BREAKING: Target Test Prep releases Brand New 2026 On Demand GMAT prep course

Redeem

Profile Evaluation: 710 GMAT 5 years work ex

Free advice from the world's top MBA consultants
This topic has expert replies
Post new topic Post Reply
Previous Topic Next Topic
User avatar
Junior | Next Rank: 30 Posts
Posts: 23
Joined: Thu Aug 12, 2010 11:02 am
Thanked: 4 times

Profile Evaluation: 710 GMAT 5 years work ex

by chaosgirl » Fri Jul 01, 2011 10:05 am
Hello,

I was hoping to get a profile evaluation.

I graduated with a Masters in Computer Science in 2007 from USC. I have been working since then in a high-tech software company as a QA Engineer. I haven't been managing people, working as an individual contributor.

GMAT: 710 (48 Q 37 V)
GPA(Masters): 3.3
Major: Masters in Computer Science
Year of graduation: 2007
GPA(Undergraduate): 3.1
Major: Bachelors in Information Systems
Year of Graduation: 2005
Work: 5 years as an individual contributor
Extra curricular: Avid participation in after work events, organized several events at work, managed auction committee at a charity
Post MBA Goal: Marketing\Brand Management

I am looking to apply to:

Berkeley Haas
UCLA Anderson
NYU Stern
Harvard (maybe, don't know if I have a realistic shot)
Kellog
MIT Sloan
Columbia (maybe)

I will probably narrow down from this list. I will also include one safe school. Could you advise me what my safe school should be ?What are my chances of getting into the above mentioned programs? I would appreciate any feedback. I am just about starting to work on my applications.

Thanks!
Top
Source: — Ask an MBA Admissions Consultant |
User avatar
Legendary Member
Posts: 590
Joined: Mon Sep 08, 2008 3:51 pm
Location: New York
Thanked: 47 times
Followed by:7 members

by Cindy Tokumitsu » Tue Jul 05, 2011 5:40 am
Hello,

I'd consider most of the schools on your list pretty high reaches, perhaps too high to be reasonable reaches. The IT group is over-represented among applicants to these schools. Hence, to be competitive for these top programs as an IT professional you would need to have higher than usual stats. Your GMAT is solid but not outstanding for this group, and your undergrad GPA is somewhat low. Your grad GPA mitigates this to an extent, but comp sci again is over-represented even among people with grad degrees. Moreover your work experience doesn't seem to distinguish you within this group.

On the other hand there may be positive factors that I haven't seen. For example, if you have had strong business interface and/or strong leadership and/or larger than usual impact on the job, that would help. If you've had unusual responsibility in some way, that would help. The key is, for schools on this list, you need to make yourself stand out - being qualified on the basics isn't quite enough.

I'd consider UCLA and perhaps NYU to be reasonable reaches. On-pars might be Cornell, Tepper. Safeties might be Texas/Austin, Georgetown.

I think you would find helpful my free subscriber mini-report that walks you through how to select a list of schools, including assessing your competitiveness, your wants/needs, and what the schools offer: Best MBA Programs: A Guide to Selecting the Best Ones.


Best regards,
Cindy Tokumitsu
Senior Editor, www.Accepted.com
Top
User avatar
Junior | Next Rank: 30 Posts
Posts: 23
Joined: Thu Aug 12, 2010 11:02 am
Thanked: 4 times

by chaosgirl » Tue Jul 05, 2011 3:32 pm
Hi Cindy,

Thank you for your candid response and for suggesting safe schools. I will do my research and re evaluate my list of schools. I guess you're right about the fact that IT professionals are over represented. I don't really have any unusual responsibilities or particular business experience at work. I have definite leadership experience in terms of leading projects an d taking extensive initiative at work and wearing multiple hats, but have not directly managed people. I did lead the auction for a well founded charity outside work. I don't know whether this sets me apart from other individuals.

Again, thanks for your evaluation. If you have any more advice for me, please feel free to respond.
Top
User avatar
Legendary Member
Posts: 590
Joined: Mon Sep 08, 2008 3:51 pm
Location: New York
Thanked: 47 times
Followed by:7 members

by Cindy Tokumitsu » Wed Jul 06, 2011 9:51 am
Hello,

Actually the leadership roles you mention (at work and outside work) do sound impressive. It doesn't have to be formal management responsibilities -- in fact taking initiative to lead in some ways shows more leadership than taking a lead role designated by someone else. It sounds like these roles/experiences are beyond the average or typical for your work environment, and if so, they will significantly strengthen your candidacy -- they will make you a bit more competitive. Be sure to elaborate on them and get the "mileage" from them!

Best regards,
Cindy Tokumitsu
Senior Editor, www.Accepted.com
Top
Post new topic Post Reply
• Page 1 of 1