Profile Evaluation Please

Free advice from the world's top MBA consultants
This topic has expert replies
Newbie | Next Rank: 10 Posts
Posts: 2
Joined: Wed Dec 10, 2008 8:22 am
Location: Los Angeles, CA

Profile Evaluation Please

by lfeller » Wed Dec 10, 2008 8:28 am
Hi there!

I would really appreciate a profile evaluation. I am looking to apply for entrance to business school in Fall 2009. I live in Los Angeles, and want to do the Part Time program at UCLA, USC, or Pepperdine, in that order. I am currently with a very good company, and would like to continue to work here, but in a different function once through with school. I am in Advertising Operations and would like to move into Market Research/Strategic Marketing. Both UCLA and USC have excellent Marketing concentration options and are in a great location for me.

Personal:
Female
26 (by Fall 2009)
White

Academics:
UCLA: Undergraduate double major in History and Communications. GPA 3.34 (final year 3.8)
Junior Year Study Abroad in Leeds, UK (not a good year for my GPA)

GMAT:
December 2008: 680 (42 Quant 63%, 40 Verbal 89%), 5.0 AWA

Recommendation letters:
one from former manager, one from current manager, one from current coworker (as needed)

Work Experience:
Almost 4 years by Fall 2009.
To date, I have worked for 3 different companies. The first was in an operations function at a Yellow Pages advertising company, the next an online advertising operations role at a very large online publisher, and now to a more advanced ad ops role at a somewhat smaller online publisher. I like being in this industry, but I my goal is to move into a marketing/strategy/research role (I studied this in my last year of college and would like to move in that direction).

Would I be competitive for the schools I have mentioned above?

I have a few concerns:

1. My undergraduate major is not math/business focused and I have only a few undergrad quantitative classes with varied results; also, my GMAT Quant score is not stellar.
2. Am I too inexperienced (as far as work goes) to consider a Part Time program?
3. Would it hurt/help me at all to have my undergrad degree from UCLA (even though it is not in business?)

Thank you!
Source: — Ask an MBA Admissions Consultant |

User avatar
Senior | Next Rank: 100 Posts
Posts: 69
Joined: Wed Dec 03, 2008 5:04 pm
Location: Colorado
Thanked: 8 times
GMAT Score:760

by Jay Allen » Wed Dec 10, 2008 9:01 am
Hi there,


Thanks for your post.


So you have some interesting qualifications that will need a pretty refined story.

The major obstacles that jump out at me are:

1. Low quant scores combined with little quant academic experience
2. 3 jobs in four years
3. Unclear or unambitious career goals


For quant scores, you should consider retaking the GMAT after some more preparation (this may force you to wait a year). You can also strategically position your application to help you attack this weakness. What quant oriented projects have you done at work? Focus on citing some strengths through both essays on recommendation that are based on analytical ability and quantitative analysis. You might also highlight it as something you proactively work on and then mention you've already signeded up for MBAmath.com.

The 3 jobs issue just needs to be explained clearly. It would be great if one of your recommenders could help you explain a story about why your switched around. You want to make sure you don't come off as lacking commitment.

Thirdly, you need to be strategic in how you present your career goals. A lateral shift within your own company may strike an admissions official as something you could accomplish without an MBA. Make sure you present a bold career plan that cannot be achieved without an MBA.

Finally, in addressing your concerns--you will be young in your program, but it is still within the range of possibility. I'm not too concerned about your work experience. The UCLA link will help in that you will score better on the all important 'fit' category.

I'd be happy to read an essay for free or talk more about your strategy.

All the best,


Jay

Newbie | Next Rank: 10 Posts
Posts: 2
Joined: Wed Dec 10, 2008 8:22 am
Location: Los Angeles, CA

by lfeller » Wed Dec 10, 2008 10:44 am
Thanks for your quick response Jay! I will definitely take your advice into consideration as I put my application together.

User avatar
Senior | Next Rank: 100 Posts
Posts: 69
Joined: Wed Dec 03, 2008 5:04 pm
Location: Colorado
Thanked: 8 times
GMAT Score:760

by Jay Allen » Wed Dec 10, 2008 11:16 am
Happy to help!