BREAKING: Target Test Prep releases Brand New 2026 On Demand GMAT prep course

Redeem

Target Test Prep · GMAT

Choose how you want to prepare

Learn live with an expert or move at your own pace. Every option includes the complete TTP study system.

★★★★★5.0559 reviews
GMATLiveTeach 7 seats left
Chris Peckover
NEXT LIVE COHORT

Oct 13 to Jan 7, 2027

with Chris Peckover

Schedule
Tue, Thu · 8:00 to 10:00 PM ET
Included
40 live hours + 6 months of GMAT OnDemand
  • Live instruction and real-time questions
  • Class recordings and assigned practice
View class & enroll
Limited cohort · enrollment openTarget Test Prep
EALiveTeach 5 seats left
Logan Thompson
EXECUTIVE ASSESSMENT

Sep 6 to Dec 6, 2026

with Logan Thompson

Schedule
Sun · 9:30 AM to 12:30 PM ET
Included
Live EA class + 6 months of EA OnDemand
  • Expert-led weekly online sessions
  • EA Masterclass access between classes
View EA class & enroll
Limited cohort · enrollment openTarget Test Prep
GMATOnDemand Start anytime
SELF-PACED MASTERCLASS

Target Test Prep GMAT OnDemand

Complete access from day one. Study on your schedule.

130-point score guarantee
$0to start then $127/mo
  • Personalized study plan and analytics
  • Thousands of lessons and practice questions

Compare the format, schedule, and included access before enrolling. Prices and seat counts shown reflect the supplied offer details.

Peace Corps volunteer needing desperate advice

Launched April 26, 2006
Expert replies
by zab002 » Mon May 16, 2011 4:46 am
Here is my profile:
age: 24/F/Central Asian
GMAT (tested today after 3 months of studying) 570 :33Q, 35V
GPA - 3.0 (I switched from a Biology major to International Relations and Economics half way through my College career at Bucknell University; my GPA increased quite a bit the last two years; though the resulting cummulative GPA is due to the first 2 years in the Bio field i.e. my resulting cumulative since the switch of major to Economics/ International relations was 3.3-3.5 range)
Work experience:
Summer 2007: Taught English in northwestern China
2008 Spring Semester: abroad/research internship in Barbados - Central Bank of Barbados
Summer 2008 : Hospitality Consulting internship in Shanghai China
Year before joining the peace corps worked at TD Bank as a customer service representative
Currently second year as a Peace Corps volunteer serving in Community development helping to initiate projects in fields of youth and small business development.
Speak 4 languages: (including English), Turkic, Mandarin Chinese, and Thai


I am not looking into the typical marketing or finance route - i want to study Non-profit Management with a dual degree in Public Policy. My questions are...
1. How much does my experience/ background count in terms of the field I want to get into in comparison to my GMAT/GPA (i.e. what are my chances of getting into a school that specializes in non-profit management )
2. What are some of the top 30 schools that have strong programs in areas such as non-profit management/social enterprise/social entrepreneurship
3. (i am considering taking the GMAT again; it's just been a difficult process since I do not have easy access to buying books and study materials so I have been using old editions of two books (OG11 and Princeton Review)) but let's say without a second GMAT, what are my chances of getting into schools such as University of Maryland, University of Virginia, Carnegie Melon, George Washington? and what other schools should I also look into?

Thank you so much for your help and suggestions!
Join the discussion
Source: — Ask Stacy Blackman |

by Lisa Anderson » Mon May 16, 2011 10:27 am
Dear zab002,

All application components are equally important in your evaluation for MBA admissions. Thus your experience is as important as your GMAT. Where your Peace Corps experience might be helpful though is that it will lend your career goals in nonprofit management to seem more realistic in some admissions committee member's eyes. Having realistic career goals and selecting appropriate schools for your goals are key in the admissions process. As such, I commend you for wanting to target schools with strong nonprofit management/social enterprise curricula. Your current GMAT/GPA profile is a potential concern for you as it is below average for top 30 programs. However, it is not necessarily out of range for all top 30 programs, and you have the rest of your application (essays, recommendations, resume, interview) to mitigate those measures. Nevertheless, you do need to show that you have the academic aptitude to handle the rigor of the MBA curriculum, particularly the quantitative aspects. If you can retake the GMAT, I do think it would strengthen your application if you increased your quantitative score to 40+. If a retake is not feasible, then I think you do have a chance at the schools you mention (some being a bigger reach than others), assuming your application package is otherwise strong and compelling. In terms of other potential programs, I encourage you to do some additional research as nonprofit management and social enterprise are two growing areas in coursework for many schools. You might try a tailored search on mba.com or research the schools with an established partnership to programs like the Peace Corps or Teach For America as these schools generally want to attract students with your experience.

Best of luck,
Lisa
Lisa Anderson
Consultant
Stacy Blackman Consulting

Learn more about me
Join the discussion

by zab002 » Mon May 16, 2011 10:19 pm
Thank you very much!

I am thinking about retaking it in a month! hopefully an improvement of 30-50 points is not too unrealistic! I appreciate your suggestions !
Join the discussion