Can you pl rate my chances / remedial actions?

[lostangeles]

Hello All,

Would really appreciate your feedback on my chances and my profile.

Profile --
Male / 34 / Indian
Work Experience -- 10 years.
* IT professional for a major univ in Southern USA for past 5 years. (2003- Present)
* Worked as a consultant in USA (2001 -- 2003)
* Started and managed my own businesses in India. (1996 - 1999)

Education :
B.S. Economics (USA Univ) 3.8 GPA, 2008
M.S. Software Enggg. (USA Univ) 3.3 GPA, 2001
B.S. Electronics Engg. (Indian Univ), 2.9 GPA, 1998

Gmat :
740 -- 41 Verbal / 49 Quant

My target schools are : (in order of preference) --
1. Kennedy School of Govt. (Harvard) -- MPP
2. John Hopkins -- SAIS
3. Wharton MBA.
4. Yale MBA.
5. MIT Sloan MBA.

Would you pl rate my chances in any of these schools. I understand that I am at a severe dis advantage due to my age and experience in Public sector.
Also, will re-taking the GMAT help? I can probably score around 770-780 next time.

Thanks.

[Cindy Tokumitsu]

Hello,

From the information you provided I consider your target schools to be reasonable reaches. You’ve chosen schools where age, while still a factor, will be less troublesome than average (with the possible exception of Wharton). You haven’t mentioned your goals – they are an essential element in your overall profile, as are leadership and extracurricular experiences for the MBA programs.

I don’t believe your public sector experience will be a negative factor, and it could even be a positive, differentiating factor as long as you present it effectively with the right nuances.

Your GMAT score is excellent. If you can pull a 770 or 780 with reasonable effort, it can only strengthen your candidacy (though with a 740 I suggest focusing on the GMAT only if you can do it with moderate effort – it wouldn’t be worth a tremendous effort when you could possibly devote the energy to further enhancing leadership, etc.).

Good luck!

Best regards,
Cindy Tokumitsu
Senior Editor, Accepted.com
www.Accepted.com

[lostangeles]

Thanks Cindy. Appreciate your reply.