I plan to apply for admittance beginning Fall 2010. I'd appreciate an overall evaluation from top to bottom.
White Male 27 y/o – 28 upon matriculation
GMAT: is scheduled for end of May. Practice score averages are ~610-630.
GPA: 2.4. BA in Writing from Ithaca College 2004. Major courses and last 4 semesters are 3.1.
Work Experience – 5 years at date of application; 6 years upon matriculation
Predominantly legal profession support areas – litigation support, legal assistant, and paralegal experience, and, more recently managerial/paralegal role. All responsibilities were at two prestigious and well know, industry-wide business litigation law firms.
Entrepreneurial experience in implementing and launching a free website and database assisting individuals in obtaining no-fee apartments in New York City.
LOR's
I will have strong recommendations from partners from both firms who are alumni of Harvard, Cornell and U Michigan all with academic distinctions. All of whom I have worked closely with. I am, however, concerned what advantage, if any, alumnus from these schools' law schools will give me in applying bschool. Not that I will necessarily be applying to their schools.
Extracurricular
I sing in my Church's choir and volunteer as a Little League Umpire on the weekends during the summer.
_________________________
Obviously, my biggest upside potential is the GMAT and the greatest obstacle is my GPA. I'd like to bring my score up – at least 50 points – somewhere in the mid to upper 600's if not higher.
As far as my undergrad GPA and degree are concerned, I have a limited quantitative background. As such, I'd like to take a class or two to supplement my undergrad transcript and show my current quantitative and academic capabilities which, I feel, are not adequately represented by my transcripts. Similarly, I'd like to show adcoms I am able to handle the course work the program demands.
I'd like my MBA to be in marketing and operations management, but I'm unsure what type of class would best showcase my potential. Would a Statistics course be advisable? If so what level – Intro, 300-400 level, or graduate course? Or, would a marketing course be beneficial – again, undergrad or graduate level course? Does taking a course from a school I plan to apply to, even if it is an online course, have any added benefit? Both?
As of now I am still weighing the options between attending full time or part time. Is there a difference in selectivity between the two programs? Would I have a better shot getting into a top 25 program part time rather than full time?
Given the foregoing, what are my chances at a top 25 school with an emphasis on marketing? Specifically, Ross, Stern, Goizueta, Georgetown, U Maryland? Are these completely out of my league and should I shoot for something a little more.
What other steps should I be taking?
Thanks for the time and consideration,
Andrew
White Male 27 y/o – 28 upon matriculation
GMAT: is scheduled for end of May. Practice score averages are ~610-630.
GPA: 2.4. BA in Writing from Ithaca College 2004. Major courses and last 4 semesters are 3.1.
Work Experience – 5 years at date of application; 6 years upon matriculation
Predominantly legal profession support areas – litigation support, legal assistant, and paralegal experience, and, more recently managerial/paralegal role. All responsibilities were at two prestigious and well know, industry-wide business litigation law firms.
Entrepreneurial experience in implementing and launching a free website and database assisting individuals in obtaining no-fee apartments in New York City.
LOR's
I will have strong recommendations from partners from both firms who are alumni of Harvard, Cornell and U Michigan all with academic distinctions. All of whom I have worked closely with. I am, however, concerned what advantage, if any, alumnus from these schools' law schools will give me in applying bschool. Not that I will necessarily be applying to their schools.
Extracurricular
I sing in my Church's choir and volunteer as a Little League Umpire on the weekends during the summer.
_________________________
Obviously, my biggest upside potential is the GMAT and the greatest obstacle is my GPA. I'd like to bring my score up – at least 50 points – somewhere in the mid to upper 600's if not higher.
As far as my undergrad GPA and degree are concerned, I have a limited quantitative background. As such, I'd like to take a class or two to supplement my undergrad transcript and show my current quantitative and academic capabilities which, I feel, are not adequately represented by my transcripts. Similarly, I'd like to show adcoms I am able to handle the course work the program demands.
I'd like my MBA to be in marketing and operations management, but I'm unsure what type of class would best showcase my potential. Would a Statistics course be advisable? If so what level – Intro, 300-400 level, or graduate course? Or, would a marketing course be beneficial – again, undergrad or graduate level course? Does taking a course from a school I plan to apply to, even if it is an online course, have any added benefit? Both?
As of now I am still weighing the options between attending full time or part time. Is there a difference in selectivity between the two programs? Would I have a better shot getting into a top 25 program part time rather than full time?
Given the foregoing, what are my chances at a top 25 school with an emphasis on marketing? Specifically, Ross, Stern, Goizueta, Georgetown, U Maryland? Are these completely out of my league and should I shoot for something a little more.
What other steps should I be taking?
Thanks for the time and consideration,
Andrew
