Please Advise Regarding My Chances!!

Question

Hey there. I am applying to Georgetown, Texas, Yale, and Virginia. 

Please let me know what you all think of my chances given the following profile:

Undergraduate Degree = University of Michigan 

Major = Communications 

GPA = 3.56 GPA, one of 9 students to graduate with honors out of my dept (over 400 people in dept)

Community Service = Avg to Good

GMAT = 660 

Work Experience = 3 years of full time experience as a hedge fund analyst at a major investment ratings agency

Recommenders = solid, both work closely with me, and both have MBAs

I would really appreciate your feedback!

truthringer · Answer

Sounds like a good line up of schools for you and based on the information provided, you should be a competitive candidate at those schools. It will probably come down to you packaging and communicating your story properly.

heythere · Answer

Thanks so much for your input! I am thinking about retaking the gmat since I have all summer to do so. Do you guys think a 20 point rise in my GMAT would make a significant difference to an admissions committee? Also, I have already sent my score to these schools. Thus, if I choose to send my score to no schools this time they won't have the opportunity to see this score unless I want them too, right? Am I correct in assuming that the only way they would see this score is if I went back and paid the fee to have the testing agency send them my second GMAT score? Any input would be appreciated!

truthringer · Answer

A twenty point would put you in the 80% range for your target schools, so it might help a bit, but it's not going to make a huge difference.

I think you're correct that the schools won't see your next score unless you send it to them, but I'm not 100% sure. 

Anyone know for sure?

heythere · Answer

Thanks for the reply! You mentioned that a 20 point increase in my GMAT score wouldn't make or break me, but I am concerned that I may be on the lower end of the school's gmat scores. Is this concern warranted? 

Also, is there something I should know about the schools I am going to apply to that could help me to package my self in a more appealing way?

truthringer · Answer

The question to ask yourself is whether you think you would stand out in a competitive applicant pool, given your background, before getting around to your GMAT score. If the answer is yes, then your GMAT score shouldn't be a problem. A 660 is strong enough to tell the schools that you have the ability to succeed in their classrooms. Great, but about 80% of their applicants have that ability. What they're really looking for are your points of differentiation. If you have that before getting to the GMAT, then you should be okay. If on the other hand, you're simply not comfortable with where you stand in terms of the GMAT and you have time, then take it again.

In our book Your MBA Game Plan, we talk specifically about selling yourself to three of the four schools you mentioned (no Georgtown). Based on your line of questioning, I think you'd really benefit from it. You should consider taking a look at it.

Please Advise Regarding My Chances!!

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