Profile Eval Please Help :-) GMAT 700 (48Q 38V) Low GPA :-(

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Junior | Next Rank: 30 Posts
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Hi there, thank you for taking the time to read my profile and providing your insight.

Me: Male/28 (American of Indian origin)
GMAT: 700 (48Q 38V AWA 5)
Undergrad: BS Electrical Engineering GPA 2.59 Upward trend in GPA(From US top five engineering school) worked 20 hours a week while in school
Alternate GPA: 3.40 (12 credits taken at a private college mainly business courses)
Work Experience: 5.5 Years with large consulting firm (Mgt consulting supply chain) started out as analyst made my way up to manager with 1 direct report.
Career goals: MBA operations to work in supply chain consulting and later start my own consulting company
Service Extra Curricular: Rotary International volunteer work, Animal shelter volunteer work
Other Extra Curricular: Stroke of ncaa crew 1 season medalled in all but 1 race, equestrian club in school competitive in english hunter jumper, competition international skeet shooter, competitive sailor, chair of sailing race committee, ball room dancing instructors assistant, play blues guitar at bars.

Schools I am looking at:

MIT-Top Choice
Columbia ED-Top Choice
Tuck EA-Top Choice
Cornell
Duke
Carnegie Mellon
London Business School

Given my current stats what are my chances at these schools? Is there any school I should be adding to the list? Any schools I should be taking off? Thank you in advance for your help!
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by Stacey Oyler » Wed Sep 22, 2010 2:41 pm
Hi,

Thanks for your post. You certainly seem to be a well rounded candidate! Your work experience and extracurricular activities are both quite solid. I think you'll have plenty of options for creative essay topics. Academics do seem to be your weaker area. When adcoms are reviewing academic qualifications they take into consideration your undergrad GPA as well as the GPA from any advanced degree programs, your GMAT score and any additional quantitative supplemental coursework. While your GMAT is solid (I tend to view a 700 as a nice, neutral score for top programs), your GPA may raise some brows. I strongly suggest you consider writing an optional essay letting the adcom know you were working during school as well as an explanation of any other circumstances that impacted your GPA. This essay should be brief and to the point and should not be a laundry list of excuses, but rather a short and to the point explanation for your low GPA. Overall, I don't see your academic profile as a "deal breaker" for the programs on your list, however, it does mean you need to compensate for it in other areas of your application. Fortunately you seem to be well rounded and will likely be able to put together solid essays and garner good recommendations.

Please feel free to send your resume to [email protected] for a detailed free assessment of your profile.

Best,

Stacey
Sign up for my MBA admissions course, featuring me and other Clear Admit experts, by visiting: https://www.udemy.com/business-school

Stacey Oyler
Clear Admit, LLC
[email protected]
215.568.2590

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