Ask mbaMission

Dear Admission Consultants,

I would like to know your opinion on my background and chances of getting into below programs:

Safety schools: UNC, Tuck, Duke
My ideal schools : INSEAD, Cornell, Columbia - However I am not applying to these in R2, until I increase my GMAT
Age: 30 now

1.UGPA- 58%-Bachelors in Mechanical Eng from University of Mumbai.
2.Work Exp before Grad school-2 yrs
3. GGPA-3.71, Master in Industrial Eng from a Decent university, ( not prestigious or ivy league) Work Exp after MS- 6 yrs on entering August 2010 + 9 months internship

Profile summary:
I have I have over 6 years of healthcare and automotive experience in a regulated environment, excluding about 9 months of internship , have been a Functional trainer for Diversity Awareness at both my companies, solid community service for over 2 years at work. Further, I have also worked as an Associate Product Manager at my last company in my off-work hours (usually late in the evening) to actively move to a Marketing role. Below I have listed all the extracurricular activities and awards.

My GMAT breakup : 620 (Q46-72%, V31-58%). Overall 70%. I have improved my GMAT score by 150 points from my first attempt. In each of my attempts my GMAT score has improved at least by 40 points, if not more.

Extracurricular:
Certified ASQ Six Sigma Green Belt (Feb 2009)
Leadership Award at work for onboarding new hires effectively (Feb. 2008)
IPDA (International Public Debate Association) National Season Champions (2004, Master's level)- National's level.
Faculty for teaching courses at both my companies - approx 4 yrs.
Third Prize- Business Plan Competition (2004) (Master's level)
Many undergraduate awards in debate and public speaking.

Plan to switch career tracks- Marketing, which I am showing through my marketing experience as a Associate Product Manager


Weakness:
1.Low Verbal score.


My questions:
1. Realistic chances of getting into these schools
2. To address my low verbal score: I am working with my recommenders to highlight my verbal and written communication skills. How else can I address it to strengthen it significantly? By giving TOEFL or by taking a Written or Communication course at a local school?
3. 58 % ( life changing event during this time, my mother passed away due to unnatural death and not due to any disease, something very uncommon happened with our family for a Indian society) for Undergraduate may sound low, but the highest at university level especially for Mechanical Engineering from University of Mumbai was around 70%. How is this percentage viewed? Should I consider taking Calculus, Finance, Economics courses to strengthen my application? Should I get this percentage evaluated my WES, etc?

Thanks for your help.
750Goal

Dear 750goal -

Thanks for posting your profile and questions. I think you have a shot at the safety schools you mention, but ideal schools seem like a reach to me. Unfortunately, as you can probably guess, you are "demographically challenged" as a male, Indian engineer, and your scores are not stellar enough to pull you into the range for those schools.

I am not 100% clear on when you are thinking about applying to b-schoole. Another question that I have is "Why do you need an MBA?" If you are already moving in the direction of marketing, and you have a graduate degree, and you are 30 years old. Is this really going to have a meaningful impact on your career? You need to be very clear about this.

As for your low verbal score. I think addressing it through an additional essay and potentially offering to take a written communication class over the summer is your best bet. Also, I gather you have taken the GMAT about three times? You need to consider whether you are "spinning your wheels" on that effort and should spend the time and energy on your essays for school.

Good luck!
Jennifer