Help evaluate my chances

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Help evaluate my chances

by jjanders » Sun Aug 19, 2007 8:15 am
Hello,

Below is my profile. I am currently interested in finance and IT and will probably pursue one of these areas, but who knows.

Education: BS in Economics, Syracuse University

GPA: 3.2/4.0 (I had a bad sophomore year due to some family/financial issues, and took a year off after that. If not for this year, I would have had a 3.7. I have a 3.6 in my final two years and a 3.7 in my math/economics courses)

GMAT: 700

Exerpience: 5 years at a small economic consulting firm doing a variety of economic/policy analysis for the energy/utility industry. Lots of SAS programming and simulation building. It was a small firm (5 people) so I got lots of experience doing a wide variety of things

Extracurriculars: Played baseball for 12 years, coached for 5 summers. Since college I haven't done a lot since I had to work a lot to be able to afford school. Most of my free time is spent related to fitness and martial arts, I've never been the "Joins 1143259352 organizations" type.


I know my GMAT is good. My GPA isn't bad, but my transcript is ugly when you look at that one year. I may use an optional essay to explain the situation and the positives that came of it. I am a good writer and know I can craft some kick-ass essays. If interviewed, I feel I am very down to earth, friendly, and leave great first impressions (at least I think so, haha). I will receive glowing recommendations from my former supervisors. I know my weak point is my "involvement", but I know I can take what I do in my free time (fitness/martial arts) and play up the aspects of those things that apply well to b-school (mental strength, focus, etc...).

As of right now I am planning on applying to a couple of top 10 schools, as well as a couple of 10-30 schools.

Thoughts? Thanks in advance.
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by Amy » Mon Aug 20, 2007 10:52 am
Hi jjanders,

I think your evaluation of your situation is correct. You definitely have some great strengths, but your GPA will be your weakness. Luckily you did well in the final years of school, and did well in the classes that are most important.

Explaining what happened to your GPA will be helpful, and it may also be helpful to build an "alternate transcript" of continuing education classes. If you're applying this fall you probably won't have time for that tactic though.

Good luck!

Amy
Amy
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Stacy Blackman Consulting

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by jjanders » Mon Aug 20, 2007 12:29 pm
Amy,

Thanks for your response. I realize my GPA is a little weak, but I have already drafted up a short essay which explains my situation at the time and turns the experience into a positive by mentioning how I took a year off and came back stronger than ever, and how my determination as well as the wisdom and maturity I gained by dealing with the setback can benefit me in business school.

How do you see my general chances? I am looking to apply to a couple top schools (MIT, Hass) as well as some middle tier schools (Yale, Washington, Cornell, maybe some others).

Thanks again.

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by Amy » Tue Aug 21, 2007 8:51 am
Hi jjanders,

I think you have a fairly good chance if you put together a strong application and essays.

Good luck!

Amy
Amy
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Stacy Blackman Consulting