Please help me evaluate my personal brand and chance to attend a top tier MBA program.
Application Round: Fall 2012 Round 1
Applicant Background:
PERSONAL:
- Age 23 (25 at Matriculation)
- African American - First Generation American
- GMAT Not Taken- Estimation 650+ (Strengths in Quant)
- Self supported from college on
EDUCATION
- BS Economics (GPA 3.3)- San Diego State (Low GPA due to working one to two jobs)
- MA Economics (GPA 3.62)- San Diego State (Finished in 1 year while working full time)
---Heavily involved in Economics Department: Honor Society Member, Scholarship recipient (3 years), and Graduate Assistant - Mentoring & Tutoring Programs
---SDSU Athletic Event Management Coordinator-Served in planning and execution of all SDSU events for 2 years
WORK EXPERIENCE:
-Senior Systems Analyst-Union Bank
---Have worked at Union Bank for 3 years (will be 4 years at matriculation) and have been promoted 3 times. Work with Operations & Technology team to lead product upgrades, bank infrastructure updates, and help discover new operational efficiencies. (responsibility has more then tripled since inception- Key strength for application)
---Have received awards twice in the last year based on service recognition and for bringing innovation to the operations team
---Recently been asked by senior management (CIO & Executives in Operations) to investigate new areas of savings
Work Summary- Experience is diverse and responsibility has increased with tenure
COMMUNITY & ACHIEVEMENTS:
-American Cancer Society- San Diego Regional Council Board Member
-Previous Exchange Student (Japan)
-Eagle Scout (Dont know if this will be addressed in the application)
-Former City of Burbank Council representative for youth
I am aiming for colleges like
-Top Tier Schools:
---Harvard
---NYU
---Dartmouth
---Duke
-Middle Tier Schools
---USC
---Vanderbilt
---Carnegie Mellon
---Georgetown
I am worried about my GMAT score and how my GPA will be evaluated, since it is not from a top tier institution. What are my chances of acceptance from a top tier MBA program?
Thanks!
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Lisa Anderson
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Dear Dbz425,
While you have many positives aspects to your profile and will have your essays and recommendations to strengthen your application, you are targeting highly selective schools where each application piece is scrutinized. Your GMAT score will be a telling sign as you will need to be in the competitive range (mid-50%) of your target schools, ideally close to or above the average. A higher GMAT will help balance your GPA. While your master's degree and working during college do help mitigate your academic performance to some degree, you want to make a compelling argument that you can handle the rigor of business school. In essence, you need to ensure each piece of your application is strong and furthers your candidacy. That way, you will know you have done all you can to receive a positive decision.
Good luck,
Lisa
While you have many positives aspects to your profile and will have your essays and recommendations to strengthen your application, you are targeting highly selective schools where each application piece is scrutinized. Your GMAT score will be a telling sign as you will need to be in the competitive range (mid-50%) of your target schools, ideally close to or above the average. A higher GMAT will help balance your GPA. While your master's degree and working during college do help mitigate your academic performance to some degree, you want to make a compelling argument that you can handle the rigor of business school. In essence, you need to ensure each piece of your application is strong and furthers your candidacy. That way, you will know you have done all you can to receive a positive decision.
Good luck,
Lisa
