Ask Stacy Blackman

Hello Amy, Stacy,

Thank you for evaluating my profile.

I am currently a patent attorney who provides patent portfolio management for large companies. As part of my job, I advise program managers on how to distribute their internal R&D , contract R&D and strategic partnering funds across the program while retaining the greatest IP for the company.

I also build the companies' patent portfolios by managing their attorneys, working with technical groups to harvest inventions, deciding where to file foreign patents, as well as managing their costs. I have been practicing for ten years.

I scored a 650 on the GMAT and intend to apply to a part-time program. GPA 3.17 in Aerospace engineering.

UCLA has a median GMAT of 686 (43Q, 37V). Would my experience be able to overcome my low score, or should I retake the GMAT?

Thanks again,

Yuke

Hi Yuke,

Though your GMAT is a bit low for UCLA, I am more concerned about what your goals and plans are. Most applicants to part time programs are planning to stay with their current company. How would an MBA help you in your work as a patent attorney? If you are planning to switch careers, a part time MBA may not be your best option, although you have far more work experience than a typical full time applicant.

Can you offer a bit more information on your goals? It would also help to hear about any volunteering/extracurriculars, as well as what your career progression has been over the 10 years.

Good luck!

Amy

Thank you for your response Amy.

I had generalized my question so I would be a bit more anonymous.

I'm currently in-house with a large company. My manager is the Director of Patents for the company and he had been in an MBA program before leaving to pursue a law degree and becoming a patent attorney. His manager was a patent attorney and he had an MBA.

My career goal is to be a General Manager/Executive for my company, or at least be a higher level manager.

My career track has been undergrad in engineering, law school, practicing attorney for six years, in-house for the past four years. I'm currently a lead for three attorneys, two paralegals, and four patent engineers. I have experience in litigation, licensing and negotiations.

Regarding volunteer activity, I go to church and help out my wife out with the church fairs. I also have volunteered my time to speek to prospective students at my law school. I also pick up unwanted furniture from my neighborhood and haul it to Goodwill.

Extracurrilcular activities, in undergrad I was vice-president of a social club and played on our school volleyball team. I also helped to start a sports tournament in 1990 that continues today and that attracts 2500 college students annually.

Business activities, my family used to own several properties including a 12 unit apartment. Currently I have one rental property, while collectively my family has ten. I also used to import and sell electronics.

Let me know if you need more information,

Thanks Amy,

Yuke

Hi Yuke,

OK, that makes a lot of sense because it sounds like you will be using your MBA to advance within your current company.

I would advise you to retake the GMAT if you have the time and think you can perform better, mostly because it shows persistence to improve your GMAT if it's below the mean. I don't think your GMAT is a deal breaker for admission though, and I would suggest applying to UCLA and perhaps including USC or UC Irvine into the mix (if either is convenient for you) since they are both a bit less competitive.

Your extracurriculars are good, although I would emphasize any team oriented activities you have been involved in outside of work.

Good luck!

Amy

Hello Amy,

I took your advice and retook the GMAT. I got a 710 which is above the average for UCLA. I guess now my question is, is there any way I cannot get into UCLA? I think I interviewed well.

I think my only weakness now is my law school grades which were below average. They were low because I was working to get experience.

I would appreciate your thoughts,

Thanks,

Yuke

Hi Yuke,

That's great news, congratulations on your improved score. Usually applicants do see an improvement, so it never hurts to try again.

It sounds like you have a good chance at UCLA, so hopefully that will work out. There are never guarantees, however, even for the "perfect" candidates. The process is holistic and it's rarely possible to know your competition. This year has been especially competitive with application volume way up.

That being said, I think you are in great shape and I hope it works out.

Good luck!

Amy