610 GMAT, 3.6GPA, unique work experience... Where to apply?

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GMAT score: 610 (Q38 V36)

Undergrad GPA: 3.6 (UC Berkeley)

Work Experience: I am self-employed. I have run Surfing Camps by my home the last 4 years and occasionally contract my services out to other surfing camps around the world for weeks at a time. Will business schools frown on my lack of corporate experience. I would consider my self more of an entrepreneur. My reasons for going to business school do not revolve around getting a 6 figure job at Goldman Sachs. I studied economics as an undergrad because I am interested in economic development and global poverty reduction. I want to attend business school because I think an MBA will provide me with better tools to address these problems. I imagine an MBA would be useful in running a non-profit or helping communities through micro-finance and local development of businesses. Am I right to be looking at B-school?

Fresh out of college I did work for 2 years as a property manager for real estate developer/investment trust. I left this job in order to take multi-variable calculus, Linear Algebra, and Differential Calculus at a community college.

Finally, my transcripts show good A-B grades on higher level math course from differential calculus through linear algebra. Will schools weigh my poor GMAT performance more than years of good math grades?

What schools do you think I should apply to?
I do plan to take the test again and hope to score in the range of my practice test scores (650-740). Will a high 600's score even matter with my lack of corporate experience?
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by Lisa Anderson » Fri Nov 13, 2009 11:43 am
Dear rick81,

You do not have to have corporate experience to go to business school, and business schools want folks with various experiences to add richness to the classroom. So, your entrepreneurship experience can be an advantage for you in the admissions process. An MBA is useful in pretty much any industry and any functional area as it is a versatile degree. Based on your career interests, I think it would be helpful to go to business school to launch you into the next phase of your career. There are many programs that might be of interest to you like the MBA Enterprise Corps or opportunities at the World Bank.

With regards to your GMAT score, a 610 is a solid score, but a higher score will expand your school options. Your GPA and strong performance in quantitative coursework demonstrate your aptitude and strengthen your profile. Generally speaking, you are most competitive where your GMAT and GPA are close to/above the school's average.

Good luck,
Lisa
Lisa Anderson
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