Profile Evaluation- GMAT 680 (V36, M47) GPA 3.37

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Hello, everyone
I am just starting the process of applying for business school. I have GMAT 680, AWA 5.5, GPA 3.37. Right now I am just kind of confused what kind of school I should apply to. Below is just a piece I copied from my general resume.

EDUCATION
University of Minnesota Minneapolis, Minnesota
Bachelor of Science in Economics, Minor in Statistics January 2011 - Present
GPA 3.37 Anticipated Graduation Date of December 2012

Hamline University Saint Paul, Minnesota
Majored in Business Administration January 2008 - December 2010
GPA 3.69, Dean's List 2009 and 2010

EDUCATIONAL HONORS
Member of Sigma Beta Delta Honor Society November 2010 - Present
Outstanding International Student, Hamline University September 2008 - December 2010
International Scholarship Award Recipient, Hamline University July 2007 - December 2010

RELEVANT EXPERIENCE
WE Consulting, LLC Saint Paul, Minnesota

Owner October 2010 - Present
"¢ Research monthly in real estate residential properties with investment potentials
"¢ Establish successful real estate investment plan with a capital gain of 15%
"¢ Reach accumulated investment of $75,000
"¢ Gain invaluable entrepreneurship experience and insights by starting a small business
"¢ Actively participated in an effort to turn around a franchise restaurant

ACE Financial Investing, LLC Minneapolis, Minnesota
Executive Assistant August 2010 - September 2011
"¢ Managed real estate and mortgage files for compliance, arranged closings and followed up leads
"¢ Coordinated networking events for small business owners to socialize and discuss business plans
"¢ Advertised real estate properties and credit management services both online and by phone
"¢ Directed the development of ACE Credit Management that helped clients improve their credit scores

Hamline Financial Literacy Program Saint Paul, Minnesota

Student Leader August 2010 - December 2010
"¢ Facilitated financial literacy study events for over 200 freshman students
"¢ Developed strong presentation skills by presenting 4 successful seminars on credit and financing
"¢ Successfully initiated the Financial Literacy Program with $500 budget at disposal

LAUNGUAGE SKILLS
Fluent in both Mandarin Chinese and English

COMPUTER SKILLS
Proficient in Stata, R, and C++

COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES
Fighting Cancer with Fun in Inver Grove Heights, St Paul - Volunteer Oct 2010
Financial Literacy Committee - Student Representative Aug 2010 - Dec 2010
Hamline University International Student Organization - Member Jan 2008 - Dec 2010

I also have some small multinational business negotiation experience (with some Italian and Swedish companies) as a secretary to the director in China.

There are couple reasons that I am applying for business school now:
1) I would like to add more strategic thinking to my management skill sets
I have tried many different business ventures: I sold jewelries at my own stand outside Minnesota State Fair and made enough money to break even the $1500 I invested; I attempted to import frozen vegetables from my close contacts from China and it did not work out because I did not the way they do business; I participated in a process of turning around a failing business but the owner did not want my friends and I had any say in the management even though we had about 50% ownership of the restaurant. Right now I am doing residential property investments with a goal of renovating them and selling for higher prices. However, I feel that I really step up my game and start think strategically. I hope MBA would give more insights about how to run business more efficiently.

2) I hope I can meet people who have entrepreneur spirits just like me. I always want to start my own business. I have my investment company up and running (just one man shop) and I would love to diversify my portfolio or look for more opportunities. And hopefully I can find people who think just like me who loves to do start-ups.Especially after couple failed attempts, I need to have an effective team that could work together. Teamwork is probably quite essential to the success of a start-up company. I would love to meet and group with people from different backgrounds and who have great ideas.

3) I want my education done now so I can focus on my career.

4) My long term goal is to become an angel investor. I know it sounds silly but I think it is not impossible to do. It is quite essential to get some networking opportunities to know what it is like to be in that game and obviously in order to be one, I have either to have enough capital myself or put together a package through contacts. I think business school could open the window since maybe the alumni network is quite strong in top schools.

5) I have passion about management. I would love to do some hands-on training with the best faculties in the world.

However, it seems like my GMAT is not quite strong enough and my GPA is not quite stand-out. Moreover, seriously speaking I have no full time work experience. I only worked as an intern for somebody who became my mentor and myself. Please help decide what schools I should consider based on my criteria. I come from a quantitative background with econ and statistics and I also have taken 3 years in management during my time in Hamline. I am energetic, passionate, driven and ambitious. Just at this point of time I am so confused and do not know what schools I should aim at. Here are some schools in my mind right now:
as early career candidates or just take a shot
University of Pennsylvania
UCLA
University of Chicago
Columbia
Cornell
NYU

regular target
Boston College
University of Southern California
George Washington University
Duke University
University of Notre Dame
Carnegie Mellon University

safety belt
Babson

some other schools

I am shooting for the first round, which deadlines at October 30.
All critiques and suggestions are welcome. Thank you.
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by Jim@StratusPrep » Wed Sep 19, 2012 5:06 am
You have a lot of schools on your list and little to no work experience. I would consider trying to pull up your GMAT score and getting 2-3 years of experience before applying...
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by Jon@Admissionado » Thu Sep 20, 2012 12:05 am
Hey there good sir, and thanks for posting here!
Looking at your profile and GMAT, what it looks like to me is that for the last two years you have "made some money in real estate". Now as awesome as that is (and useful to help pay for B-School too!) it doesn't quite constitute "Work experience" and many business schools aren't going to like that. As much as anyone may pretend otherwise, Bschools are for the corporate world. Even entrepreneurs are expected to "toe the corporate line" and if you have just been investing by yourself (unless of course you have been INSANELY successful), it's going to be hard for you to get into the better programs on your list.

Nonetheless, if you could put together some very strong stories you would have some chances at the lower-ranked schools from your list: BU, George Washington, Notre Dame, BC, etc.

It'll depend a little bit on what materials you have for your essays and how you can wow them.
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by uknownick » Thu Sep 20, 2012 10:00 am
Thank you, Jon and Jim. Those critiques are really helpful. I will probably just choose one of the dream schools just for trying the luck or not letting myself regret. I will focus on the ones after 15 around 20 in ranking. In the meantime, I will look for full time positions just in case that my b-dream does not come true this year. Also, I can generate some experience from full time positions.

By the way, does anyone really know what "early career candidates" mean? Booth, Wharton, and Anderson seems ok recruiting people freshly out of college by calling these people "early career candidates".

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by uknownick » Thu Sep 20, 2012 10:02 am
The "Wow" factore is definitely something I am working on. I am scraching my hair off to come up with good stories. But for sure it really takes effort.

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by Jon@Admissionado » Tue Oct 02, 2012 1:29 am
uknownick wrote: I will probably just choose one of the dream schools just for trying the luck or not letting myself regret.
I shouldn't be admitting this, but I like your philosophy dude!!
:)
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https://admissionado.com/mba/reviews/
https://www.glassdoor.com/Reviews/Admis ... 700945.htm

Reach out, and let's gab. Our only requirement is that you don't prefer warm milk over cold milk. Everyone else, 100% welcome.
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 866-409-4753
Hit us up on WhatsApp.
Ping our satellite: 0884#&@-2#101101
Contact us via web form you lazy git: https://admissionado.com/contact/
Mostly, email Claudia.