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.
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.

















