Emergency:PLEASE PLEASE Evaluate my portfolio, deadline 30th

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GMAT 1st time: 640 (V31, Q47)
GMAT 2nd time: 640 (V40 Q39)
GPA: 3.0(LAST YEAR)
CGPA: 2.3 (Family Illness/Financial Crisis, explained in the Optional Essay)

Graduated from: University of Toronto, Canada. Honored Bachelor of Arts
(Double Major: Economics and International Relationships) ----Nov.2008

Part Time Working EXP: 5 yrs
Full Time Working Exp:
Jan-Jun. 2009 : RBC CANADA, bank teller
Jul 2009- Dec.2009 Tokyo, Japan. International Education (Marketing Department Leader)
Jan 2010-Now : Hanban, Confucius Institute of China, affiliated with Ministry of Education of China. (Foreign Consultant, Department Leader)

Applying for : UCLA, USC, UC IRVINE, UC DAVIS
Intended Enrollment Date: Fall 2011

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by paulsbodine » Sat Nov 20, 2010 10:14 am
ukimgirl,

Based on the information you provided I don't think your profile is strong enough for UCLA. It's not your GMAT per se -- I've helped clients with 640s gain admission to schools like Cornell and Chicago -- it's the combination of your GMAT, GPA, low work experience, and apparent lack of extracurricular leadership (at least you didn't mention any). You are starting to show good leadership in your professional life, but I think you should wait a year or two to improve that profile, extend your leadership to your extracurricular life, raise the GMAT score, and build an alternate transcript. If you really must apply now then UCI is your best best followed closely by UC Davis, but both will be longshots.

Hope this helps,
Paul Bodine
Author, "Great Applications for Business School," "Perfect Phrases for Business School Acceptance," "Perfect Phrases for Letters of Recommendation"
https://www.paulsbodine.com/
[email protected]
(858) 869-1959

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by ukimgirl » Wed Nov 24, 2010 6:20 am
Thank you very much for your advice sir.

I'd like to send my complete resume and essays for proof reading and advice before I upload them to the application website.

Could you please recommend me someone who'd willing to read my papers?

I am so worried now because I only have a week left, and I couldn't find anyone who can proofread my essays><

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by paulsbodine » Wed Nov 24, 2010 9:29 am
ukimgirl,

I would be willing to read your essays, though I would need to charge for my time. Please contact me at [email protected] to discuss rates and timelines.

--Paul
Paul Bodine
Author, "Great Applications for Business School," "Perfect Phrases for Business School Acceptance," "Perfect Phrases for Letters of Recommendation"
https://www.paulsbodine.com/
[email protected]
(858) 869-1959

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by ukimgirl » Sat Nov 27, 2010 8:52 am
Dear Paul,
Thanks again for getting back to me. Here is a more detailed version of my situation. Could you please give me some advice base on the following? Thank you so much for all the help. I really appreciate it.


Currently enrolled in MBAMATH

Good LOR and personal essays.
_______________________________________________________________________________
EDUCATION
Sept. 2000-Jun.2004 Vancouver Sir Winston Churchill Secondary School
International Baccalaureate Program (GPA 3.75; top 1%)
Sept. 2004-Aug.2008 University of Toronto (Honors Bachelor of Arts)
Double Majored in Economics and East Asian Relationships
Oct.2008-Dec.2008 Canadian Securities Course (CSC)
Self-studied, Passed within 2 months
________________________________________________________________________________
EXPERIENCE

Mar.2010-Now Hanban/Confucius Institute Headquarter, Beijing, China
Non-profit company affiliated with the Chinese Ministry of Education
Foreign Consultant

Jul.2009- Feb.2010 DIC International Inc. Tokyo, Japan
Marketing Department Assistant Manager


Jan.2009-Jun. 2009 Royal Bank of Canada, Vancouver, Canada
Customer Service Department CSR

________________________________________________________________________________
EXTRACURRICULAR
Last edited by ukimgirl on Sat Nov 27, 2010 10:14 am, edited 1 time in total.

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by paulsbodine » Sat Nov 27, 2010 9:35 am
ukimgirl,

You do seem to have a solid and interesting background. For UCLA, however, a 640 will not be a competitive score. To protect your privacy, you may want to avoid posting your full resume on this forum.

Hope this helps,
Paul Bodine
Author, "Great Applications for Business School," "Perfect Phrases for Business School Acceptance," "Perfect Phrases for Letters of Recommendation"
https://www.paulsbodine.com/
[email protected]
(858) 869-1959

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by ukimgirl » Sat Nov 27, 2010 10:22 am
Dear Paul,

Thank you very much for the encouragement and the warning. I have shortened my resume from my last post.

In your opinion, how high do you think I have to get in order to be considered by UCLA? Because i'm willing to take the GMAT again, and i think I can score higher than 640.

However, with 640 and my experience, is USC, UC IRVINE or UC DAVIS a reach for me?

Is there any other advice you could give me?

Thank you very much for your time.

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by paulsbodine » Sat Nov 27, 2010 10:39 am
ukimgirl,

You need to get closer to a 680 for UCLA. (The lower edge of their middle 80% is 680, so only 10% of their class is lower than that, and you are not an underrepresented minority). I do not consider USC, UCI, or UCDavis to be reaches for you, although, for UCD your GMAT is also below their middle 80%, though just below. So do your best to raise it ...

Good luck,
Paul Bodine
Author, "Great Applications for Business School," "Perfect Phrases for Business School Acceptance," "Perfect Phrases for Letters of Recommendation"
https://www.paulsbodine.com/
[email protected]
(858) 869-1959

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by ukimgirl » Sun Nov 28, 2010 8:55 pm
Dear Paul,

Thank you very much, then I will try my best to raise my GMAT^^.