Veteran/unique applicant, but do I even have a chance?
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02 Feb 2018, 12:16
If you actually read through all of this and take the time to reply, I would be incredibly grateful. As an MBA hopeful for the 2018 intake, I am in the process of preparing my applications to submit in Round 3. I believe I do have somewhat of a unique profile/story, but I am not sure if I even have a chance of being admitted to a top-20 business school, let alone a top-10. I know the likes of HBS/Kellogg/any M7 would be beyond a hope and a prayer, but would you please be so kind as to tell me what schools I have a chance of getting into?
- 30 year old Asian (Korean) male
Veteran (USMC), Graduated from UCLA, Psychology major, 2.9 GPA (more on that below)
- After high school, I served in the United States Marine Corps, with one combat deployment to Iraq. Immediately afterward, I matriculated at UCLA. I did not transition well from the Marine Corps to UCLA... I really suffered from intense PTSD and anxiety during my first two years of undergrad, without any support, and I was dismissed after two years for poor academic performance (< 2.0 GPA). I worked various jobs for two years (see below), while reflecting on my various passions and strengths, and reapplied to UCLA with newfound determination. I excelled academically my last two years (~ 3.75 GPA, switched major from Biology to Psychology, completed all major requirements, even took on and completed two minors in that time); however, my cumulative GPA is low, a 2.89 to be exact.
Test Scores:
- I took both the GRE and the GMAT once (only studied 4 days for GRE and 2 days for GMAT, as I was working 80-100 hours/week at the time) and scored relatively well on each of them, but I am worried that the admissions committee will ding me for my GMAT Quant score, though I did do better on the GRE Quant section.
- GMAT: 730 (96th percentile)
Verbal 44 (98th percentile)
Quant 47 (63rd percentile)
AWA: 5.5
- GRE
Verbal 730 (93rd percentile)
Quant 760 (91st percentile)
AWA: 4.5
Work experience:
- 3 years as a high school science teacher at a private school, mixed student population (half international, half underserved/marginalized students). As the only science teacher at the school, I teach six different science classes every day (Biology, Chemistry, Physics, AP Biology, AP Chemistry, AP Psychology, AP Environmental Science). Even with no credential or formal training, I have raised the standard of instruction and education here during the past three years.
- I have also tutored for the past 9 years.
- I currently work as the Assistant Director/Head Tutor at a for-profit academy.
- (Regarding the above-mentioned odd-jobs: I was a nanny, owned a liquor store, worked at a dental lab as a technician and in sales, and managed a medical marijuana dispensary. Excelled at all of these, and I could write about for any one of them, but I can really talk about what I did at the dispensary, from front desk to partner in less than a year, etc. Would adcoms just throw my application away, or might they be just a little intrigued?)
Extra-Curriculars:
- Every Friday for the past 6 years, I have served in the Awana Children's Ministry at my church. Started as a normal Leader (in charge of 5-10 students), then became Game Director (led games for 400+ students), and I am now the Club Commander (oversee the entire ministry, including 5 pastors, 4 Directors, 80+ Leaders, and 400+ students; in charge of training, events, discipline).
- I have started two non-profit tutoring centers that bring access to services to students that otherwise would not be able to afford them. After teaching full-time, I tutor 4-7 hours/day Monday-Saturday, and I have personally helped hundreds of students achieve things that they never could have dreamed of, from significantly improving their SAT/ACT scores to going to Ivy League schools.
- Head Coach of a junior high boys' basketball team.
Post-MBA:
- Management Consulting at MBB, in any sector/industry. Eventually, I would like to work in the Social Sector, specifically working on Education projects.
Targets:
- Reach: Harvard, Columbia, Kellogg, Booth, Sloan, Tuck, Fuqua, Ross
- More likely? UCLA Anderson, other 15-20.
- Have been in contact with USC Marshall, Vanderbilt Owen, and Wisconsin.
- I request your help and advice here... I want to be realistic; I don't want to apply (and throw hundreds/thousands of dollars away) if I am dead in the water, but I know the value of a top-MBA and I know I have the wherewithal to succeed in any program.
Questions:
- What are my chances at those top schools/programs?
- If your answer to the first question is "slim to none," which programs should I apply to?
- How worrisome is my GPA?
- Should I be concerned about the GMAT Quant score? Should I submit only my GRE, GMAT, or both? Should I retake the GMAT?
- Is applying in Round 3 detrimental to one's chances of admission, compared to Round 1 and Round 2 submissions, as all of the online material seems to indicate?
Thank you so much!