Stacy!! Please help

Expert replies

postivethinking: Newbie | Next Rank: 10 Posts; Posts: 6; Joined: Tue Nov 17, 2009 8:50 pm

by postivethinking » Thu Nov 19, 2009 10:27 am

Hi,

Could you please help me decide stretch/realistic/safety...

Background:
Nationality: Indian
GMAT: Male
Age: 26

Undergraduate:
Top 20 US School
Major: Accounting and Finance
GPA: Cumulative - 3.71 (Magna Cum Laude)
Dean's List - All quarters

Work Experience:
Big 4 Auditing Firm (3.5 years - Present)
Senior Auditor
Duties: Standard Big 4 Senior Auditor role.
Structured Progression

Certified Public Accountant (CPA)

Extra Cur: Heavily involved in undergrad recruiting and cross cultural activies (lead role)

GMAT: 660 (Q 47, V 34)

1) Wharton
2) Northwestern
3) University of Chicago
4) University of California -Berkeley
5) Darthmouth
6) Columbia
7) Yale
8) Virginia
9) Duke
10) NYU
11) UCLA
12) Carnegie Mellon
13) Cornell
14) U.T. Austin
15) Indiana
16) USC

Question:

I understand my GMAT is on the lower side of 80% ball park but I am thinking "CPA" should help me make a strong case for quant. Also, with solid recommendations and good essays can you please help me decide -

1. Stretch Schools
2. Realistic Schools
3. Safety Schools

Thanks,

Source: Beat The GMAT — Ask Stacy Blackman | Thu Nov 19, 2009 10:27 am

GMAT/MBA Expert

Lisa Anderson: MBA Admissions Consultant; Posts: 3845; Joined: Wed Feb 06, 2008 8:57 pmFollowed by: 148 members; Location: Houston, TX; Thanked: 442 times

by Lisa Anderson » Fri Nov 20, 2009 5:58 pm

Dear positivethinking,

In my opinion, none of the schools on your list are safety schools. It is hard to really assess schools based on the information posted since it is minimal information about you. However, based on that information, I would say numbers 11-15 are probably realistic to stretch schools and numbers 1-10 are all stretch schools. Depending on what your career goals are, how strong a writer you are, and how well you interview, some of these schools might become more realistic and others might become more of a stretch. Perhaps try to narrow it down based on measuring these schools against a prioritized list of criteria you have for an MBA program? Then you can create your mix of schools and develop your strategy to stand out from the competition.

Good luck,
Lisa

Lisa Anderson
Consultant
Stacy Blackman Consulting

Learn more about me

Featured schoolRound 2 closes Jan 7, 2027 63 days left

Chicago Booth

Since 1982, 10 Booth faculty members have received the Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences, more than any other business school.

#3
U.S. News rank: $175,000
Median base salary: 670
Average GMAT Focus: 635
Students in the class

Apply to Booth Visit chicagobooth.edu See the full profile

Photo: Warren LeMay, CC BY-SA 2.0

GMAT Course Reviews

563 reviews

1168 reviews

431 reviews

359 reviews

147 reviews

5/5

5 Star (563 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