Profile Evaluation and Suggestions for B Schools

Question

Undergrad: FAST NU (Pakistan) - Bachelors in Comp Sci Honours - GPA : 2.85 -> 74%

Work Experience : 3.5 years so far -> 2 years as a Software Engineer, 1 year as a Project Coordinator, 6 month internship as a Product Owner( assisting seniorproduct manager) in a smaller company. Currently working as a Technical Consultant in Toronto.

Masters Degree (University of Western Ontario, Canada) : Masters in Management of Applied Sciences - Specialization in Comp Sci - GPA : 87.5 % -> 4.0

Some of the graduate business courses I took are below:

Corporate Finance: 82%
Project Management: 99%
Marketing for Managers: 85%

I am looking to apply after working for one more year in the current role and I will have 4.5 years of total work experience by then. My concerns are the low UG GPA and a Masters in Management which I just finished. I am looking to apply to UofT, Ivey, Schulich and Queens. I will also try my luck in some U.S school as well. I know top 10 are almost impossible, but I want to know what type of schools shall I try in U.S, how to strengthen profile for canadian B schools and how much GMAT shall I aim for as I am currently preparing for the GMAT.

Thank You
Faisal

mbaMissionKate · Answer

Hi there!

Your work experience sounds strong...I like the progression from an engineering role to product manager to consulting, that will be great to show increased responsibility and expanding your skills. I share your concern about your bachelor's GPA. Your master's GPA will help to address that, and so will GMAT, so it's important you get a strong score. So I would target a score above the schools' medians...which for the ones you mentioned, means you'll want to be in the high 600s (680-700). Given that you have a pretty technical background and have done well in quant courses, I'm guessing the quant section won't be too challenging for you, so make sure you have a strong showing on the verbal section too, around a 35 raw score or higher.

As far as US schools, a lot will depend on where your GMAT turns out, but if you're in that range, then I'd focus on schools outside the top 15. Which ones depends on a lot of other factors too like your post-MBA goals, industry interests, location preferences, etc. You'll want to double check that your existing master's doesn't "disqualify" you from any MBA programs in the US, and even if not, then you'll definitely need very strong reasons in your essays about why you need an MBA now.

Other ways to improve your profile -- visit / research / engage with your target schools to show interest. Do you have involvement / leadership in activities outside work? If not, you could improve that aspect of your profile.

Good luck!
Kate

Sarthak012 · Answer

Hey
Please evaluate my profile for canadian bschool.
I am planning to apply for fall 2020.
X-92
XII-75
Grad(Engineering)-70
Work exp-2.5(IT)
Gmat score-690

I was very active in sports and cultural activities through my schooling. Worked with 2 ngo’s.
I have my youtube channel as well.
I excelled as a leader for my college dance crew taking it to the best arounf the city.

What all mba universities do i have a legit chance to get in!?

Posted from my mobile device

mbaMissionMichael · Answer

Hello Sarthak.
The application process is truly holistic, and committees will look at your stats (GPA and GMAT), work experience, and extracurriculars.
Your GMAT is a bit above the average of many top Canadian programs so that is a good start. If you haven’t already and you have the time, I suggest taking it up to 3-4 times. You have nothing to lose since schools will only look at your highest score. And even a slight increase can boost your profile. 
It is hard to gauge your work experience without knowing your accomplishments and impact you have made there. However, the average years of work experience is closer to 4-5, so if you choose to apply with fewer years, make sure you demonstrate why now is the time. And because of your lighter experience, it’s even more important to show you have made an impact and demonstrated leadership there. Ideally this will be supported by a strong recommendation letters as well. It will also be important to explain why you want your MBA, and to also illustrate the skills you already have which are transferable. Be sure your story makes sense, and is realistic and specific.
Regarding extracurriculars, make sure to really emphasize your leadership roles you have taken on. The YouTube channel sounds impressive.

The top MBA programs in Canada are probably Rotman, McGill, Ivey, and Schulich. You do have a chance at these schools, but they are extremely competitive, and each school simply does not have the room to admit all the qualified applicants. For that reason, I suggest apply to several schools, including reach, target and safety. For example you could also look at programs in Western Canada (i.e. UBC Sauder and Alberta).
Hopefully they will see that you have a compelling story and are someone who will add value to the classroom and community. 
Good luck!

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