Profile evaluation - Chinese/M IT/Military Officer GMAT 650

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Hi,

Please see my profile below. Any suggestions/recommendation are greatly appreciated!

Nationality: Chinese American (came to States when I was 13)
Age: 31
Gender: Male

GPA: 3.6
Undergrad major: Business Admin with MIS concentration
School: University of Texas at Dallas
GMAT: 650


Work experience (11 years combined, see below; experience in energy generation, logistics, IT, and medical fields)

IT Consultant - (10/2007 - present): Works for one of the largest IT consultant firm (Capgemini). Multiple projects with various clients, covering mainly utilities and energy sector. Promoted twice and about to get my 3rd promotion. For the current on-going project I'm in charge of the technical side of the the mobile solution of my business client. Good client recognition/feedback.

U.S Army (05/2003 - present): 9 years enlisted and 2 years officer. Started off as a buck private and worked my way up. 2 years active duty, rest years are in reserve. 9 years enlisted worked in quartermaster and logistics and 2 years as officer works in medical & IT field. Combat veteran, 1 deployment to Iraq in 2005. Served in every leadership position from company level: team leader, squad leader, platoon sergeant, platoon leader. Before received my commission I was an Operations Sergeant at a Sustainment Brigade (3000+ Soldiers) headquarter. Currently I'm a first lieutenant holding the position of OIC (officer in charge) of the S6 staff section (communication) of a medical battalion. Spend an average of 8-10 hrs a week and sometimes on order to travel on military stuff outside my full time job.


Community service / volunteer works:

1. Director at Dallas-Fort Worth Chinese Alliance (DFWAA). member of the steering committee that are planning and leading on activities such as protest demonstration, cultural holiday events and community lecture. DFWCA is an volunteer based, non-profit nature rooted in the DFW area Chinese organizations, with goal to encourage and support Chinese through active participation (voting and other events) in the community region, Texas, and even national affairs and gradually move towards the long-term goal of safeguarding the rights and interests of Chinese equality.

2: North Texas Food Bank




Entry date: Fall 2015 Full time MBA

Post MBA career: My goal is to combine my experience from military and civilian side and to use the works in Management consulting field while continue serve in Army Reserve until retirement.

Target school: UT Austin. And what are my possibility with top 7 schools? I know my weakness are my GMAT score and the age. I'm having a dilemma of whether to spend few more months to retake the GMAT and apply for top 7 schools in round 2/3 or even next year OR just to apply for UT Austin with 650. The problem with delay application is my age constrain, I will be 32 if I choose to apply next year, will a 700+ GMAT score at age 32 give me a better chance to get into top 7 school or it won't make much a difference? And if apply now with 650 would be a better option what kind of school do you think I should be aiming for with my overall portfolio? Any suggestions/recommendation are greatly appreciated!


Thanks

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by Eliot » Wed Nov 05, 2014 12:16 pm
Hi goldenpath,

Thank you for your post!

There are a few things to consider as you think about pursuing an MBA. First, your GMAT score of 650 would be markedly too low for the top 7 programs, which all have incoming scores closer to 720 or 730, with percentiles of 80 or higher in the verbal and quant sections. Your target school, UT Austin, has an incoming average of 690. A sub-700 GMAT score is very difficult to overcome as far as these most competitive of schools, so it would certainly behoove you to retake the test and aim for a 700+ score.

Additionally, as you are evidently aware, it's important to keep in mind that those over the age of 30 historically have a reduced chance of success in full-time MBA admissions processes. This is because the typical admitted student is usually 27 or 28 with 4-6 years of work experience. It may be that you would have better luck with an EMBA or part-time program, as they generally are looking for slightly more mature candidates.

With all this in mind, military servicemen are perceived by adcoms as having strong leadership and teamwork experiences (this stereotype significantly raises the bar for you in essays on these topics) and are assumed to be both regimented and determined in their approach to challenges. Your time in the reserves could possibly be worked into a strong application; if you would like a more thorough assessment of this, contact us directly at https://www.clearadmit.com/services/free-consultation when you are ready to begin your applications.
Eliot Ingram
Clear Admit, LLC
[email protected]
215 568 2590

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