Plz evaluate my profile GMAT 710 but low GPA

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Hi,

I just gave my GMAT yesterday(March 9th, 09) and scored 710 (Q47/V41). This was my 2nd attempt.
1st attempt was on Feb 4th, 09, score - 640 (Q48/V30).

Kindly leme know the probability of getting admissions in tob B-schools after eveluating myprofile:

I am an Indian, and did all my schooling in India.
I have a 3 year under grad degree in Commerce (Bcom) from Bangalore University, and an aggregate GPA of 2.6.
Have done Masters in International Business from Delhi University (2years), GPA 2.4.

1 year work experience in Hotel Industry as a Revenue Manager. Had to leave my job when I got married, to join my husband in USA.

Now, I know I have a very low GPA, and am also applying in the last round of admissions, so I had worked very hard to get a good GMAT score. I dont know if 710 is sufiicient.

Some points that may improve my chances are:
1. had been an active member of NSS - a Social Service Scheme of Govt of India - for 2 years in college.
2. Had participated in lot of extra curricular activities in college and have won a few prizes in intercollegiate competitions.
3. At work, I was involved in a project to implement a new software - I was incharge of implementing the software in my department and also preparing training documentation.
4. My supervisors at work were very happy with my work, so I am hoping to get some strong recomendation letters from them.

I am really keen on joining Stanford, other then stanford, I am looking at UCLA.
I decided to do an MBA only in December 08, and realised I will have to apply in the last round... I could not concentrate much on the verbal section in my 1st attempt, so gave the 2 nd attempt as early as i could.
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by Graham » Thu Mar 12, 2009 2:00 am
Dear RideGMAT,

Thanks for your post! My general thoughts are below:

Academics
I see that you've converted your marks into the US GPA format, but I'm curious to know your percentiles at these schools (as that's how most of the grades are done in India). I am also curious to know how you ranked among your peers in school - if that information was given. On another note, how is your masters degree different from an MBA? You may have to justify your need for the MBA when applying to US schools.

GMAT
You have a decent GMAT score at 710. It seems that you've managed to come in at around the 80th percentile on the math and the 90th for verbal, which is fairly balanced. Of course, as you might expect, your overall result is below average for Stanford. Further, if your ugrad performance is an issue, one typically looks to hit a homerun on the GMAT exam in order to compensate. A 710 is not a homerun for programs like Stanford or UCLA.

Work Experience
The only experience you refer to is a single year of work in the hospitality sector. Are you not presently employed? As I'm sure you know, the typical MBA student at Stanford or UCLA has 4+ years of full-time experience, which puts you at a disadvantage if you have only one year.

XCs
While your collegiate XCs sound excellent, I am curious to know what you've done since school. How are you active with community service or hobbies at the present? If you haven't done much since college, this will be a bit of a liability.

Round
Your odds of gaining admission to a top school with limited work experience, poor grades and a somewhat pedestrian GMAT result are fairly slim in any round of admissions - let alone the final round. Keep in mind that schools like Stanford regularly admit less than 10% of all applicants - and that this number drops dramatically in the final round.

My advice is that you consider adding to your work experience and engaging in current outside/community activities for the near term. You should then consider an application to programs in the first round next fall, perhaps adjusting your school selection to be more in line with your credentials. Of course, if you send your resume to [email protected] you can set up a free initial session with one of our counselors and learn more about your odds, next steps, etc.

Best of luck,

Graham
Graham Richmond
Clear Admit, LLC
[email protected]
215 568 2590

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