Hi Lisa and Stacy,
Finally! 'Been waiting to ask you for an evaluation for a long time. So now that I'm done with the GMAT, here it is:
GMAT: 710 (47Q, 40V), 6.0 AWA
Undergrad:
- Joined Virginia Tech undergrad when I was 16, as a University Honors student
- Double majored in Computer Engr and Math (didn't complete Math)
- 2.5 GPA. I know! I certainly don't believe that it's an accurate representation of my academic abilities. It's more indicative of my past immaturity towards anything not related to software. For e.g. I used to skip classes and school projs so I could work on my side software projs and earn certifications in new technologies that weren't being taught in school.
- 2 serious research projects, one of which won 3rd place at a local IEEE contest.
- Interned with a company that made engineering design software for 9 of the top 10 US defense contractors.
Extra Curricular:
- Professional oil/acrylic painter
- Rock band in college
- Alpha Phi Omega
- Open source software contributor
- Public speaker, blogger and evangelist in the Ruby (programming language) community
Work Experience:
- 3.5 years by Fall 09 at only one company, a multinational software consultancy.
- Role: Agile software consultant and coach, having worked for the company's US, UK and Canada offices in the insurance, mining, and accounting industries.
- Created a web 2.0 start-up on the side with a colleague in London. Also working on a non-profit idea right now.
- 8-month stint on the side to help a friend outsource his entire HR services to Pakistan.
Life itenerary: Born a Brit in London, lived in Cameroon (4yrs), London (1yr), Rome (1yr), Sudan (2yrs), Pakistan (~9yrs), US (5yrs), London (1yr), Calgary (6mo), and now heading back to the states.
Aspirations:
- To become a serial entrepreneur in the web and products space.
- Too few reasons to continue consulting for the enterprise. At the moment, I don't want to try saving x million dollars for yet another multi-billion-dollar company; I want to try saving the world with revolutionary ideas that touch "real" people's lives.
- To make Pakistan a global player in the IT industry by providing leadership to its raw and underutilized talent.
Some programs I'm thinking of applying to:
Boston University (preferably the International MBA)
Babson
Toronto - Rotman
York - Schulich
Emory
Penn State
Purdue
Cornell
I'd obviously like to aim higher, but my transcript always slaps me in the face saying, "Wake up and smell your GPA!" Do you think I have a chance at the top 10 or 20 and the Ivy League? I'm very interested in hearing what you have to say.
Thanks in advance,
Farooq
Finally! 'Been waiting to ask you for an evaluation for a long time. So now that I'm done with the GMAT, here it is:
GMAT: 710 (47Q, 40V), 6.0 AWA
Undergrad:
- Joined Virginia Tech undergrad when I was 16, as a University Honors student
- Double majored in Computer Engr and Math (didn't complete Math)
- 2.5 GPA. I know! I certainly don't believe that it's an accurate representation of my academic abilities. It's more indicative of my past immaturity towards anything not related to software. For e.g. I used to skip classes and school projs so I could work on my side software projs and earn certifications in new technologies that weren't being taught in school.
- 2 serious research projects, one of which won 3rd place at a local IEEE contest.
- Interned with a company that made engineering design software for 9 of the top 10 US defense contractors.
Extra Curricular:
- Professional oil/acrylic painter
- Rock band in college
- Alpha Phi Omega
- Open source software contributor
- Public speaker, blogger and evangelist in the Ruby (programming language) community
Work Experience:
- 3.5 years by Fall 09 at only one company, a multinational software consultancy.
- Role: Agile software consultant and coach, having worked for the company's US, UK and Canada offices in the insurance, mining, and accounting industries.
- Created a web 2.0 start-up on the side with a colleague in London. Also working on a non-profit idea right now.
- 8-month stint on the side to help a friend outsource his entire HR services to Pakistan.
Life itenerary: Born a Brit in London, lived in Cameroon (4yrs), London (1yr), Rome (1yr), Sudan (2yrs), Pakistan (~9yrs), US (5yrs), London (1yr), Calgary (6mo), and now heading back to the states.
Aspirations:
- To become a serial entrepreneur in the web and products space.
- Too few reasons to continue consulting for the enterprise. At the moment, I don't want to try saving x million dollars for yet another multi-billion-dollar company; I want to try saving the world with revolutionary ideas that touch "real" people's lives.
- To make Pakistan a global player in the IT industry by providing leadership to its raw and underutilized talent.
Some programs I'm thinking of applying to:
Boston University (preferably the International MBA)
Babson
Toronto - Rotman
York - Schulich
Emory
Penn State
Purdue
Cornell
I'd obviously like to aim higher, but my transcript always slaps me in the face saying, "Wake up and smell your GPA!" Do you think I have a chance at the top 10 or 20 and the Ivy League? I'm very interested in hearing what you have to say.
Thanks in advance,
Farooq
