Am I being totally unrealistic? (Qs,Profile Evaluation)

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Joined: Sun Sep 07, 2008 10:38 am
GMAT Score:700
Hi Stacy,

I took my GMATs this last August and was pretty happy with my score. I got a 700 (47Q, 39V, 6AWA), which is 90%. I was under the impression that once a 7something score is reached, GMAT is emphasized less. However, I've been talking to people and have been getting vibes that it's not that good of a score for the schools that I want to go to. I wanted the GMAT to be merely a foot in the door--not THE deciding factor. Am I being unrealistic in my school choices? See the list after my profile evaluation.

This is my profile:

Age: 23
Nationality: Indian American
GMAT: Female
GMAT: 700 (47Q, 39V, 6AWA)
GPA: 3.868/4.0 (Summa Cum Laude) from a top 10 US Public School.
Major: Genetics, Art History (Minor)
Looking to enroll: Fall 2011
MBA focus/interest: -Consulting (Healthcare) with a big firm initially and then for a Social Business/Social Enterprise in the long run.

Work Experience (currently): 2.5 years in the biotechnology sector.
Key Work Accomplishments:
-Startup company so heavy involvement in setting up the company including working closely with the CEO.
-Managing a project in the Diabetes field, controlling all sectors involved including content conception of the idea, content generation, targeted marketing, and implementation.
-Responsible for designing and managing a structured Customer Support System.


Extracurricular:
-While simultaneously working full-time, I have also been co-managing an India-targeted non-profit organization, now in it's 3rd year. I founded the environmental awareness program at this organization and have been on the executive board for the last 2 years. I was instrumental in making the organization last beyond it's first year. Running this organization has developed skills spanning all aspects of business management.

-I have also recently started working with a Harvard Graduate Student group to provide a holistic, voluntary consulting services to young individuals working for grassroots international development projects happening in India. My specific project is essentially a team of 2, communicating with a field partner in India.

-I will begin volunteering in the marketing aspects for a theater company.

MBA Schools of interest:
-HBS
-Sloan
-Kellogg
-Chicago
-Stanford
-Columbia
-Stern
-Fuqua
-London Business School
-INSEAD
-IE
-Darden (?)

Questions:
-Am I unrealistic?
-Are there any other schools that I should consider? Should absolutely eliminate from my list?
-I plan to do a trial application run for Fall 2010 and apply to 2-3 best/semi-best schools. Good idea?

Thank you so much for all your help! So sorry for the uber long post!
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by Lisa Anderson » Thu Nov 05, 2009 7:59 pm
Dear noclue9454,

First, the GMAT is not the deciding factor nor the most important factor in MBA admissions. Based on your post, I would say you have a competitive profile for any school you apply to, and your admission will depend heavily on the quality of your essays, recommendations and interviews. With regards to your school list, I don't think you are being unrealistic, but I do think the list is too long. I would encourage you to narrow down your list to the schools that best match what you seek in a program.

As for a "trial run", I'm not sure what you mean by that exactly, but if you mean you will apply to some this year and then turn down any offers of admission to apply the following year--that is a really bad idea. Business schools expect you to apply when you are ready and committed to attending. If you decline an offer of admission and then apply to the same school again the following year, the school will be looking for a reasonable explanation for why you 1) turned them down and 2) are prepared to go the second time. Doing a "trial run" is not a reasonable explanation as they will view it as wasting their time.

Good luck,
Lisa
Lisa Anderson
Consultant
Stacy Blackman Consulting

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