Profile Evaluation Request

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Profile Evaluation Request

by young27 » Mon Dec 06, 2010 7:35 pm
Hi,

Could you please evaluate how my "stats" stack up for the following schools :

Columbia, Chicago, Wharton

I actually want to go to Columbia the most, so I am most curious about Columbia.


These are my qualifications:

SAT: 1590/1600 (probably not significant, but it couldn't hurt, right?)

UCLA - Computer Science & Electrical Engineering Major (double major)
Cumulative GPA: 3.32
GPA by year
(GPA for the year without same year summers added) / (GPA for the year with same year summers added)
Y1: 3.17 / 3.17
Y2: 3.47 / 3.37
Y3: 3.43 / 3.53
Y4: 3.41 / 3.33
Y5: 3.85 / 3.90 (only one quarter, to finish up)

GMAT: 720 (Q: 48, V: 41)

Current job: Technology Consultant @ Deloitte Consulting - 4 years of experience

Age: 26 years old

I am really worried about whether my GPA is considered on the low-end for Columbia (and Booth, Wharton)? Everything I read seems to indicate that as an engineering major with lower than avg GPA (assuming 3.5 avg) and only a slightly above average GMAT (assuming 710 avg) for the top 5 schools says that I would be at a disadvantage. Should I take advantage of the optional essay to explain that I goofed off my freshman year and did not take my studies all that seriously and that my last three years are more indicative of my capabilities, i.e. 3.45-3.5 range? Or would the trend in quarterly GPA be enough to explain that on it's own?

Also, which set of GPAs do you think would look better in terms of how they're listed? If it's a bit confusing, it's just whether I added the courses I took over the summer to the previous year or the later year.

Lastly, my purely quantitative GPA (all my math classes, total of 5) was a 3.62... (not that i would really list this anywhere, but maybe if they look over my transcript they will see that my lower GPA was due to the electrical engineering curriculum).


Thank you!
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by Stacey Oyler » Tue Dec 07, 2010 6:57 pm
Hi,

Thanks for your post. Your question around your GPA is a bit confusing to me. You are required to post your cumulative GPA in most applications as well as provide your transcript. When it comes down to it, adcoms review GPA in terms of difficulty of major and school rank/reputation. Thus your major is considered challenging and you went to a solid school, therefore I am not overly concerned about your 3.32. Additionally, your GMAT score helps support your academic profile thus putting helping your overall academic profile. Bottom line, based solely on academics you have a competitive profile for the schools on your list.

Regards,

Stacey
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Stacey Oyler
Clear Admit, LLC
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215.568.2590

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