Taking GMAT soon, need some feedback about my profile

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I'll be taking my GMAT next weekend and was hoping for some feedback up-front regarding my school choices and background info. (planning to apply for the 2010 intake for part time MBA programs):

Practice GMATs from GMATPrep and Princeton have been between 650-700.

Academic/Professional:
Bach. in Engg. (electronics) from Univ. of Madras (India) (68%)
M.S. in Geography (Geographic Info. Systems and Remote Sensing) - GPA 3.8 (Univ. of Akron, Akron, OH).
Will have 4.5 yrs work ex. by the time I apply in a leading software company - started at an entry level position (software testing) and am now a Product Engineer with Research, design, documentation, and testing experience.
Can get good recs.

Personal:
Grew up in Southern Africa (spent 14 years), undergrad in India, MS and full time work now in the US.
Have played soccer for my college back in India plus have played in local amateur leagues here.
Treasurer of our Condo HOA - active in the community.

School choices:
UCLA
USC (Southern Cal.)
UCI
UCSD
UCB

Questions:
I've read that top schools look for good diversity, does my personal and academic background help?
Is a 650 in GMAT ok?
My undergrad wasn't that great but my Masters was excellent (I have good reasons for this discrepancy). Will my MS GPA compensate for my undergrad percentage? Do these universities give much importance to MS GPAs?

I would appreciate some feedback on my chances at these schools.

Thanks a bunch in advance.
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by AppReview » Wed Jun 24, 2009 12:04 am
Hi,

Please find below a brief analysis.

1. Your percentage in undergraduate studies is good. Above 60% is first class in India and this is good enough for them. Above 70% makes it a distinction which obviously helps more. But still, above 60% and you are good to go.

2. Ideally target 700 to be on the safer side. 650 MIGHT not be enough for UCLA and the likes. Anything above 670 puts you in a good situation.

3. Profile seems somewhat diverse. Don't see too much leadership, extra currics. But this is subjective and the school might like what we don't like.

All the best. Trust this helps.

Regards,
Ankit
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by badri259 » Wed Jun 24, 2009 5:49 pm
Thanks a bunch for your reply Ankit. It's true I don't have much in the way of leadership experience. I will have to work hard on my essays and try to compensate for this.

Thanks again.

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by badri259 » Sat Jun 27, 2009 3:44 pm
I ended up with a 690 in my GMAT today, Q 47, V37. I expected above 40 for verbal and should have cracked 700 :( . Will have to make do with this and get in some good essays.