Request for brief profile evaluation

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I would like to get some idea about how much (if at all) my GMAT score might help me get into one of the top 10 schools. Please note that I haven't given my GMAT yet. As of now, I feel I'll land up around 700-720.

My profile:
1. Undergraduate in Computer Engineering from India - GPA: 3.8
2. Masters in Computer Science from University of Southern California - GPA: 3.5
3. 2.5 years of work experience working as a software engineer at Apple. No team leading experience. As a side note, its almost impossible to get to lead a team in R&D at Apple in such a short period of time but I can get some good recommendations.

Other:
1. Have completed many leadership/management/communication related classes for prospective leaders at Apple.
2. Have overseen business and operations related activities including creating business plans for a small non profit organization (based in Belgium but operates also here in the US) working directly alongside the founder.
3. I don't know if this counts but although I don't exactly have a management/leadership profile at work, I was a lead for a project (a team of 4) and it turned out to be very successful. My manager can give me some good recommendation based on my work.

Question: Can a GMAT score of 730-750, help me compensate for my weak profile in order to get into one of the top 10 schools. Do I stand a realistic chance at all of getting into such a school? I wanted to have a very general idea about where I stand with my current profile.

Also, there are many volunteering opportunities (mostly community service related activities) at Apple. I haven't participated in any yet, but would it make sense to participate in one after my GMAT, close to the application time frame? Did read somewhere that desperately trying to do some volunteering work before applying raises a red flag. Is that true?

Also, I would be taking help from one of the consultancy companies to prepare my application so I could have an otherwise strongly prepared application.

I guess my question is, would any of the above count?
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by Cindy Tokumitsu » Thu Apr 28, 2011 11:27 am
Hello,

From the information you've provided I would conclude that with a GMAT score in the 730+ range, you could possibly be a viable applicant for some of the top-10 level programs. (Given your Indian IT status, a high GMAT is more of a qualification in your case than something to make you stand out, unfortunately.) Some comments and thoughts, in no order of priority:

- Your work experience will be a big factor; it's not so much a matter of whether you've been formally appointed to leadership roles - but whether you've exercised leadership (a different matter), even informally, and whether you can cite a strong impact at your work. Top schools want to see a career that is outstanding in leadership, impact, achievement. How this may play out will vary company to company, depending on its structure, culture, etc. So the question is, at your work at Apple, how impressive is your track record compared to that of other accomplished peers?
- Your lack of volunteering or community activity will be a drawback, unless there is another compelling non-work aspect you bring (such as deep involvement in an art). Starting an activity right before applying is too transparent. On the other hand, have you provided community support and involvement informally? It doesn't always have to be through a formal program.
- Your goals will be a critical component of your application and they will contextualize the rest of your application, so your current work will be seen in part in light of your goals.

Achieving a high GMAT will help gain your application a close read, but for top-10 level programs the adcoms will also want to see these other components.


Best regards,
Cindy Tokumitsu
Senior Editor, www.Accepted.com