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Don Wrigley
- Junior | Next Rank: 30 Posts
- Posts: 29
- Joined: Tue Mar 24, 2009 4:45 pm
- GMAT Score:750
Would anyone be willing to give me an evaluation? I plan on starting my MBA in Fall 2011, so don't plan on sending out applications until October 2010 (I still feel the date is going to sneak up on me quickly!)
24 (26 at matriculation) year old, White American Male
Undergrad Info: Bachelor of Science in Computer Science, Rutgers University, GPA 3.01 (roughly the same in major and overall), with a 3.5 GPA in my senior year.
GMAT: Took in March of this year, scored 750/98%tile, 47Q/79%tile, 46V/99%tile, 6.0 AWA. As far as I can tell this is definitely extremely strong, though I didn't hit the coveted 80%tile in Quant., I can't imagine this posing a problem, correct? One thing I noticed is that there's a lot of information on what to do if your score falls BELOW the middle 80% range on the internet (Notably, it says that dramatically decreases your chances). What if your score falls ABOVE the middle 80% range (as mine does on 3-5 of my target schools); does this dramatically increase your chances (or am I crazy)?
WE: Currently 2.5 years, about 4.25 years at matriculation, as an Application Developer for an insurance company. Was promoted once (started as App Developer Analyst, promoted to App Developer Specialist). I really believe this is where I can differentiate myself. After my promotion, my responsibilities completely changed; I work with the business side to identify business problems that can be solved with technology, and work with them to implement solutions. I've learned a lot about the business this way, work with many cross-functional teams (architecture, development, business), and have taken responsibility as the owner of internal software projects.
Post-MBA plans: I would very much like to get into management/strategic consulting. The most rewarding part of my job is coming up with a solution that works for the business and fits within the budgetary and time constraints of the development team. Of course from here, as an application developer, I spend time implementing the solution; which is less rewarding. I'd like to do more in the way of identifying business problems and coming up with solutions (and also broaden my horizon to stop thinking about everything in terms of technology).
Extra-Curricular Activies: I am on the board of trustees for the local chapter of the Fraternity I joined at Rutgers. I plan and run alumni events several times a year and give advice to the current undergraduate brothers. In college, I held Executive Board positions in the fraternity for 2 years.
Additionally, I have been coaching youth baseball in the town that I live in for the past year, and plan on doing it for the next 2 years (would actually love to do it for years to come, but would rather start my business school career
).
In college, I was an active participant in Rutgers Dance Marathon for 3 years, and was named Captain of the event my senior year. This is an event for raising money for kids with cancer.
Questions: My biggest concern is my UGPA. Even though I received a great GMAT score, I am not taking anything for granted and will work extremely hard on my essays. I've put a lot of thought into why I want to get an MBA (career switch), and feel that I can successfully convey sound reasoning for that decision through my essays. Will my UGPA hold me back in any way? I've already signed up for community college starting in the Spring, so I should also have a nice alternative transcript. I'd like to add that I really have no good reason for the low UGPA other than laziness. I worked part time through most of college, but this is no excuse, I was working part time as a senior and ended up with a 3.5 for the year. I feel that I've taken the necessary steps to correct this; ie getting a very high gmat score, and taking classes at community college (which I plan on Acing). Should I write an optional essay just owning up to my low gpa?
What are my chances (do I have a chance) at the following schools? I may not apply to all, but these are the schools on my short list, in this order, with some of the last schools being considered as "safety" (as if there was such a thing):
1) Columbia (plan on applying early decision)
2) Wharton
3) Duke
4) Virginia
5) UNC
6) Carnegie Mellon
7) Emory
8) NYU (most likely to not apply, the school seems very good for IB, but no so much for consulting)
9) Georgetown
10) Indiana
11) Notre Dame
Sorry if this is a bit long winded. I feel that, in order to get a good evaluation, I need to explain my work experience and reasons for pursuing in MBA. I don't want someone (admission consultant or admission decider at the school) to look at my GPA/GMAT and automatically "ding" based on the low GPA.
Thank you very much for your help.
24 (26 at matriculation) year old, White American Male
Undergrad Info: Bachelor of Science in Computer Science, Rutgers University, GPA 3.01 (roughly the same in major and overall), with a 3.5 GPA in my senior year.
GMAT: Took in March of this year, scored 750/98%tile, 47Q/79%tile, 46V/99%tile, 6.0 AWA. As far as I can tell this is definitely extremely strong, though I didn't hit the coveted 80%tile in Quant., I can't imagine this posing a problem, correct? One thing I noticed is that there's a lot of information on what to do if your score falls BELOW the middle 80% range on the internet (Notably, it says that dramatically decreases your chances). What if your score falls ABOVE the middle 80% range (as mine does on 3-5 of my target schools); does this dramatically increase your chances (or am I crazy)?
WE: Currently 2.5 years, about 4.25 years at matriculation, as an Application Developer for an insurance company. Was promoted once (started as App Developer Analyst, promoted to App Developer Specialist). I really believe this is where I can differentiate myself. After my promotion, my responsibilities completely changed; I work with the business side to identify business problems that can be solved with technology, and work with them to implement solutions. I've learned a lot about the business this way, work with many cross-functional teams (architecture, development, business), and have taken responsibility as the owner of internal software projects.
Post-MBA plans: I would very much like to get into management/strategic consulting. The most rewarding part of my job is coming up with a solution that works for the business and fits within the budgetary and time constraints of the development team. Of course from here, as an application developer, I spend time implementing the solution; which is less rewarding. I'd like to do more in the way of identifying business problems and coming up with solutions (and also broaden my horizon to stop thinking about everything in terms of technology).
Extra-Curricular Activies: I am on the board of trustees for the local chapter of the Fraternity I joined at Rutgers. I plan and run alumni events several times a year and give advice to the current undergraduate brothers. In college, I held Executive Board positions in the fraternity for 2 years.
Additionally, I have been coaching youth baseball in the town that I live in for the past year, and plan on doing it for the next 2 years (would actually love to do it for years to come, but would rather start my business school career
).In college, I was an active participant in Rutgers Dance Marathon for 3 years, and was named Captain of the event my senior year. This is an event for raising money for kids with cancer.
Questions: My biggest concern is my UGPA. Even though I received a great GMAT score, I am not taking anything for granted and will work extremely hard on my essays. I've put a lot of thought into why I want to get an MBA (career switch), and feel that I can successfully convey sound reasoning for that decision through my essays. Will my UGPA hold me back in any way? I've already signed up for community college starting in the Spring, so I should also have a nice alternative transcript. I'd like to add that I really have no good reason for the low UGPA other than laziness. I worked part time through most of college, but this is no excuse, I was working part time as a senior and ended up with a 3.5 for the year. I feel that I've taken the necessary steps to correct this; ie getting a very high gmat score, and taking classes at community college (which I plan on Acing). Should I write an optional essay just owning up to my low gpa?
What are my chances (do I have a chance) at the following schools? I may not apply to all, but these are the schools on my short list, in this order, with some of the last schools being considered as "safety" (as if there was such a thing):
1) Columbia (plan on applying early decision)
2) Wharton
3) Duke
4) Virginia
5) UNC
6) Carnegie Mellon
7) Emory
8) NYU (most likely to not apply, the school seems very good for IB, but no so much for consulting)
9) Georgetown
10) Indiana
11) Notre Dame
Sorry if this is a bit long winded. I feel that, in order to get a good evaluation, I need to explain my work experience and reasons for pursuing in MBA. I don't want someone (admission consultant or admission decider at the school) to look at my GPA/GMAT and automatically "ding" based on the low GPA.
Thank you very much for your help.
