Beat The GMAT a GMAT & MBA community

First and foremost, thanks in advance for responding and helping me with your comments and constructive criticism!

26 year old male of South American/West Indian descent, born in Canada
Undergrad GPA: 3.02/4.00
Last 2 years of undergrad GPA: 3.3
Major: Entrepreneurship & Innovation
Minor: Finance
Notables:
- 4th year calculus - 3.67 grade point
- Some extra-curricular during UG
-developed manual used in 4th year curriculum
-lots of leadership experience through group/ class projects

Languages: English (mother tongue), French beginner

-GMAT: writing Sept 19, 2011, currently in Kaplan prep course

Certification: Canadian Securities Course (roughly equivalent to the Series 7 in the US) - is a financial certificate that was done post-undergrad

Work experience: 7 months as Program Manager (work-study program) led a team of 8 employees, 6 months insurance related, 2.5 years luxury brand sales (1.5 years of this is part-time)

International Exposure: 23 countries - travels to Africa, South America, Central America, Europe, Caribbean

Extra-curriculars (post-undergrad): 1 year mentoring at-risk youth, 8 months Big Brother (22 months at Sept 2012) mentoring 1 male youth, 1 year volunteering for large non-profit, leading a team of volunteers to under-developed country early 2012 (with the large non-profit) to build homes

I should also mention I went through some personal demons that began near the end of my undergrad which are still on-going but have diminished in the past 6 months. Long story short, family business that was operating for 10+ years (spent all of my summer breaks working in the factory) folded through greed, deliberate mismanagement, and basically pushing my immediate family out; which, resulted in the loss of contact with 23 family members (of whom were cousins that were basically my brothers and sisters). Lots of legal drama and stress! The stress of the situation basically plagued me with constant migraines and seen several doctors and neurologists relating to the matter.

I am planning to apply for an MBA for the September 2012 intake. So far I feel that my biggest weakness in my profile is my work experience. Is there any way I can balance it? I was also looking into a Masters in Marketing or International Business because they don’t require work experience.

During an MBA I would like to focus on: marketing (specifically brand management, strategy, and the luxury industry), social entrepreneurship/enterprise (specifically non-profits and humanitarian causes - not so much green/environmental initiatives), and lastly private equity/ venture finance.


Can anyone offer advice, wisdom, recommendations, criticisms, guidance?


Thank you very much!

RM