Profile Evaluation

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Profile Evaluation

by big3jt » Sun Oct 11, 2009 1:45 pm
I took the GMAT in the fall of my senior year, so my score expires December of this year. I took it twice my senior year about a month apart. I improved my score the second time from 610 to 650, but was still unhappy as my quant. score is far below where it should be. In prior tests (ACT/SAT) my math scores were in the 96%+, but my on the GMAT I went from 52% (36) to a 66% (42). I excel at complex math, doing well on the AP Calc test in high school and excelled at the calc based courses in college. I barely did some self study, so I know I could improve my score if I retook the test. If I were to just score to my ACT percentiles in the quant., I would likely improve my score to around 690. Is it worth it to retake it? The advantage besides the higher score, is would also give me a more recent score. I would do more studying this time, so I know I would score higher. Anyways below is my profile.
I am a 26 year old white male, will be 27 in December. Like I said, my overall score was 650, with a verbal of 38 (85%) and quant. of 42 (66%). My undergrad GPA was somewhere around a 3.2 from the University of Akron, not exactly prestigious, but in my defense I did work full time for all but my senior year. Outside of work, I was a coach for my little brothers YMCA basketball team and served on the finance committee at my church.
I am lucky that I am still a Financial Analyst at one of the big 3 domestic auto manufacturers. I have been there for 2.5 years, working on fixed assets, manpower, program launch, budgeting, forecasting, monthly closing, and special assignments on multiple topics. I was promoted a salary grade earlier this year, which I think is not very common in the company. I am one of two employees in finance at the plant, doing the work of what was once 7 people and then 3 people until last year when a coworker quit and I took on all of his responsibilities.
Prior to that, I was a Staff Accountant at a B2B publishing company; worked on month end closing, SEC filings, and special assignments relating to the sale of the company, not very exciting. I was going to take another position within the company when I left for my current job, which would have been more of a Junior Business Manager/Financial Analyst role. Hindsight being 20/20, I could have probably advanced further quicker than I will with my current company, which is part of the reason for me wanting to get my MBA.
I think I have a pretty good understanding of operations, finance, and accounting from my experience thus far, but in order to advance to a senior level in the future I will need to know the other areas of business better.
My questions are, how competitive of a profile do I have or what level of schools would I have a realistic shot at getting in to, and is it worth spending the money to prepare and retake the GMAT if it would only move me up to around 690?
Thanks for any help.
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by Sophia007 » Mon Oct 12, 2009 5:24 pm
Hi big3jt,

Based on the information you have providedand your background - you can right now apply to 3rd tier B-schools.

In case you plan to take your GMAT again, you will need at least over a 720 score in order to qualify for 1st and 2nd tier. You have limited experience and you did not graduate from a 'brand' name school.

Let me ask you this -

Does your 2.5 years of experience include that 1 year of work experience while you were in school?

Did you already take into account ( in your 2.5 yrs) that by the time you start in fall 2010, you'll have one more year of experience under your belt? If not, then you have better chances ahead of you. Do confirm and let me know.

Cheers,
Sophia.
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by big3jt » Mon Oct 12, 2009 5:46 pm
Sophia007 wrote:Let me ask you this -

Does your 2.5 years of experience include that 1 year of work experience while you were in school?
Sorry, realize I did not state this correctly. I have been with my current employer now 2.5 years, so it would be 3.5 by fall 2010. In addition I have 1.5 years at my prior employer as a staff accountnat. So in total by fall 2010, that would be 5 years.

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by Sophia007 » Mon Oct 12, 2009 5:52 pm
Bingo. I had feeling that you hadn't counted all the work experience. So you may qualify for 2nd tier schools as well! I'd say - if you do not want to take GMAT - you could apply to couple of 2nd tier schools like Cornell and some 3rd tier schools like Kenan Flagler. (Do a split - either go for 3 : 3 or a 2 :3)
Meaning: 3 - 2nd tier and 3 - 3rd tier OR 2 - 2nd tier and 3rd tier.
Hope this helps!
Sophia Pathak| Admissions Consultant |

If my post was helpful, let me know by pushing the thanks button.:) Please free to directly email me at [email protected]. ANY questions are welcome! check out what others have to say about their experience with me https://mymbamentor.com/?page_id=31