Last visit was: 27 Apr 2026, 00:32 It is currently 27 Apr 2026, 00:32
Home
Messages
Tests
Schools
Events
Close
GMAT Club Daily Prep
Thank you for using the timer - this advanced tool can estimate your performance and suggest more practice questions. We have subscribed you to Daily Prep Questions via email.

Customized
for You

we will pick new questions that match your level based on your Timer History

Track
Your Progress

every week, we’ll send you an estimated GMAT score based on your performance

Practice
Pays

we will pick new questions that match your level based on your Timer History
Not interested in getting valuable practice questions and articles delivered to your email? No problem, unsubscribe here.
Go to My Error Log Learn more
Close
Request Expert Reply
Confirm Cancel
avatar
Johnnie Walker
avatar
Joined: 05 Sep 2006
Last visit: 07 Sep 2006
Posts: 2
Posts: 2
Kudos: 0
Evaluation Please !! 05 Sep 2006, 12:35
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Dear Paul,

I would be greatly thankful for you had you evaluate my chances for admission for the following B schools:

1. HBS (frst round)
2. CBS (ed)
3. STANFORD (first round)
4. NYU (first round)
5. WHARTON (second round)

I am a male,I leave in Tel Aviv, Israel, and I am going to have 30 in November.

I graduated with honors (Magna Cum Laude) and was on Dean's Least in the second year In Tel Aviv University School of Law. I also studied Portfolio management and took the Israeli Securities Commissions Examinations and subsequently worked for one year at a brokerage house, where I managed clients and firm's 80M in diversified portfolios.
Thereafter, I was working at one of Israels top 5 commercial law firms as a legal intern (that is also whay I left the brokerage house - to get my lawyer diploma) - where I participated in 5 NASDAQ offerings, and all the other stuff that an intern at a big law firm do.

After that, and after I passed my bar exam, I joined My father, who is the founder and CEO of Shemesh Automation Limited, Israel's second largest manufacturer of packaging machinery. I have been working there for two years and this is my current position. I am the VP of marketing and business development at the firm and have 6 Sales Engineers reporting to me. I changed the balance of this company's operational activity so that today 70% of revenue come from international activity, whereas when I came only 15% came from outside. I also expanded the firm's activity to the manufacturing of labels, which we sell with our machines (these are often supplementary products). I increased the company's revenue 224%. My career goal is to come back to this company and to make it one of the world's largest manufacturers of packaging machinery.

I speak four languages fluently (Hebrew, English, French, Spanish). I have military experience of three years as a commander in a rescue unit in the Israeli Defence Forces, where I commanded 76 soldiers at the pick. I saved lives in military operations.

I Volunteered two years while I was a student, giving legal assistance to people in need through a non profit organization.

My GMAT is 710.

Now, besides your evaluation, Another question from me to you is:

I took the GAMT 6 times. Although my math never was below 47, it took me some time (and perseverance) to improve my verbal skills. Eventually I scored Q49 V38. I know that all the Universities I mentioned except Stanford, only care about the highest result (but they see [b]all [/b]your records since Pearson sends all your file to them). Still, do you think I should address the fact that I took the GMAT 5 times until Finaly making it on the sixth attempt ? My tendency is to leave it as is, since I finally cracked the GMAT and I do not really have to explain a failure. But if I do have to explain my self, the sixth essay is just for that. So...what would you say ? Should I or should I not address this ?

Thank you from the bottom of my heart for your time kind consideration.
User avatar
PaulBodine
User avatar
Joined: 12 Dec 2005
Last visit: 11 Jul 2018
Posts: 1,794
Own Kudos:
192
Status:Trust Experience, Trust Success
Affiliations: U. Chicago, Johns Hopkins, AIGAC
Posts: 1,794
Kudos: 192
Evaluation Please !! 09 Sep 2006, 14:58
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Johnnie Walker
Dear Paul,

I would be greatly thankful for you had you evaluate my chances for admission for the following B schools:

1. HBS (frst round)
2. CBS (ed)
3. STANFORD (first round)
4. NYU (first round)
5. WHARTON (second round)

I am a male,I leave in Tel Aviv, Israel, and I am going to have 30 in November.

I graduated with honors (Magna Cum Laude) and was on Dean's Least in the second year In Tel Aviv University School of Law. I also studied Portfolio management and took the Israeli Securities Commissions Examinations and subsequently worked for one year at a brokerage house, where I managed clients and firm's 80M in diversified portfolios.
Thereafter, I was working at one of Israels top 5 commercial law firms as a legal intern (that is also whay I left the brokerage house - to get my lawyer diploma) - where I participated in 5 NASDAQ offerings, and all the other stuff that an intern at a big law firm do.

After that, and after I passed my bar exam, I joined My father, who is the founder and CEO of Shemesh Automation Limited, Israel's second largest manufacturer of packaging machinery. I have been working there for two years and this is my current position. I am the VP of marketing and business development at the firm and have 6 Sales Engineers reporting to me. I changed the balance of this company's operational activity so that today 70% of revenue come from international activity, whereas when I came only 15% came from outside. I also expanded the firm's activity to the manufacturing of labels, which we sell with our machines (these are often supplementary products). I increased the company's revenue 224%. My career goal is to come back to this company and to make it one of the world's largest manufacturers of packaging machinery.

I speak four languages fluently (Hebrew, English, French, Spanish). I have military experience of three years as a commander in a rescue unit in the Israeli Defence Forces, where I commanded 76 soldiers at the pick. I saved lives in military operations.

I Volunteered two years while I was a student, giving legal assistance to people in need through a non profit organization.

My GMAT is 710.

Now, besides your evaluation, Another question from me to you is:

I took the GAMT 6 times. Although my math never was below 47, it took me some time (and perseverance) to improve my verbal skills. Eventually I scored Q49 V38. I know that all the Universities I mentioned except Stanford, only care about the highest result (but they see [b]all [/b]your records since Pearson sends all your file to them). Still, do you think I should address the fact that I took the GMAT 5 times until Finaly making it on the sixth attempt ? My tendency is to leave it as is, since I finally cracked the GMAT and I do not really have to explain a failure. But if I do have to explain my self, the sixth essay is just for that. So...what would you say ? Should I or should I not address this ?

Thank you from the bottom of my heart for your time kind consideration.
Show more


Johnnie Walker,

Sorry for the late response, I've been having some computer/connectivity issues. Your profile has some question marks that may make HBS, Stanford, and perhaps Columbia tougher for you: your age, the fact that your most significant professional experience has been in your family's firm (meaning you must work harder to show nothing was "given" to you), and the six-time GMAT.

Your impressive strengths greatly outweigh these question marks and you have some "differentiators" that you should maximize: leadership experiences in military, Israeli background (not *that* unusual but more uncomon than India, China, etc.), and the law degree.

Assuming that you address the question marks flawlessly and submit a well-executed application that highlights leadership and makes your experiences and goals coherent to the adcoms then you might have a shot at all these schools, but with lower odds for Stanford and HBS in my opinion because they seem to be skewing younger these days.

Schools prefer that you take the GMAT no more than 3 times. The fact that you took it six tarnishes the score somewhat but there's not much to say, is there -- you kept taking it until you got the score you needed -- so consider not addressing it all.

Good luck!