jdgaub wrote:
Small college (city college for our state school) For example: University of Florida -- Jacksonville
GPA: 3.1 (up from a 2.3 in just a years time) School of Business Dean's List the last 2 semesters
Work Experience: Employed full-time for 3 years, 2 of those in IT for a mid-size medical billing company
GMAT: Taking it for the first time in September
I have accomplished more over this last year of my life both educationally and profesionally than the rest of my life combined. I am hoping that my passion and energy for my education and self-betterment will shine through a less than stellar resume. I'm sure a high GMAT score will only help as well. I am also involving myself in finance and economics organizations at my university.
I am on pace to finish with around a 3.3 GPA and hope to hit 700 on the GMAT. I will have 4 years of work experience when I begin applying for B-school. How important is the reputation of an undergraduate university on a B-school application? Will an admission board appreciate maintaining close to a 4.0 GPA while working a full-time job for two years or is this basically expected? Do I have any kind of shot at something a little better than a state MBA program?
Thanks,
jdgaub
Reputation of undergraduate institution is important, but not the be all and end all. A 3.0 from Columbia carries more weight than a 3.0 from Mississippi State. However, an upward trend in grades while holding a full time job will definitely be looked upon favorably. A high GMAT score will help, but it won't get you into school. I think the biggest issue you will face is convincing the adcom that the work experience you have is relevant for business education. Although you have been working full-time, schools prefer to see at least 2 years of post undergrad full-time work experience. You may be better off finding a good job in finance or accounting and applying after 2-3 years. If you do that you will have a much better shot at getting in somewhere "a little better than a state MBA program" (although several of the top 15 schools are state schools - Anderson, Ross, Darden, Haas...).