Recommendations:

Have yet to ask but confident I can receive very strong rec letters from my direct supervisor (Director) and perhaps N+2 Supervisor (VP Program Management)

Target schools:

Would like to stay in my current position so exploring part-time / executive MBAs along west coast.

My top choice would be UCLA FEMBA program but not sure if possible with my GPA, Cal would also be a big reach but goal. Backups would be USC/UCI part time MBAs. Also very interested in the UW Foster Hybrid MBA program.

Curious on everyone's opinion of my chances at the reach schools (Anderson, Haas) for PT MBAs
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mbaMissionNishaT
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Profile Review Request: White Male / Low GPA / High Salary&Career 01 Sep 2020, 18:20
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Hi, and thanks for writing! To offset your GPA, I'd go for a 720+ GMAT for Haas and Anderson (if you were applying to FT programs I'd say even higher, but the average score is lower for PT programs). Definitely address your GPA in the optional essay in a way that shows ownership, responsibility, and growth since college. Additionally, to offset the GPA, you can take a quantitative course online (UCLA and Cal have great extension courses) - if you get an A, it will provide AdComs with further assurance of your academic abilities. Hope that helps!


westwhiskey1234
Hi All
My profile below, I am actually coming here for some advice in regards to what GMAT score I should be targeting in order to get into a part time MBA program. I expect to remain fully employed throughout my MBA so part-time is only option.
I am taking the GMAT this October so wondering what score I should realistically by targeting to improve my chances at acceptance

Background:
Profile:

29 Y/O White Male, 7 years W/E at matriculation

Work Experience:

2.5 Years at Satellite Company (1 promotion): Promoted from Financial analyst to Sr. Financial Analyst within 14 months. Pretty standard corporate analyst position with no direct reports

5 Years at Aerospace Company (Fortune 500) 2 Promotions:
1 year Sr. Financial Analyst - moved here for substantial salary increase but relatively same role as before.
2 Years Program Manager - Role managing very complex aerospace program (~$120M) from bid phase through development (hardware & software) to delivery. No direct reports due to matrix organization but managed IPT of 8 people - systems, software eng, UI design, media, finance, test engineering, materials planning etc.. Very successful execution of program with airline winning several awards for product we delivered
2 Years Sr. Program Manager - Transitioned to very critical airline program (one of ME3) in company portfolio on high complexity program. Same position as before but with higher visibility - managed many meetings with airline CTO, COO, SVPs etc..

Current salary is ~$141K base + 15% year bonus

GMAT:

Need to take, curious what score I would need to offset my low GPA..
Will be trying to break 700 mark at minimum.

Education:

California state school with some prestige (mainly on west coast)

GPA
2.76 - Very low I know. No real excuse just didn't focus on my academics first couple years. My major GPA is slightly better (2.9) and trends somewhat upwards but definitely my anchor on my applications.

Extracurriculars:

Also a bit weak, working 60 hour weeks is not very conducive to outside commitments, but I am part of my company's volunteering committee so we do events every couple months (5k charities, gift gathering, etc..). I also run my company's soccer team which plays in a competitive so-cal league.

Recommendations:

Have yet to ask but confident I can receive very strong rec letters from my direct supervisor (Director) and perhaps N+2 Supervisor (VP Program Management)

Target schools:

Would like to stay in my current position so exploring part-time / executive MBAs along west coast.

My top choice would be UCLA FEMBA program but not sure if possible with my GPA, Cal would also be a big reach but goal. Backups would be USC/UCI part time MBAs. Also very interested in the UW Foster Hybrid MBA program.

Curious on everyone's opinion of my chances at the reach schools (Anderson, Haas) for PT MBAs
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westwhiskey1234
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Joined: 22 Jan 2017
Last visit: 03 Sep 2020
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Posts: 13
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Profile Review Request: White Male / Low GPA / High Salary&Career 01 Sep 2020, 18:37
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Understood. Thanks very much for your feedback.