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theturko
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Joined: 05 Oct 2007
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Concentration: Social Entrepreneurship
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Profile Evaluation 06 Oct 2007, 17:42
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Hey Paul and Linda,

Could you please evaluate my profile?

I just graduated from UT-Austin with a Bachelors in Electrical Engineering, and I am working for a large tech company as an applications engineer. However, I just started and I will continue to work for 2-3 yrs before applying. I'm just wondering how I can offset my weakpoints in the meantime.

Profile: 23, will be 25 or 26 by the time I apply. Turkish, disabled male (will this help in being admitted? Should I mention it?)

Academic – I did very poorly my first two years, my GPA was low, and I got a D in my first calc class. Then I got a B when I retook it, and got 2 more Bs in the next two calc classes. Due to the nature of my major I took a lot of math classes and my grades in those were mostly As and Bs during my last two years. My first two years my GPA was about a 2.4, and my last two years it was a 3.5, with my last two semesters at 3.8. My overall GPA is a 3.11, and I did a minor in business and I received all As.

Extracurricular: I was the president and the vice president of my engineering fraternity. I also acted as the corporate relations and professional development chairman. I am a member of American Mensa, IEEE, and Turkish Association of North Texas. I have had volunteer experiences at many different places but none of them were wholly committed. I am thinking about doing Big Brothers/Big Sisters this year to help with this.

Professional: I worked as an engineering co-op at Verizon Wireless during college and interned at a children's hospital. After college I am working at a large engineering firm as an applications engineer. Right now I realize this is my weakest point, but I will be working for a few more years before I apply.

GMAT: I'd say this is my strong point. I got a 750/98% with a Quant: 49/89% Verbal: 44/97% and AWA: 6.0.

So I guess the question is, will my background in engineering, my upward trending grades, my extracurriculars and my GMAT scores offset my low lower division/overall GPA? My reach schools are Dartmouth and Oxford and right now UVA, UNC-Chapel Hill, and UT-Austin seem to be more realistic targets.

To get into Dartmouth or Oxford, what should I do? Would going through the CFA exams help? Should I take those calc courses at a community college and get As in them? Should I list my disability/nationality in my essays or interviews? I'd really appreciate any help you can give me in trying to improve this situation, Dartmouth would be a dream for me.

Thanks a lot
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Profile Evaluation 12 Oct 2007, 22:19
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theturko
Hey Paul and Linda,

Could you please evaluate my profile?

I just graduated from UT-Austin with a Bachelors in Electrical Engineering, and I am working for a large tech company as an applications engineer. However, I just started and I will continue to work for 2-3 yrs before applying. I'm just wondering how I can offset my weakpoints in the meantime.

Profile: 23, will be 25 or 26 by the time I apply. Turkish, disabled male (will this help in being admitted? Should I mention it?)

Academic – I did very poorly my first two years, my GPA was low, and I got a D in my first calc class. Then I got a B when I retook it, and got 2 more Bs in the next two calc classes. Due to the nature of my major I took a lot of math classes and my grades in those were mostly As and Bs during my last two years. My first two years my GPA was about a 2.4, and my last two years it was a 3.5, with my last two semesters at 3.8. My overall GPA is a 3.11, and I did a minor in business and I received all As.

Extracurricular: I was the president and the vice president of my engineering fraternity. I also acted as the corporate relations and professional development chairman. I am a member of American Mensa, IEEE, and Turkish Association of North Texas. I have had volunteer experiences at many different places but none of them were wholly committed. I am thinking about doing Big Brothers/Big Sisters this year to help with this.

Professional: I worked as an engineering co-op at Verizon Wireless during college and interned at a children's hospital. After college I am working at a large engineering firm as an applications engineer. Right now I realize this is my weakest point, but I will be working for a few more years before I apply.

GMAT: I'd say this is my strong point. I got a 750/98% with a Quant: 49/89% Verbal: 44/97% and AWA: 6.0.

So I guess the question is, will my background in engineering, my upward trending grades, my extracurriculars and my GMAT scores offset my low lower division/overall GPA? My reach schools are Dartmouth and Oxford and right now UVA, UNC-Chapel Hill, and UT-Austin seem to be more realistic targets.

To get into Dartmouth or Oxford, what should I do? Would going through the CFA exams help? Should I take those calc courses at a community college and get As in them? Should I list my disability/nationality in my essays or interviews? I'd really appreciate any help you can give me in trying to improve this situation, Dartmouth would be a dream for me.

Thanks a lot
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theturko,

Being disabled is more of an asset than a liability in that it will make excellent material for a personal essay about overcoming obstacles. So you should certainly mention/discuss it, and show how you've overcome it as something that could prevent you from doing what you want to do.

As for your grades, don't worry so much. All the factors you mentioned, but especially your GMAT score, will minimize the damage of the grades. If you can get an A in Calculus, yes, you might as well, just to put that weakness to bed.

Assuming you accumulate some leadership at work and intensify your leadership outside of work, you will be a strong candidate in a year or two. Taking the CFA exams can show quant skill and your seriousness of purpose in preparing for a financial career, so take it by all means if you want to. If you keep doing what you're doing and you follow my advice you will be competitive at all 5 of the schools you mentioned including Tuck. If Tuck is really your dream school then start building a network there. Get to know Tuck people and Tuck's program.
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Profile Evaluation 15 Oct 2007, 06:53
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Hey Paul,


Thank you much for your reply, it has definitely relieved some concerns, but I do have one other question.

So, I've read that taking a post-grad calc course at UC-Berkeley, or a stat course at Harvard etc. looks better on your application than it would if you took one at a community college. I can see the reasoning with this, but would you say the benefit outweighs the cost difference?

I mean would an admissions director be very impressed with an A for an online calc course at a top school, or would it barely make a difference?

Thanks!
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Profile Evaluation 17 Oct 2007, 18:41
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Hey Paul,


Thank you much for your reply, it has definitely relieved some concerns, but I do have one other question.

So, I've read that taking a post-grad calc course at UC-Berkeley, or a stat course at Harvard etc. looks better on your application than it would if you took one at a community college. I can see the reasoning with this, but would you say the benefit outweighs the cost difference?

I mean would an admissions director be very impressed with an A for an online calc course at a top school, or would it barely make a difference?

Thanks!
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Turko,

I think the advantage would be minimal. I don't know what the cost differential is (though I can imagine) but the schools care more about the A than they do about where you got it. But why not avoid the community college altogether and get the A in a university course that's not as expensive as Berkeley or Harvard?
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theturko
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Concentration: Social Entrepreneurship
WE 1: 4 years - Engineer
Posts: 32
Kudos: 5
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Profile Evaluation 13 Jan 2011, 21:37
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theturko
Hey Paul,


Thank you much for your reply, it has definitely relieved some concerns, but I do have one other question.

So, I've read that taking a post-grad calc course at UC-Berkeley, or a stat course at Harvard etc. looks better on your application than it would if you took one at a community college. I can see the reasoning with this, but would you say the benefit outweighs the cost difference?

I mean would an admissions director be very impressed with an A for an online calc course at a top school, or would it barely make a difference?

Thanks!

Turko,

I think the advantage would be minimal. I don't know what the cost differential is (though I can imagine) but the schools care more about the A than they do about where you got it. But why not avoid the community college altogether and get the A in a university course that's not as expensive as Berkeley or Harvard?
Show more

Hi Linda,

An update: a little over 3 years from this profile evaluation, I've decided to apply to Columbia, UT-Austin, and Washington, and I was admitted to all 3!! I decided to matriculate at Columbia due to its NY location and excellent social entrepreneurship program. Thank you for your help and your suggestions. Dreams do come true!
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Profile Evaluation 19 Jan 2011, 23:58
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theturko
Hey Paul,


Thank you much for your reply, it has definitely relieved some concerns, but I do have one other question.

So, I've read that taking a post-grad calc course at UC-Berkeley, or a stat course at Harvard etc. looks better on your application than it would if you took one at a community college. I can see the reasoning with this, but would you say the benefit outweighs the cost difference?

I mean would an admissions director be very impressed with an A for an online calc course at a top school, or would it barely make a difference?

Thanks!

Turko,

I think the advantage would be minimal. I don't know what the cost differential is (though I can imagine) but the schools care more about the A than they do about where you got it. But why not avoid the community college altogether and get the A in a university course that's not as expensive as Berkeley or Harvard?

Hi Linda,

An update: a little over 3 years from this profile evaluation, I've decided to apply to Columbia, UT-Austin, and Washington, and I was admitted to all 3!! I decided to matriculate at Columbia due to its NY location and excellent social entrepreneurship program. Thank you for your help and your suggestions. Dreams do come true!
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Congratulations! That's fantastic news.

And thank you so much for writing and sharing the good news. I appreciate it.

Beset,
Linda
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Profile Evaluation 20 Jan 2011, 03:03
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theturko
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theturko
Hey Paul,


Thank you much for your reply, it has definitely relieved some concerns, but I do have one other question.

So, I've read that taking a post-grad calc course at UC-Berkeley, or a stat course at Harvard etc. looks better on your application than it would if you took one at a community college. I can see the reasoning with this, but would you say the benefit outweighs the cost difference?

I mean would an admissions director be very impressed with an A for an online calc course at a top school, or would it barely make a difference?

Thanks!

Just wanted to jump in here, first of all congratulations. Second did you end up taking those extra classes you mentioned, and if so where?

Turko,

I think the advantage would be minimal. I don't know what the cost differential is (though I can imagine) but the schools care more about the A than they do about where you got it. But why not avoid the community college altogether and get the A in a university course that's not as expensive as Berkeley or Harvard?

Hi Linda,

An update: a little over 3 years from this profile evaluation, I've decided to apply to Columbia, UT-Austin, and Washington, and I was admitted to all 3!! I decided to matriculate at Columbia due to its NY location and excellent social entrepreneurship program. Thank you for your help and your suggestions. Dreams do come true!
Show more