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hannsg620
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What would you do if you were me? (Take the GMAT or not?) 17 May 2017, 10:34
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Hi! So a quick run down of my stats: 28 years old, 0.7 years work experience as financial analyst, worked as restaurant server then bartender then manager for 8 or so years until I graduated. Right out of high school went to a state school for computer science, got a 1.54 gpa. 5 years later went back to a smaller state school and got a 4.0 gpa, 27 straight A's, graduated with an Econ degree. GPA from both schools together is 2.79.

I make around $50k.

My goals are to become at least a finance manager in a Corp FP&A dept for something like $80 to $120K salary, beyond that maybe a VP or even CFO. If I go the MBA route it looks like I have two choices:

1.) Get a low ranked part time MBA. I could go to where I graduated for near free and wouldn't have to take the GMAT since I graduated with a 4.0. This option would allow me greater chance to get finance manage/senior financial analyst jobs that say "MBA preferred". Technically I could get these jobs without an MBA but it would be easier. I would continue working while in school so very low opp cost.

2.) Spend 180 hours and take the GMAT with the goal of getting into a T25 B school full time, preferably UNC. I would spend a lot of time on the application as well, making sure my story, EC, and essay are aligned and solid. Would need a 700+ GMAT score. Goal here would be to take on $100k debt but make $110k right out school with a much faster career projection. I realize the likelihood of getting in is not great.

At this time I'm not considering a T30-T60 school, because I don't think it is a better option than option 1.

So would you spend the time to take the GMAT if you were me? I'm really struggling with this, I want to do option 1 but 180 hours is no joke if my chance is only 5%.

Thanks!!
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What would you do if you were me? (Take the GMAT or not?) 17 May 2017, 11:48
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hannsg620
Hi! So a quick run down of my stats: 28 years old, 0.7 years work experience as financial analyst, worked as restaurant server then bartender then manager for 8 or so years until I graduated. Right out of high school went to a state school for computer science, got a 1.54 gpa. 5 years later went back to a smaller state school and got a 4.0 gpa, 27 straight A's, graduated with an Econ degree. GPA from both schools together is 2.79.The good news- is if you did not graduate from state school with comp sci degree you won't have to count the 1.54 gpa in your overall gpa for most programs. Just address that you were not mature enough for college first time around- don't make excuses- but show you learned from this.

I make around $50k.

My goals are to become at least a finance manager in a Corp FP&A dept for something like $80 to $120K salary, beyond that maybe a VP or even CFO. If I go the MBA route it looks like I have two choices:

1.) Get a low ranked part time MBA. I could go to where I graduated for near free and wouldn't have to take the GMAT since I graduated with a 4.0. This option would allow me greater chance to get finance manage/senior financial analyst jobs that say "MBA preferred". Technically I could get these jobs without an MBA but it would be easier. I would continue working while in school so very low opp cost.

2.) Spend 180 hours and take the GMAT with the goal of getting into a T25 B school full time, preferably UNC. I would spend a lot of time on the application as well, making sure my story, EC, and essay are aligned and solid. Would need a 700+ GMAT score. Goal here would be to take on $100k debt but make $110k right out school with a much faster career projection. I realize the likelihood of getting in is not great.Well- if you are looking for an expert on UNC admissions- look no further! I spent 15 yrs on the adcom side at UNC and could really help challenge you and give you good insights on how UNC would view your profile. Happy to help-
and the link for setting up a free consult is here: https://stratusadmissionscounseling.com ... b-visitor/

At this time I'm not considering a T30-T60 school, because I don't think it is a better option than option 1.

So would you spend the time to take the GMAT if you were me? I'm really struggling with this, I want to do option 1 but 180 hours is no joke if my chance is only 5%.You have a resilience story in the making here.... with some coaching I think you could present well at UNC Kenan-Flagler and I think if you do well on the GMAT- 700+ you might even get some funding to attend. Odds better if you did not graduate from the first school but just attended classes- but seriously- look at the GMAT study as a job- and the better you do- the more likely there will be a program that will pay YOU to attend or at least knock some of the cost off for you. With that perspective, you might be more motivated to study. Plus, many companies ask for GMAT score in recruiting process so having a good score can also help your job search and employment prospects. Reach out to us for a free consult and we can share more with you. Best of luck!

Thanks!!
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What would you do if you were me? (Take the GMAT or not?) 19 May 2017, 05:15
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hannsg620
Hi! So a quick run down of my stats: 28 years old, 0.7 years work experience as financial analyst, worked as restaurant server then bartender then manager for 8 or so years until I graduated. Right out of high school went to a state school for computer science, got a 1.54 gpa. 5 years later went back to a smaller state school and got a 4.0 gpa, 27 straight A's, graduated with an Econ degree. GPA from both schools together is 2.79.

I make around $50k.

My goals are to become at least a finance manager in a Corp FP&A dept for something like $80 to $120K salary, beyond that maybe a VP or even CFO. If I go the MBA route it looks like I have two choices:

1.) Get a low ranked part time MBA. I could go to where I graduated for near free and wouldn't have to take the GMAT since I graduated with a 4.0. This option would allow me greater chance to get finance manage/senior financial analyst jobs that say "MBA preferred". Technically I could get these jobs without an MBA but it would be easier. I would continue working while in school so very low opp cost.

2.) Spend 180 hours and take the GMAT with the goal of getting into a T25 B school full time, preferably UNC. I would spend a lot of time on the application as well, making sure my story, EC, and essay are aligned and solid. Would need a 700+ GMAT score. Goal here would be to take on $100k debt but make $110k right out school with a much faster career projection. I realize the likelihood of getting in is not great.

At this time I'm not considering a T30-T60 school, because I don't think it is a better option than option 1.

So would you spend the time to take the GMAT if you were me? I'm really struggling with this, I want to do option 1 but 180 hours is no joke if my chance is only 5%.

Thanks!!
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If you want to build a career in finance and are fine with UNC, there are good schools in T30-T60 category and better than UNC for a finance related career:
Rice University: Jones
University of Notre Dame: Mendoza
University of Southern California: Marshall
University of Rochester: Simon
Babson College: Olin
With a GMAT score of 700+ you have great chances of making to any of the above schools.