Profile Evaluation

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Profile Evaluation

by modesto2 » Tue Oct 06, 2009 9:27 pm
I would appreciate your help in evaluating my chances at the following schools:

1. Stanford
2. Berkeley
3. UCLA
4. USC

Here's my profile:

Academics
* GMAT: 750 (Q49/87% V44/97% AWA6.0/90%)
* GPA: 2.9/4.0 (3.2 in my last two years) - poor GPA partially a result of extensive extracurricular involvement at UCLA (see "leadership activities" below...)
* B.S. Mechanical Engineering, UCLA

Work
* 4.5 years work experience as an airline pilot and flight instructor
* 4 summer engineering internships during college (mechanical, hydro, project, aircraft engineering)

Leadership Activities in College
* Executive Director, Dance Marathon at UCLA: lead committee of 80-students in planning $200,000 fundraising event
* Resident Assistant and held several other leadership positions in residential life

Volunteer Activities after College
* Volunteer on a committee with pilot union
* Volunteer with UCLA Alumni Association

Goals
* Take airline pilot work experience, coupled with an MBA, to eventually re-enter the industry in airline consulting and management

My main concern is my weak GPA. Will the upward trend and most notably, extensive extracurricular involvement in college help my case? At times, these activities required 30-40 hours per week, with a full load of engineering classes. Additionally, will my GMAT score help compensate for my GPA? And will my unique work experience/industry help?

Thanks for your insight. I understand that most of my target schools are extremely competitive so your help is appreciated.
Source: — Ask an MBA Admissions Consultant |

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by Cindy Tokumitsu » Thu Oct 08, 2009 3:17 am
Hello,

Yes, those factors you mentioned will help - will help the adcom understand why you didn't do well as you might have. I say "might" because they don't help the adcom understand how well you would or could do, if you'd better balanced your studies and extracurriculars. The upward trend is better than a downward trend, but 3.2 is still low. On the other hand, you have a strong GMAT, which indicates academic potential, you were taking a rigorous course, and post-college you appear to have better balanced work responsibilities with community involvement.

Still, what's missing is concrete evidence of ability to excel in the classroom. That is simply a gap. If you're applying this season, there isn't time to take a relevant course or two, get an A, and demonstrate this ability. You have some strong positives, such as your industry background and experience (and how they mesh with your goals), your GMAT, and your recent extracurricular activities. I'd say that you have chances at most of the schools, with a very strong application (there's no room for error) - they'd be reaches, but reasonable ones. Stanford might be beyond reach - I can never say never, but that's my sense. One strategy might be to focus on the other applications first, and if you have time in the second round, do the Stanford application. But I wouldn't compromise or give up one of the other applications for Stanford.

Best regards,
Cindy Tokumitsu
Senior Editor, Accepted.com
www.Accepted.com