Am I a candidate - Real Estate

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Am I a candidate - Real Estate

by golden_35 » Tue Sep 23, 2008 10:29 am
I am a recent graduate (B. Comm Honours) of the Asper School of Business (May 2008) at the University of Manitoba (Canada). Received a GPA of 3.01 overall for my degree (do all schools use the overall GPA or an AGPA of the most recent 60 credit hours?).

I am seeking to apply to several academic institutions for the Fall 2009 academic year. I am interested in pursuing a graduate degree in Real Estate Development (either an MSRED or an MBA in Real Estate).

Last week I wrote my GMAT after studying 2-3 hours for a month and scored 550, 5.0. I am considering a rewrite, but have not decided yet.

While my GMAT, GPA and out-of-school work experience are low, my accomplishments are astounding. Here is a short C.V.

While taking my undergraduate degree, I was recruited by a professor in entrepreneurship to participate in several international business plan competitions in the graduate track (an undergrad competing against MBAs).

Here are my awards:
•Winner of the Young Associates Award in Business Planning Excellence
•University of Manitoba / Stuart Clark Venture Challenge Round – 1st place
•BDC Enterprise Prairie Region – 1st Place
•Boise State University / Northwest Venture Championship – 2nd Place
•University of Oregon / New Venture Championship – 2nd Place
•Wes Nicol Prairie Region – 2nd Place
•University of Nebraska – Lincoln New Venture World Competition
•San Diego State University / Venture Challenge – Wildcard Finalist
•University of Texas at Austin – 5th place, best written business plan
•New venture analysis internal competition – 1st place
•JDC West Case Competition, Entrepreneurship – 3rd Place
•Young President’s Organization Business Award for Entrepreneurial Excellence

Aside from these competitions, I have been working as a real estate developer while in school. My work experience is as follows:

•CEO of Frontier Sciences
•General Manager of the Transcona Country Club.
•Assists with operation of the St. Vital Hotel. Presently developing plans for redevelopment as a senior care facility.
•Operates a 45,000 square foot multi-tenant warehouse complex.
•Developing a twenty acre 350,000 sq ft multi-tenant flex-lease property as well as promoting and leasing duties.
•Completed the redevelopment of the fifteen acre, 80,000 square foot Inland Cement Plant into a multi-tenant facility. Presently fully leased. Future plans for upgrade development.
•Acquired a 112 acre agricultural parcel of land which is presently being leased, with future plans for upgrade development.
•Operates a small apartment complex (eight suites with three commercial units).

Volunteer work is as follows:

•Raised funds with team for Peter D. Curry Business Camp. Time spent as an academic judge
•Participated in Shinerama for Cystric Fibrosis
•Annually participates in the Manitoba Marathon
•Involved in the Golden Retriever Seniors Transportation System
•Member of the Lions Club of Winnipeg (Transcona) Inc.
•Funds support for Lions Senior Housing
•Served and supports in the Union Gospel Mission Food Program
I have letters of recommendation from the director of entrepreneurship at the University of Manitoba, the Dean of the Asper School of Business as well as the owner of the largest commercial real estate company in Manitoba

How competitive of an applicant am I at 23 years of age and having 12 months of full time work experience at my time of application (May 2009)?

Thank you

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by Lisa Anderson » Tue Sep 23, 2008 3:55 pm
Dear golden_35,

Your competitiveness is relative to the schools you are applying to as there are great variances. Generally speaking, if you are looking at schools that prefer/require at least 2 years of work experience and are ranked in the top 30, I think it will be difficult for you to gain admission with your current GMAT score. These schools only accept a few students with less than 2 years and those folks generally have high GMAT and GPA numbers. If you are looking at other schools that admit a large percentage of folks straight from undergraduate studies, then it is possible you will fare better at those programs depending on the average GMAT.

I would strongly encourage you to retake the GMAT and aim for a score (at least) in the 600s. Likewise, I would encourage you to consider working for another year before applying so you have some examples from your professional experiences post-bachelor's degree.

Best of luck,
Lisa
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Re: Am I a candidate - Real Estate

by Linda Abraham » Tue Sep 23, 2008 8:42 pm
golden_35 wrote:I am a recent graduate (B. Comm Honours) of the Asper School of Business (May 2008) at the University of Manitoba (Canada). Received a GPA of 3.01 overall for my degree (do all schools use the overall GPA or an AGPA of the most recent 60 credit hours?).

I am seeking to apply to several academic institutions for the Fall 2009 academic year. I am interested in pursuing a graduate degree in Real Estate Development (either an MSRED or an MBA in Real Estate).

Last week I wrote my GMAT after studying 2-3 hours for a month and scored 550, 5.0. I am considering a rewrite, but have not decided yet.

While my GMAT, GPA and out-of-school work experience are low, my accomplishments are astounding. Here is a short C.V.

While taking my undergraduate degree, I was recruited by a professor in entrepreneurship to participate in several international business plan competitions in the graduate track (an undergrad competing against MBAs).

Here are my awards:
•Winner of the Young Associates Award in Business Planning Excellence
•University of Manitoba / Stuart Clark Venture Challenge Round – 1st place
•BDC Enterprise Prairie Region – 1st Place
•Boise State University / Northwest Venture Championship – 2nd Place
•University of Oregon / New Venture Championship – 2nd Place
•Wes Nicol Prairie Region – 2nd Place
•University of Nebraska – Lincoln New Venture World Competition
•San Diego State University / Venture Challenge – Wildcard Finalist
•University of Texas at Austin – 5th place, best written business plan
•New venture analysis internal competition – 1st place
•JDC West Case Competition, Entrepreneurship – 3rd Place
•Young President’s Organization Business Award for Entrepreneurial Excellence

Aside from these competitions, I have been working as a real estate developer while in school. My work experience is as follows:

•CEO of Frontier Sciences
•General Manager of the Transcona Country Club.
•Assists with operation of the St. Vital Hotel. Presently developing plans for redevelopment as a senior care facility.
•Operates a 45,000 square foot multi-tenant warehouse complex.
•Developing a twenty acre 350,000 sq ft multi-tenant flex-lease property as well as promoting and leasing duties.
•Completed the redevelopment of the fifteen acre, 80,000 square foot Inland Cement Plant into a multi-tenant facility. Presently fully leased. Future plans for upgrade development.
•Acquired a 112 acre agricultural parcel of land which is presently being leased, with future plans for upgrade development.
•Operates a small apartment complex (eight suites with three commercial units).

Volunteer work is as follows:

•Raised funds with team for Peter D. Curry Business Camp. Time spent as an academic judge
•Participated in Shinerama for Cystric Fibrosis
•Annually participates in the Manitoba Marathon
•Involved in the Golden Retriever Seniors Transportation System
•Member of the Lions Club of Winnipeg (Transcona) Inc.
•Funds support for Lions Senior Housing
•Served and supports in the Union Gospel Mission Food Program
I have letters of recommendation from the director of entrepreneurship at the University of Manitoba, the Dean of the Asper School of Business as well as the owner of the largest commercial real estate company in Manitoba

How competitive of an applicant am I at 23 years of age and having 12 months of full time work experience at my time of application (May 2009)?

Thank you
You want to make the most of your MBA and that means getting into the best school. Work for an additional year. Raise your GMAT, and apply next year. Unless you want to aim for programs outside the top 50 and with lower average GMATs, you need both more work experience and a significantly higher GMAT score to be competitive.

Best,
Linda
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by golden_35 » Wed Sep 24, 2008 8:29 am
Do schools use the overall GPA based on my whole degree (126 Credit hours) or do they look at my AGPA of the most recent 60 credit hours (like the University of Manitoba).

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by golden_35 » Wed Sep 24, 2008 8:36 am
The schools that I am interested in applying to are as follows:

Clemson, SC (First choice)
KOGOD
U South Cal.
Georgia State
Uni of Denver
Arizona State
Universityof San diego
John Hopkins

Also, as you can see from my shortlisted C.V., I am an entrepreneur who has aquired many commercial properties ($50M in my portfolio). Would many schools not consider that adequate work experience?

My ethnic background is caucasian from Canada (all applicants to the program that I was interested in at Clemson were American).

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by Linda Abraham » Wed Sep 24, 2008 8:44 pm
golden_35 wrote:Do schools use the overall GPA based on my whole degree (126 Credit hours) or do they look at my AGPA of the most recent 60 credit hours (like the University of Manitoba).
Most schools will want the GPA calculated based on all four years, but check with the individual schools to be sure.

Best,
Linda
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