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04 Jun 2021, 10:39
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Hi all,
I graduated from Georgetown University in 2018 with a 3.71 GPA (3.87 GPA since end of sophomore year) in a humanities course of study. Since graduation, I have worked as a financial analyst at a small real estate firm for just over a year and a half and as a data analyst (focusing mostly on digital marketing) at a 50-person startup for close to a year. Unfortunately, a combination of covid and bad luck with high turnover and inexperienced managers led me to be let go from both jobs. As a result, I know that the recommendations I would receive from my former employers would be lukewarm at best.
To give a bit more background on my resume, I have not yet finalized a GMAT score, but I have been studying for several months, and the practice exams I have taken suggest that I should expect a score around 690 - 750, so for the purpose of this exercise, let's assume that I achieve a GMAT score of 720. Outside of work, my main extracurriculars since graduation have been the completion of a six-month intensive data analytics boot camp at Harvard Extension School (a 25 hours per week commitment on top of working full time), two real estate finance certificates from Boston University, and several Coursera courses on the intersection of finance and programming. I am also looking to volunteer in a community service role now that things in my city are starting to reopen.
Anyway, I would not expect to be accepted to an M7 school right now given my lack of prestigious work experience and the likely mediocre-at-best recommendations I would receive from my former employers. However, I feel that I have a strong record of academic accomplishment. Based on my profile, do you think it would be possible to get into a top-25 business program along the lines of UCLA Anderson, USC Marshall, or UT McCombs? Or do you think my lack of great recommendations would tank my application?
I graduated from Georgetown University in 2018 with a 3.71 GPA (3.87 GPA since end of sophomore year) in a humanities course of study. Since graduation, I have worked as a financial analyst at a small real estate firm for just over a year and a half and as a data analyst (focusing mostly on digital marketing) at a 50-person startup for close to a year. Unfortunately, a combination of covid and bad luck with high turnover and inexperienced managers led me to be let go from both jobs. As a result, I know that the recommendations I would receive from my former employers would be lukewarm at best.
To give a bit more background on my resume, I have not yet finalized a GMAT score, but I have been studying for several months, and the practice exams I have taken suggest that I should expect a score around 690 - 750, so for the purpose of this exercise, let's assume that I achieve a GMAT score of 720. Outside of work, my main extracurriculars since graduation have been the completion of a six-month intensive data analytics boot camp at Harvard Extension School (a 25 hours per week commitment on top of working full time), two real estate finance certificates from Boston University, and several Coursera courses on the intersection of finance and programming. I am also looking to volunteer in a community service role now that things in my city are starting to reopen.
Anyway, I would not expect to be accepted to an M7 school right now given my lack of prestigious work experience and the likely mediocre-at-best recommendations I would receive from my former employers. However, I feel that I have a strong record of academic accomplishment. Based on my profile, do you think it would be possible to get into a top-25 business program along the lines of UCLA Anderson, USC Marshall, or UT McCombs? Or do you think my lack of great recommendations would tank my application?
sherxon
Joined: 28 May 2021
Last visit: 09 Nov 2025
Posts: 130
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 30
Location: Uzbekistan
Concentration: Strategy, General Management
Schools: Carlson (A$$$) Kenan-Flagler '25 (A$$$$) Goizueta '25 (A$$$) Olin '25 (A$$$$) Fuqua '25 (M$$$$) Marshall '25 (A$$$$)
GMAT 1: 740 Q50 V40
GMAT 2: 770 Q50 V46 (Online)
GPA: 4
Products:
Schools: Carlson (A$$$) Kenan-Flagler '25 (A$$$$) Goizueta '25 (A$$$) Olin '25 (A$$$$) Fuqua '25 (M$$$$) Marshall '25 (A$$$$)
GMAT 2: 770 Q50 V46 (Online)
Posts: 130
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07 Jun 2021, 00:08
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USC Marshall does not require recommendations.
07 Jun 2021, 01:11
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Yep, exactly - USC's lack of required recs could be a real boon to you here, but I do wonder about your level of work experience. Are you not working now? How long have you not been working? I think you can get away with some level of coursework/self-improvement while unemployed, but ideally now that things are opening, you're going to need something more resembling full time work experience (plus you'll need the money to pay for your degree) and positive things to talk about so it looks like you are building toward something. So, I encourage you to work on that. Sometimes folks say, no, I'm going to pour all my time into my tests and apps, but in my experience, candidates who are not employed for a while when applying face challenges at the most competitive schools. As for your chances at UCLA and UT, although your GPA is very good, I do think your odds will be hampered by a lack of positive recs along with your relatively short total WE and other challenges. Honestly, my advice is not to apply right now but to try to get a job that interests you and give it your all for a couple of years and THEN apply. Most candidates at top schools have 5+ years of work experience at matriculation. That also gives you time to really prepare for your GMAT and knock it out of the park along with building leadership outside of work in some kind of community service over a period of years/months instead of weeks. Then, your odds at top programs would improve a lot. If you must try now, your chances will likely be best at USC, but do try to have a plan B! Wishing you the best of luck!
Warmly,
Julie-Anne Heafey
Warmly,
Julie-Anne Heafey
