Profile Evaluation & Application Question

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GMAT Score:710

Profile Evaluation & Application Question

by nmehta » Thu Jan 20, 2011 10:29 am
Hello,

I was hoping to get some feedback on my profile.

Nationality : US citizen, Indian ethnicity
GMAT: 710 (48Q, 39V)
GPA: 3.13 from top 25 US school, double major in Economics and Political Science. Major GPA is 3.5/3.4. Had a poor freshman year as I was pre-med.
Work Experience: Will have 10 years of finance experience. I have sell-side and buy side experience in both equity and debt capital markets. I co-managed $50mn equity portfolio for three years (2006 - 2009). Currently work in sell-side equity research
Professional Designations: CFA, Series 7, 63, 55, 86, 87
Extra Curricular: Very strong, 16 years of mentoring/tutoring. Currently sit on the Board of two charter schools in New York city, also sit on Board of Directors of a financial analytics software start-up.

Target Schools
R1: Wharton (dinged), Booth (interview/dinged), MIT (dinged), Columbia (dinged)
R2: LBS (reapplicant, interview/dinged last year), Kellogg, Stern, Fuqua

My top choices were LBS and Booth. I really want the international exposure LBS provides as its more relevant to my post MBA goals. I feel my low GPA/GMAT relative to other Indian males is hurting my application, although I feel my work experience more than makes up for that. Any critiques/suggestions are welcome, thank you.

My application Question:
I did not waive my right to view to view my letters of recommendation. I only now know that this can compromise my letters. I had no intent on reviewing them beforehand and have not done so. I thought the waiver meant I could view everything in my app once it was submitted (like reviewing), not beforehand, but honestly really wasn't aware of this question at all. Again, I really did not understand this question on the application and treated it as an afterthought and just clicked "NO" to all my applications. I feel I have greatly impacted myself and my application. Do you have any advice for such a terrible blunder on my part? I understand it may not be a deal breaker per se but it certainly is a factor and a negative one at that. I am pretty distraught over this and feel as if I have not recourse and will have to just live with my mistake. Any advice, thanks.
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by Stacey Oyler » Thu Jan 20, 2011 4:48 pm
Hi,

Thanks for your post. You certainly appear to have a solid profile with good academics, work experience and extracurricular activities. Given you results thus far, one has to question a few things.

My first thought is your GMAT is a bit on the low side. While 710 certainly is a good score, it is a bit lower than the average at the programs on your list and it is slightly below average of other similar profiles in the pool. How many times have you taken the exam? Would you consider retaking it?

Secondly, your length of work experience may also be of some concern. The average full time top 10 MBA applicant has 2-5 years of work experience. The 10 years you have puts you well above average and also more in line for a part time or EMBA program. Adcoms may question the timing and your goals. Clearly written short and long term goals will help alleviate concerns the adcom may have about your level of experience.

Lastly, in regard to your comment/concern about the LOR's, please know that while this is unfortunate, it does happen. One of my Clear Admit colleagues wrote a post about this very subject that you might find helpful:
https://www.beatthegmat.com/waiving-righ ... tml#308846

Best,

Stacey
Sign up for my MBA admissions course, featuring me and other Clear Admit experts, by visiting: https://www.udemy.com/business-school

Stacey Oyler
Clear Admit, LLC
[email protected]
215.568.2590

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