School Recommendations Please - GMAT 700, Low GPA - The Beat The GMAT Forum

School Recommendations Please - GMAT 700, Low GPA

Expert replies

grace123: Newbie | Next Rank: 10 Posts; Posts: 2; Joined: Mon Aug 16, 2010 4:41 pm; GMAT Score:700

by grace123 » Fri Jan 28, 2011 8:38 am

Hello,

I am a 27 year old Asian Canadian Female.
GMAT Score: 700 (44Q, 40V - unbalanced 70/90%)
GPA: low cumulative 3.0, higher in last 2 years 3.4 (fewer extracurricular activities) at The University of Western Ontario, Canada. Also, not sure if relevant but won a Canadian Strategic Management Award in 4th year.

Work Experience (upon matriculation)
-3 years in advertising at DDB Canada and Crispin Porter & Bogusky progressing into more senior positions. Won a Canadian Marketing Award for work I've produced.
-2 years in non-profit health charity, the Heart and Stroke Foundation as an Associate Manager

Career Goals:
After a life changing experience, I'm compelled to pursue a career in non-profit management & health care management. My mission is to help Canadians/Americans lead healthier lives through health research and advocacy.

Extracurricular Activities:
Undergrad: several elected student activity positions: Resident Council President, Residence Orientation Commissioner, Charity Ball Committee, Orientation Leader, Women's Issue Network committee member

Post-grad: mostly recreational dance, fundraising events and advocacy work related to the Heart and Stroke Foundation, and facilitating group bereavement sessions with Bereaved Families of Ontario.

Target US Schools - What are my chances for some top US b-schools? Which schools would you recommend? I would apply R1 for 2012.

Target CDN Schools -I'm submitting apps to Rotman & Schulich on Feb 1 (early deadline). What are my chances?

Thank you!

Like this post

Source: Beat The GMAT — Ask an MBA Admissions Consultant | Fri Jan 28, 2011 8:38 am

paulsbodine: Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts; Posts: 226; Joined: Thu Oct 07, 2010 6:00 pmFollowed by: 27 members; Thanked: 42 times

by paulsbodine » Fri Jan 28, 2011 9:25 am

grace123,

Assuming you don't retake the GMAT to lift that quantitative score, you should still be competitive at Ivey and Rotman. Maybe tell both schools that you are willing to retake and enroll in MBAMath.com or take calc or stat classes now if you haven't taken those courses or got lower than a B in them in school.

For U.S. schools, you may a shot at the following schools: Texas, Darden, UNC, Duke. You should be competitive at schools like Notre Dame, Georgetown, Indiana, Washington Olin, BYU, and Wisconsin. All of these are good schools.

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

Like this post

grace123: Newbie | Next Rank: 10 Posts; Posts: 2; Joined: Mon Aug 16, 2010 4:41 pm; GMAT Score:700

by grace123 » Fri Jan 28, 2011 8:35 pm

Thanks for your reply Paul. If I were to retake the GMAT with the intention of aiming for better US b-schools, what score would counter my GPA? I've reached 740 in practice tests but if my GPA will still be an issue with a score like that, I will likely stick to Canadian schools. Also, my undergrad was in commerce and all my quant courses were Bs and higher. I'm not sure if that matters. I took some philosophy courses that did not help my GPA.

Would Yale and Cornell be too much of a stretch?

Thanks
Grace

Like this post

paulsbodine: Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts; Posts: 226; Joined: Thu Oct 07, 2010 6:00 pmFollowed by: 27 members; Thanked: 42 times

by paulsbodine » Fri Jan 28, 2011 9:14 pm

Grace,

A 740 would certainly go a long way toward removing ant concerns you have, as will your comment about Bs or higher in all quant courses. Yale and Cornell are not too much of a stretch though the latter will be more doable than the former. I do think you could apply to both even with a 700. I get the sense that your 'story' may be strong enough to overcome the blemishes in your numbers. But by all means attempt the GMAT again. Feel free to shoot me your resume/CV for a closer look ...

--Paul

Like this post

bizschoolprep: Senior | Next Rank: 100 Posts; Posts: 78; Joined: Fri Feb 04, 2011 4:13 pmFollowed by: 1 member; Location: New York City, NY; Thanked: 11 times

by bizschoolprep » Sat Feb 05, 2011 8:07 pm

Grace,

If you think you can do better in GMAT, don't just let this piece spoil your candidacy. You will probably do your MBA just once, give it the best you can and get into the best school you could get into. Other than GMAT/GPA, you have a solid profile.

-BizSchoolPrep, MBA Admissions Consultant
www.bizschoolprep.com , Know what makes us different!

Like this post

Post new topic Post Reply

• Page 1 of 1

GMAT Course Reviews

560 reviews

1168 reviews

431 reviews

359 reviews

147 reviews

5/5

5 Star (560 Reviews)

"Target Test Prep is the closest to the official version of the GMAT exam, about 99% accuracy in terms of the quality and quantity of information. The course has excellently created singular sets of focused lessons and tests for every possible topic that one could come across in the official GMAT exam."

"The TTP course maximizes the efficiency of the time you spend studying. It will take time and effort but I could almost guarantee that if you complete the course exactly as it is laid out you will get an amazing score. They also have a very responsive team willing to help with any questions you might have."

"TTP has two things that I think no other test prep company offers: A teaching approach that reinforces understanding and an attitude that will give you the mental preparedness needed to succeed on the test. TTP gives you a deep understanding of the concept you need to know while teaching you how to think."

Write a Review