Profile Evaluation

[HELLO]

Hi Stacy,

I am currently a 23-year old Chinese female living in Southern California. I am interested in applying to either UCLA or USC for their full time programs.

Here is my profile:

- 3.2, Psychology, UCLA
- Verbal - 40 (90%), Quant - 42 (67%), Total - 660 (86%), AWA - 5
- Interested in working in the sports industry. While an undergrad at UCLA, I worked in the UCLA Athletic Dept. for 3 years in the Development office as well as an intern managing the sponsorship contract between UCLA and adidas. I also had various summer internships while in school at a sports agency, Fox Sports, and a PGA golf tournament office. Since graduating last June, I've been working at Ticketmaster as a Producer managing our sports clients' online marketing. I was recently promoted to the position of an Associate Product Manager.
- Extracurricular activities include a Bible study leader at my church for the past 4 years and coordination of our church volunteering and donating clothes/food at a homeless shelter bi-monthly.
- Interesting facts: have visited over 15 different countries all over the world, was a former up and coming figure skater before a career-ending injury

I know my GMAT score is below both school's averages and that my Quant score is pretty low. What do you think my chances are of getting in for both schools? Would you recommend me retaking the GMAT or should I focus my time on strengthening other areas of my application? Thanks in advance!

[Tim7332]

Isn't it true that if you went to UCLA you get some preference for going to their grad school too?

I know my girlfriend went to USC for her master's and then it was nearly automatic to get into their Phd program because she went there.

[Stacy Blackman]

I think you have a solid chance with both schools. You have an interesting background and your goals are both focused and differentiated from the masses.

In response to the separate inquiry about preference for UCLA alums, this is not necessarily true. Since UCLA is looking for a diverse class, they definitely do not want to fill it with all UCLA alums or even people from Southern California. However, they certainly realize that you are coming from a strong undergrad institution and you performed pretty well. I would say it is a wash.

[HELLO]

Thanks for the evaluation Stacy! Do you recommend that I retake the GMAT or should I just stick with my current score?

[Stacy Blackman]

If you feel that you have a good chance of raising your score, you should go ahead and take it. Whatever you get, it cannot hurt, but if you feel pessimistic about your chances for improvement it will be a waste of time.