Please evaluate: U.S. M/Wh/26/3.7 GPA/690 GMAT

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Please evaluate my chances. Also, prefer to only apply to 4 schools so suggestions on the list below are welcome. Looking for strong Private Equity network. Concerned about Q44. Thanks.

Age: 26

Gender: Male

Eth: Caucasian

Nationality: USA

GPA: 3.7 BBA Finance from top 30 U.S. private university (3.9 GPA in business major)

GMAT: 690 (Q44, 40V)

Extracurriculars: undergrad - very involved in University advancement (admissions office, campus tours, donor relations, etc.) and significant leadership roles in fraternity community and greater campus community
Post-undergrad - remained active with undergraduate university (Chairman of class fundraising committee, volunteer in leadership program for undergrads, speaker at undergraduate business school, mentor undergraduate business student, interview applicants for undergraduate business school admissions, etc.); tutor at after-school program for at-risk teenagers; ran marathon raising money for cancer research

Work Exp: 5 yrs (Banking, Private Equity - promoted once)

Reason for MBA: reached plateau in developing hard skills (particularly strategy and ops), to learn about new industries (and how Private Equity investments are structured in those industries), expand my professional network, professional re-branding, limited career advancement opportunities with current employer

Recommendations: (2) from former supervisors and mentors

Post-MBA: middle-market Private Equity (in different industry sector; generalist vs. sector specific now), possibly lead a firm one day

Applying: 2010 Round 2

Schools:
Chicago Booth (#1)
Kellogg (#2)
Columbia
Fuqua
McCombs (prefer a school outside of Texas)
Darden
Source: — Ask an MBA Admissions Consultant |

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by Cindy Tokumitsu » Thu Dec 03, 2009 5:28 am
Hello,

For the relatively low GMAT quant score, you can write a short optional essay reminding the adcom of your undergrad coursework and (presumably) strong grades, plus your use of quantitative methodologies in your work.

That said, the quant score, plus the overall 690, are low for a top b-school for someone with your demographic and industry. Your extracurriculars are strong, and I suggest focusing hard on [urlhttps://www.accepted.com/mba/solvingpuzzle.aspx]differentiating and distinguishing yourself in your application[/url]. Aside from the low-ish GMAT, you're qualified - but you're in a group that's highly represented and tends to have higher numbers.

Out of the schools you've listed, based on the information you've provided I'd suggest targeting Chicago and Kellogg (as the main reaches -- not many people pursue Kellogg as a finance school so you'd have a differentiating factor there) and any mix of the others (still reaches because of the GMAT but more in range, with Texas closer to on-par) excepting Columbia, where the GMAT will be more of a problem.

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