Ask Stacy Blackman

Dear Varun,

It depends on how your entire profile stacks up against a school's profile, as well as how compelling and strong your application is relative to the applicant pool. Decisions are made on a holistic evaluation of your application, so each component is significant and can make a difference. As an international applicant to US schools, your best chance of admission will be targeting programs with GMAT averages at or below a 630 and that are a good match for your career goals.

Good luck,
Lisa

Baruch and Northeastern are known programs with good reputations. However, they are primarily known in the northeast US (referred to as New England). Outside that region of the US, you might find they are not as recognized. If you would like to work in Boston or New York, or feel these schools are respected in your home country, then there is not a problem. As for whether or not an application is futile versus fruitful, it is hard to say. It is always best to have a good mix of programs on your list to "spread the risk," so to speak. I would think schools with GMAT averages in the 630-650 range to be more of reach programs for you as an international applicant. Thus you might want to target some with GMAT averages in the 600-620 range as well.

Regards,
Lisa

Dear Varun,

Absolutely--Bentley and Brandeis are credible in the northeast, particularly the Boston area. A 3 month gap is a bit of a gray area as you are at just enough that some schools ask for an explanation, but not an excessive gap that raises huge concerns. To be safe, I agree that you should probably address the gap in the optional as it is better to provide the facts than allow the admissions committee to imagine all the possibilities. How to best explain the gap depends on the circumstances, but it is usually best to stick to the facts of how you left the first job, what you did in the interim, and how you landed at the next job.

Regards,
Lisa