The Application Process

I just got done with the GMAT! Got a 490 .
I only had 9 nine days to study for the test because I made a last min decision to apply to grad school. I was going to law school and now I am not sure. I am unsure of my chances of getting into Akron grad school
They want a 500 min on the GMAT
I Have a solid gpa. 3.5
I graduated in three years instead of four while working a full and part time job. I am only 21 years old (which I think works against me maybe).

I have great LOR's.
I dont know if I even have a shot of getting in!
Any advice PLEASE!

I am not familiar with the Akron program, but in general, unlike law schools, business schools want to see some real world experience under your belt, because the quality of your education in large part will rely on the quality of experience of your classmates. Much of the discussion and casework revolves around working in teams and contributing from your experience base to solving the problem at hand. If you lack a track record for solving such problems, guess what? They won't think of you as a potentially valuable contributor in the classroom. Your GMAT being low will not help your case. I would not shoot for achieving their "minimum requirement," since in your situation, you will need to be compensating somewhat for other weaknesses (work experience for one). They may question your commitment to b-school in general, since it's generally something you do after you have been around the business block a couple of times and hammered out what you want to do long term. Withough having been around the block, they may question just how much you have been able to figure out about business and about yourself to cast the kind of long term post-MBA vision they are looking for. Remember that even if you do get in, when you get out, you will be competing for jobs against classmates with not only the MBA, but also with experience, so it might make sense for you to stick to the traditional route and go garner some high quality experience first. Or you could always go to law school...sounds like you need to do a little more introspection. These are long term decisions, and should not be made as you put it, "at the last minute." The adcoms have a way of sniffing that out and flagging such applicants! Be careful!

Thank you so much for the advice. I have been thinking about many of the points you made for a long time. However, I do have some work experience, including three years that was spent starting a business. I may be young but I have four years of full time work experience. I worked over forty hours at one job per week and another 20 to 32 at another job. The part time job was in the legal field dealing with issues that are business related. In addition, originally I was planning on going after my JD and my MTAX in a joint degree program, so this grad school thing has always been there, law school was just going to come first. Your advice will probably ring true and I will probably be discounted as a candidate. I really hope I am not, but none the less, what will be will be. Will even 3 or 4 years of work experience help me?

Adcoms generally only consider full time work post-baccalaureate as professional "work experience." If you worked full time while in college, then you would likely be considered a part time student. If you were a full time student, however (with a full student schedule), your work experience while a student will not carry the same weight as professional experience. You can try to spin it as such, but I have seen this backfire as displaying a lack of "maturity," which is a key component to getting into b-school. I would call the admissions folks at your target schools and make an appointment with an admissions person to discuss...there is no better guidance than straight from the horses mouth. If you can convince someone in admissions that you are a viable candidate, that would be a good early indicator that you have a shot this year. Go in with confidence and don't apologize for your background, rather present it as a valid case. If you're not convincing while exploring, you won't have any better luck with the application. Good luck!