Ask an MBA Admissions Consultant

My profile:
-23 year old white american
-state university (fully accredited)
-double major
- 3.3 engineering
- 3.5 german
-semester abroad during studies
-internship abroad during studies
-640 gmat 35/43 V/Q split
-currently in germany working as an engineering project manager on an international project with a net value in the xx,000,000 euro range
-speak fluent english, german, and basic spanish
-licensed engineer in training
-currently partially fund students at my alma mater who are taking part in my previous program and are planning on spending a year abroad

question is, do i really have to take the gmat again and score in the 700s to get into a top school, and/or would that increase potential financial aid?

or will they realize engineers are nothing without their ti-89s (calculator, which, coincidentally, sits on my desk at work but not at my local gmat testing center)?

toptenorbust wrote:My profile:
-23 year old white american
-state university (fully accredited)
-double major
- 3.3 engineering
- 3.5 german
-semester abroad during studies
-internship abroad during studies
-640 gmat 35/43 V/Q split
-currently in germany working as an engineering project manager on an international project with a net value in the xx,000,000 euro range
-speak fluent english, german, and basic spanish
-licensed engineer in training
-currently partially fund students at my alma mater who are taking part in my previous program and are planning on spending a year abroad

question is, do i really have to take the gmat again and score in the 700s to get into a top school, and/or would that increase potential financial aid?

or will they realize engineers are nothing without their ti-89s (calculator, which, coincidentally, sits on my desk at work but not at my local gmat testing center)?

What schools are you aiming at?

1st choice: Harvard, Columbia, Dartmouth, NYU, IMD

2nd choice: Boston College, Boston University

I plan to go for general management or entrepeneurial studies because I would like to be at the head of the automotive industry. My reason for pursueing an MBA is, although i have a lot of confidence in myself and my knowledge, the decisions that are made at the executive level need more than just confidence. They require a knowledge of the markets and the way they work, and they require a knowledge of what has been done in similar situations in the past and the results thereof. As a final thought, I have absolutely no intentions of sitting on wall street or in some cubicle hedging my life away.

That been said, what do you think of my shortlist, and what schools would you recommend that are not listed?

toptenorbust wrote:1st choice: Harvard, Columbia, Dartmouth, NYU, IMD

2nd choice: Boston College, Boston University

I plan to go for general management or entrepeneurial studies because I would like to be at the head of the automotive industry. My reason for pursueing an MBA is, although i have a lot of confidence in myself and my knowledge, the decisions that are made at the executive level need more than just confidence. They require a knowledge of the markets and the way they work, and they require a knowledge of what has been done in similar situations in the past and the results thereof. As a final thought, I have absolutely no intentions of sitting on wall street or in some cubicle hedging my life away.

That been said, what do you think of my shortlist, and what schools would you recommend that are not listed?

Given your current GMAT, I think you are over-reaching with your first choice schools. Your GMAT and GPA are on the low side for all, and your level of work experience is significantly less than average for IMD.

You are more competitive at your second choice schools with your current GMAT and GPA, particularly at Boston College. However, at BU your work experience quantity appears lower than their 80% level. That is probably more of a stretch.

A higher score will increase your chances at both the first and second choice schools and could also increase the possibility of financial aid, particularly at the second choice schools.

Regards,

Thank you for your honest response.

With regards to the GPA, i graduated with a 3.4 in a double major engineering/german. Published average Ugrad GPA for my first choice schools average about 3.5. I was under the impression that engineering GPAs where weighted more heavily and double majors on top of that. In this area I consider myself overqualified for my second choice schools.

In terms of work experience, I do plan on applying the earliest next year (2 yrs exp). I just wanted to plan my potential GMAT attempt accordingly. That been said after hearing your advice i do think that another attempt would be advantageous, as I would like to compete with the best.

and another question that only someone of your qualifications could properly answer:
how big is the white-american-engineer pool with xx months of international experience?

toptenorbust wrote:Thank you for your honest response.

With regards to the GPA, i graduated with a 3.4 in a double major engineering/german. Published average Ugrad GPA for my first choice schools average about 3.5. I was under the impression that engineering GPAs where weighted more heavily and double majors on top of that. In this area I consider myself overqualified for my second choice schools.

In terms of work experience, I do plan on applying the earliest next year (2 yrs exp). I just wanted to plan my potential GMAT attempt accordingly. That been said after hearing your advice i do think that another attempt would be advantageous, as I would like to compete with the best.

and another question that only someone of your qualifications could properly answer:
how big is the white-american-engineer pool with xx months of international experience?

Thanks for your gracious response to what I am sure was a disappointing reply from me.

Regarding your GPA, you are correct. However, when you want a low GMAT to be overlooked, you really need an above average GPA. In addition, while there are some state universities (like Berkeley) that are known for hard grading scales particularly in engineering, many do not have the name recognition or reputation for rigor that elite schools enjoy. Again, if you apply with a lower than average GMAT, other aspects of your application have to work overtime to show you can compete.

You are also correct that the right brain/left brain aspects of your double major are a strength and a differentiator as is your int'l work experience.

I can't give you a number or percentage in terms of the pool of mid-twenties white male engineers. It's a significant group, but not overwhelming. Your international experience is a major distinctive feature. Not common at all.

However, realize that before the competitive schools admit a student they have to be convinced that the applicant can compete academically. The GMAT is the one factor constant across the entire applicant pool. It's not subject to grade inflation or deflation, mickey mouse majors or grueling majors. Therefore it is a significant (not sole or exclusive) indication of raw intellectual power. Given the fact that you have time to retake and raise your score, I am happy to read that you intend to do so.

Best,
Linda