Hi Guys:
First let me start by thanking you for taking the time to provide guidance to people such as myself. Now on to the good stuff:
I'm 30 years old, with about 102 months of work experience (IT - not programming, but infrastructure). I have been promoted steadily at each company I have worked at - to the point of running a team of 6 for 2 years. I am now running my own shop.
I have taken the GMAT twice (530 first shot, 620 second shot (35Q, 39V)) and will probably take it a third time. I started my undergraduate degree at a top U.S. engineering school, where my GPA was lackluster ( < 3.0 - at the time I didn't see the need to sell my soul to the GPA gods in order to do well)....Left school before graduation to start my career. I subsequently finished my undergrad at a lesser known engineering school (fully accredited) where I graduated at the top of my class (3.8 GPA).
I have also won an award for my leadership skills while manning the helm of my previous employer (This wasn't a company-wide award, but rather a prestigious geographic specific award for which hundreds of people were nominated). I am also a Lieutenant in my local fire department.
I am looking at Columbia and NYU only (MBA with a focus on Entrepreneurship and Real Estate). Given the weaknesses in my application (low GMAT and low undergrad GPA first time around), do you think I should wait until I score higher on the GMAT?
One other little nugget: I am currently pursuing a M. Eng. degree at a much higher ranked school (expected GPA this semester is 4.0 with a full credit load) than where I finished my undergrad, so should I wait until next year to get another degree under my belt?
I know you guys don't have a crystal ball and I also know that I won't know for sure unless I apply, but I'd rather not blow $500 on applications that have little or no chance in succeeding (The anxiety makes feel like I am trying to ask the prom queen out for a date) so any advice or guidance would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks for taking the time to read my mindless meanderings.
First let me start by thanking you for taking the time to provide guidance to people such as myself. Now on to the good stuff:
I'm 30 years old, with about 102 months of work experience (IT - not programming, but infrastructure). I have been promoted steadily at each company I have worked at - to the point of running a team of 6 for 2 years. I am now running my own shop.
I have taken the GMAT twice (530 first shot, 620 second shot (35Q, 39V)) and will probably take it a third time. I started my undergraduate degree at a top U.S. engineering school, where my GPA was lackluster ( < 3.0 - at the time I didn't see the need to sell my soul to the GPA gods in order to do well)....Left school before graduation to start my career. I subsequently finished my undergrad at a lesser known engineering school (fully accredited) where I graduated at the top of my class (3.8 GPA).
I have also won an award for my leadership skills while manning the helm of my previous employer (This wasn't a company-wide award, but rather a prestigious geographic specific award for which hundreds of people were nominated). I am also a Lieutenant in my local fire department.
I am looking at Columbia and NYU only (MBA with a focus on Entrepreneurship and Real Estate). Given the weaknesses in my application (low GMAT and low undergrad GPA first time around), do you think I should wait until I score higher on the GMAT?
One other little nugget: I am currently pursuing a M. Eng. degree at a much higher ranked school (expected GPA this semester is 4.0 with a full credit load) than where I finished my undergrad, so should I wait until next year to get another degree under my belt?
I know you guys don't have a crystal ball and I also know that I won't know for sure unless I apply, but I'd rather not blow $500 on applications that have little or no chance in succeeding (The anxiety makes feel like I am trying to ask the prom queen out for a date) so any advice or guidance would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks for taking the time to read my mindless meanderings.
