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Please evalulate my profile.

by kendallrose » Mon Apr 18, 2011 8:35 am
I am in dilemma and I do not know who to ask. I hope you can shed some light on my future path.

Female, 32yrs old
1470 GRE score
3.1 GPA
Worked for 7 yrs in a family retailing business(as a merchandise buyer) and some office jobs.
Currently unemployed.


I applied on R3 this year and I am still waiting for the decision from schools. I think it's a slim chance to get admitted this year:( but I am determined to go to business school(I am interested in working in retailing business) and I do not know what to do during this time around. I am thinking to take some classes and think of this time as a sabbatical. What can I do to improve my credentials?
Do I have a shot to go to business school?
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by Tani » Mon Apr 18, 2011 4:14 pm
With your age and work background you would be considered a "non-traditional" applicant. That's not all bad. Your GRE is great, particularly for someone who's been out of school for a while.

I would not advise taking a year off. You should look to find something to build your credentials and show the school that you are dedicated to a career. You might try something non-traditional such as Kiva or another volunteer effort that would give you exposure to business practices outside of your "office jobs" (which I assume, from the general term, were not managerial). Your difficulty will be to convince the admissions committee that you really want an MBA and are not just looking to get a degree because you don;t have a job. Taking classes can be a help, particularly for people with weak test scores, but that's not your problem. You might find a volunteer group or a not-for-profit that would love your retail or office skills at a bargain price. (Maybe something such as Goodwill that could use your retailing skills but also give you some management exposure.)

Take a hard look at the retailing expertise you have built working for your family and identify areas of weakness. If you see a function that is key to retailing to which you haven't been exposed look for a job to fill that gap. In the end, you want to be able to tell the admissions committee a great story about how you have used this gap year.

With your scores you certainly have a shot - the question will be how competitive a school can you get into. If you haven't already done so, research the schools with the best retailing programs. You could even talk to a dream employer and find out where they like to hire. Try talking to the HR department of a respected retailer in your area about the possibility of working in entry level positions in a couple of departments to gain familiarity with jobs outside of buying.

Good luck,
Tani Wolff
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by kendallrose » Tue Apr 19, 2011 12:01 pm
Thank you so much for your kind advice Tani. I will definitely follow your suggestions.

Kendall
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