Hello,
I'm taking my GMAT on Jan. 3rd... a little late, but so be it. I have a number of schools I'm looking at, and a lot regarding where I will apply will depend on what I get on my test (I'm going to have to really rush a few apps out before the 2nd deadline, but I've got no one to blame but myself there)
The schools I'm looking at?
My "swinging for the fences" picks - Stanford, Harvard
My not-quite-first-pick-but-would-be-happy-anyway pick - Duke (Fuqua)
My sorta-back-up-school-but-a-good-one-at-that - Arizona State (Carey)
Back-ups - University of Arizona, University of Colorado
My last timed practice test, I got a 710... Quant=48, Verb= 40. Unless I get that up to a 720, I probably wont bother with Harvard or Stanford... or should I?
Some of the other things...
BS in Biochemistry from Grove City College... GPA over a 3.0, but not much. That's the big thing keeping me back, IMO. I took from Calc 1 to 3... went from a D+ in Calc 1 to an A in Calc 3... it's all about the teachers you have.
Work experience - several years in a few different labs doing analytical chemistry. My last position was in sales, selling lab instruments... now I'm a day trader of currencies.
Letters of recommendation - no one of major prestige, but they shouldn't stink at least. I've done well at whatever's been put in front of me.
Essays - haven't done them yet, but I've been told repeatedly that I'm an excellent writer (at the risk of sounding arrogant). I think that I may be able to pick up a few points here.
So... what are your thoughts? Considering my GPA for my undergrad, should I bother with my top-tiers with under a 720 GMAT? That was basically my own personal cut-off.
I'm taking my GMAT on Jan. 3rd... a little late, but so be it. I have a number of schools I'm looking at, and a lot regarding where I will apply will depend on what I get on my test (I'm going to have to really rush a few apps out before the 2nd deadline, but I've got no one to blame but myself there)
The schools I'm looking at?
My "swinging for the fences" picks - Stanford, Harvard
My not-quite-first-pick-but-would-be-happy-anyway pick - Duke (Fuqua)
My sorta-back-up-school-but-a-good-one-at-that - Arizona State (Carey)
Back-ups - University of Arizona, University of Colorado
My last timed practice test, I got a 710... Quant=48, Verb= 40. Unless I get that up to a 720, I probably wont bother with Harvard or Stanford... or should I?
Some of the other things...
BS in Biochemistry from Grove City College... GPA over a 3.0, but not much. That's the big thing keeping me back, IMO. I took from Calc 1 to 3... went from a D+ in Calc 1 to an A in Calc 3... it's all about the teachers you have.
Work experience - several years in a few different labs doing analytical chemistry. My last position was in sales, selling lab instruments... now I'm a day trader of currencies.
Letters of recommendation - no one of major prestige, but they shouldn't stink at least. I've done well at whatever's been put in front of me.
Essays - haven't done them yet, but I've been told repeatedly that I'm an excellent writer (at the risk of sounding arrogant). I think that I may be able to pick up a few points here.
So... what are your thoughts? Considering my GPA for my undergrad, should I bother with my top-tiers with under a 720 GMAT? That was basically my own personal cut-off.
700+ or bust.
