Admission Query

[kbharadwaj.1987]

Sir, I gave my GMAT last month. I got a 720(q-49,v-38) I am a fresh graduate. I completed my Engineering this July 2009 with a 2.7 GPA. Is it likely that I would get admitted into below mentioned schools? Now this is something about my profile: I took part in various extra curricular activities such as on campus entrepreneurial activities, and also I assisted my college placement manager in fetching companies to the college in my fourth year. I'm an amateur DJ, vocalist. I was employed while in Undergrad, I was working as a teacher, and also I had contributed to the society by helping the orphanage kids. I have also done two six-month internships at Voltas Limited and Accenture India Limited.

The schools I'm interested in applying to are:

University of California at Irvine: Merage
Fox School of Business: Temple University
Thunderbird School of Management
Pittsburg University
Ohio State University

[Stacey Oyler]

Hi kbharadwaj,

Thanks for your post. Congratulations on your solid GMAT score. A 720 is actually a bit higher than the average scores at most of the schools you have listed below. This will certainly help off set your GPA which is a bit below average.

Many business school programs require full time work experience, however, given you worked during undergrad and had several internships you may be okay. I strongly suggest that you contact the programs you've listed to check on their full time employment qualifications just to be sure that you do indeed qualify.

One important thing you will need to do is to clearly explain your post business school goals (both short and long term) and why now is the right time for you to pursue your MBA versus working for a few years and then applying.

You should plan to get started on your applications right away so that you have plenty of time to put together solid materials and essays.

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

Best,

Stacey

[kbharadwaj.1987]

Sir,
I found out the about the schools by writing to all those schools. I got a response from all of them saying that they are open to admissions to applicants without any work experience provided the applicant has exceptional academic performance, strong extra-curricular activities and also a good GMAT score. I'm just bothered about my GPA. Could that be reciprocated?

[Stacey Oyler]

Great, I'm glad to hear you've already reached out to the schools. If you are concerned about your GPA, you should take some comfort knowing that your GMAT will help mitigate some of the adcom's concerns. Another great way to demonstrate that you will be successful in the classroom and help offset your low GPA is to build an alternate transcript. I suggest taking courses such as accounting, statistics and economics at a reputable university. Earning A's in these courses will go a long way with the adcom and will help lay the foundation for your first year core curriculum in bschool.

Best of luck!

Stacey

[kbharadwaj.1987]

But then, I need to start applying from this October-December. Wouldn't that alternate transcript method take time? I just strongly feel that I should be doing my MBA for Fall 2010.

[Stacey Oyler]

Yes, taking courses will take time, they are not a quick fix. However, just seeing that you are enrolled in the courses will help your application. Also, once you are done you'll have a good foundation for the first year curriculum.

Best,

Stacey

[kbharadwaj.1987]

Thanks for the reply Stacy. I would also like to mention that I would be having one year of work-ex by the time I join the program, i.e; August-2010. Could that add a bit to my profile? And also I'm planning to take up a Calculus course at a local school so that I would be having an additional transcript. But then, I could only just mention it in the essays as I wouldn't be completing it by the time I apply. Will this initiation help too?
And also how's the Finance program at Temple University, Fox School of Business and at Suny Buffalo Graduate school of business!

[Stacey Oyler]

Hi,

Great, I am glad to hear that you'll have one year of work experience under your belt. This will certainly help your application and will benefit you once enrolled in a program.

You should plan to mention that you are enrolled in a calculus course in an optional essay. Let me then know where you are taking the course, when you plan to complete it and that you will share your grade (aim to get an A) when finished. This is nice reassurance to them that you are taking your application seriously.

Best,

Stacey

[kbharadwaj.1987]

Wow, that's news. Thanks a ton Stacey.
I sent my score reports to these colleges and their respective programs. Could you kindly go through the shortlist, and revert back to me about the schools in the shortlist?

MBA....

Fox School of Business: Temple University... Pennsylvania
Pittsburg University... Pennsylvania
California State University, Hayward.. California
William & Mary... virginia( Mason School of Business)
Suny Buffalo... NY
Illinois Institute of Technology

MS in Financial Engineering...

University of Illinois, Urbana Champaign
Claremont Graduate University
Washington University
Illinois Institute of Technology

[Stacey Oyler]

Hi,

I'm not quite sure what information you'd like me to provide. Can you clarify?

Thanks,

Stacey