The Application Process

Cheers to everyone on this forum!

I am very impressed with all the stories and excellent tips/strategies that all the members give to each other. Hopefully I can be a part of this as well.

Quick Background Info: I finished my Bachelor in Business this past May and I'm currently working full-time in an Information Technology and Web Development field.

My plan is to enroll/start my MBA in Spring 2013 (originally had Fall 2012 but figured I was not ready to submit my best work).

There are several schools on my radar and the requirements are attainable. But, the margin for error is pretty fair.

University Choice 1: GMAT of 450 (the cost, location, and curriculum are most suitable for me -- but the school isn't all that competitive).
University Choice 2: GMAT of 550 (good location (which is my main concern), best curriculum for me, somewhat pricey, and competitive) - Someone from the AdCom told me that in the past 3 years no one with a sub 580 was admitted...regardless of GPA).
University Choice 3: GMAT of 500 (Most inconvenient location of the 3, curriculum/career focus classes don't appeal that well to me, cost is about the same as Choice 1).

I have a hunch that I can get into Choice 1, but after scoring an estimated 480 on a practice test I feel that I should begin to sweat because nothing is guaranteed.

What I am contemplating is this:

Option 1:
Take the GMAT early-mid December and get possibly get a score just like my practice and apply to Choice 1 by Jan 1st in hopes I get in.
Giving me 1 month to study hard and getting my application in very early (which will boost my chance).

Option 2:
Hold off and take the GMAT in early-mid January then apply to all 3 schools by Feb 1st the latest. Giving me more time to load up and study to perhaps get me near a 550-580 GMAT.
However, I feel very uneasy waiting another month since my resume is not stunning and my GPA is something for me to explain to the AdCom.

Pretty much what I am trying to say is that since my Job history is not long (less than 1yr Post-Bachelor Degree) and my GPA is not hot, I can get a fair GMAT and submit very early and stand a better chance than waiting another month or two.

My plan is to study hard. Going at about 20-25 hours a week (5-6hrs per day on weekends) and about 2 on weekday nights. I did all Data Sufficiency Lessons that were posted on youtube and I saw a HUGE/DRASTIC change in my approach and gained an average of 5-6 (yes, 5-6!) more correct per 10 questions. So if I go gun-ho into my studies I am certain I can improve.

Thank you for the patience and consideration towards my post. Thoughts and help is warmly appreciated!

- Joe B.

PrecisionEssay wrote:Jow,
Given what you have written here, I would go with choice 2. Sometimes these things are hard to predict, but if you give yourself only ONE option you might kick yourself later. It seems advantageous and also perhaps hopeful. You don't yet know what score you will get, and you may surprise yourself (hopefully in a good way ) Plus, from what you have written, it doesn't seem like the disadvantage would be all that great to applying a bit later.

Soooo, I think a liiiiiiitle bit of patience can go a loooooooooong way.

Thank you for the great insight. This definitely helped and is making me realize that it I would rather give it a tad more time so things are polished than to rush into it just to be early.

Also, would it be considered too early to ask professors and supervisors for letters of recommendation even though I have yet to take the GMAT and I'm still "wishy-washy" about the 3-4 schools I wish to apply?

My plan is to politely and kindly ask them ahead of time rather than waltz up a few weeks before applications are due and put pressure on them. I'm sure that doing the latter of the previous sentence would be somewhat rude and inconsiderate.

In addition, I really would like a certain professor to write a letter for me whose class I took in Fall 2010 (1yr ago). I did very well and was 1 of 5 students in a class/section of 250 to do a business proposal and panel discussion with a Fortune 500 company. I didn't know her very well personally but she knew that I did well in the class and had good work. My question is: Will the length of time since I had the class as well as my personal relationship with the professor hinder my chances of the professor remembering who I am and my performance?

Thoughts are welcomed!

Cheers!

-Joe

Thanks again for the response. The schools ask for 1 professor recommendation at the very least. So, it looks like I have to ask one from my Uni where I did undergrad.

My best friend's father was my supervisor during my summer job back at home. He knows me very, very well and offered to do anything to help me out. However, I feel a bit uneasy since that job was stocking shelves at the supermarket. I did work very hard and was always on time and jumped up to come work when they asked me to on days off. But again, it was a shelve stocking position. Would you advise me to attempt asking him write a recommendation? Or is it not that "notable" of a job so to speak?

Thanks. -Joe