Profile Evaluation Please and Thanks!

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Profile Evaluation Please and Thanks!

by CSM101 » Wed Jul 11, 2012 10:24 am
Canadian
Age: 26
Bachelor of Business Administration from The University of San Francisco
GPA: 3.75
GMAT: 590, Q36, V35, AWA 6/6
Work Experience: 2 years full time, as of now, as the sales representative for a wine importer/distributor. This was a new role that I built for myself that has helped the company immensely. I received a 17% raise after my first year. I Have also made wine in California and Australia. My ultimate goal is to be the president of a winery in California.
Extracurricular: On the board of a charitable organization.
Note: I would like to take my MBA in California, to establish myself there, starting in Fall 2013.

My questions for you dear reader, are:
Where in California should I consider applying?
Is UC Irvine a possibility or is my GMAT score too low?

Thanks in advance!!
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by MBAApply » Wed Jul 11, 2012 1:54 pm
To be honest, you need a stronger GMAT for even the local b-schools like UC Irvine, Pepperdine, and so forth.

Retake the GMAT. If you score in the mid-600s or better, your chances go up considerably. Without a mid-600s, it's technically possible to get in, but it's just more of a gamble no matter how strong your applications and interview are.

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by MBAPrepAdvantage » Thu Jul 12, 2012 8:27 am
UC Irvine and Pepperdine have average GMAT scores in the 660's, but the average GPAs are lower than your 3.75 (UC Irvine has a 3.35. Interestingly, UC Irvine has a high 20% of 640 in their 20%/80% split (https://merage.uci.edu/FullTimeMBA/Conte ... Profile/42) giving you a strong idea that a 640 score would greatly improve your admissions chances there.

So, I also recommend for you to retake the exam before applying.
Michael Cohan
MBAPrepAdvantage Founder & AIGAC Board Director
305-604-8178
www.mbaprepadvantage.com

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by CSM101 » Thu Jul 12, 2012 8:51 am
Thank you for the responses!

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by MBAPrepAdvantage » Thu Jul 12, 2012 8:57 am
Good luck and keep us informed as to your plan.
Michael Cohan
MBAPrepAdvantage Founder & AIGAC Board Director
305-604-8178
www.mbaprepadvantage.com

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by ch07191987 » Wed Oct 10, 2012 2:32 pm
Hi CSM101, I am applying to Merage as well and I agree that you have a pretty decent chance at the school but the GMAT might hurt you a lot. I think as long as you can get it up to the mid or even lower 600s it would boost your chance of getting in.

I noticed that you are working in the wine business, I am also considering to transit into a wine CPG company, ideally dealing with exporting to China as I have biz exp in China, maybe we can talk more on the side if you want, I am trying to get as much info on the industry as possible right now :)

Btw I think you should also consider UCD, it's a bit more competitive than UCI but it's in N.Cal and close to where the action (wineries) is!