kjoe wrote:Hello MBA Admissions Consultants,

I would appreciate any advice on what schools I should apply to based on my profile. I am also very interested in how I might be able to use your services to help with my application.

28 yr old, male. American.

GMAT: 44V, 40Q; 690
AWA: 5.5

Work experience:
Four years ago, I started a large retail appliance store with two business partners. We sold discounted "scratch and dent" and used appliances in a 20,000 sq ft retail space. The business was so successful, we were able to buy out a competing business nearby and grew to be the biggest business of our kind in the area. As a result of this success, I was able to cash out and started another business, but on my own this time - an upscale gelato franchise, which I have owned and operated for the past two years. This latest venture has been mostly a failure due to various factors, the bad economy not helping much.

Before these entrepreneurial ventures, my first job out of college was as an Assistant Manager for a branch office of a national car rental company.

School:
This is my greatest concern. I graduated from UT-Austin with a liberal arts major. My overall GPA is ridiculously low, a 2.5. My major GPA and/or last 2 years is a 3.4 though (which is still low considering my super easy major).

Volunteer/Extracurricular:
- committee member for scholarship fund for my elementary alma mater
- volunteer for meals on wheels type feed the homeless program
- volunteer SAT instructor
- bible study leader during college
- summer vacation bible study teacher for church during college
- black belt - tae kwon do



The top school I'm applying to right now is UT-Austin. UT looks at only your last two years for GPA, which is a big plus for me. I also have a lot of connections for UT. Current safety school is Washington in St. Louis.

I'm planning to retake the GMAT with the hope of getting above 720 so I can apply to my dream school, which is Columbia.


Short term/Long term goals:
I'm looking for a career change immediately after MBA, hopefully marketing or management consulting. Longterm, I do want to pursue being an entrepreneur again.


I would appreciated any feedback or advice on which schools would be a good fit for me. Also, is it worth it to try to score higher on my GMAT? Or is my gpa just too low for a top ten school?

Thank you in advance.

-Joe

kjoe wrote:Thanks for your reply, Linda.

1. Have you taken any classes since you graduated? How did you do?
No.

2. Were there extenuating circumstances that contributed to the poor grades during your first two years?
Except for the fact that I've always worked part time, at least 10 hours a week, throughout college, no. I was just immature and lazy. I always knew I wanted to be an entrepreneur, so I didn't think a college education was that important. The only reason I did better in my last two years was because that's when I decided on my major, which I enjoyed learning about.

3. Do you have any quant classes on your transcript? How did you do in them?
I didn't need any quant classes as a liberal arts major. I passed out of all basic math requirements with SAT 2's and AP tests I took in high school. In high school, I was excellent in quant, taking AP calculus as a junior, and differential equations as a Senior. The main reason my quant score was low is because it's been over 12 years since I took any kind of math course. I was also 5 minutes late in starting my quant section. If quant is an issue, I'm very confident I can do much better on it if I retook the GMAT.


4. Would you consider taking some classes now and applying next fall?
No.

5. What are you doing professionally now?
I own and operate a gelato store.


I'm definitely going to apply this year. How hard would it be to get into Texas? Again, they only look at the last two years of your undergrad for GPA. I have 2 former UT mba's who have given me strong referrals. If needed, I can get recommendations/referrals from two UT business school professors who know me personally.


I believe I have fairly strong recommendations... My two main recommendations come from a former business partner and the CEO of the company from which I franchise my gelato business, who is also a former co-worker. For an extra third recommendation, I can get a strong recommendation from an undergrad professor from my major who I've kept in touch with if that'll help. Or I can ask a colleague who is also an accountant that mentored me with my business for a recommendation as well.


Also, if I scored above 90th percentile on both verbal and quant on the GMAT, is Columbia within reach?