Please Evaluate my Profile

[aznmexicana]

Hello,
I am not your typical mba applicant, i did not major in engineering or business, so I was wondering what my chances looked like for the following schools: Anderson-UCLA, USC-Marshall, HAAS-UCB, or even Stanford. My top choice would be Berkely for the dual masters program in Healthcare Admin and MBA. As you can see I would like to stay in CA, preferably in NorCal. My backup schools would be the state schools in San Francisco and San Jose.

Personal Facts:
Age:24
Ethincity: Vietnamese and Mexican

Undergrad Major: Biology w/ minor in Public Health at UC-San Diego
GPA: 2.6
-I was going to go the medicine route, but realized it wasnt for me and became interested in Public Health (got B+ or better in healthcare courses) I also took courses in economics and received B's or better in all of my quant courses. A personal crisis also did take into account the overall low GPA.

GMAT: target score 700+
-I have been following the BTG 60-day guide and after 30 days, which focused on Quant, I improved my score by 100 points to 650 (Q49,V38). I am confident I can improve my score on the Verbal side by at least another 50 points.

Work Experience:
-After college (2007) I was given a unique opportunity to help my cousin start a manufacturing business in the green industry. The company now manufactures energy efficient lights and works in conjunction with 3 of the major utility companies in CA. I am a program manager who works directly with the utility companies to get our product into multi-family complexes throughout CA.

Extracurricular Involvements:
-During college I volunteered at a hospital with Cope Health Solutions for 3 years, starting off on the hospital floor helping patients and migrated to the administration side, where I eventually trained and managed the incoming volunteers.

Why BSchool:
-I would like to expand my knowledge in business and eventually use both the things i've learned in school and in the green industry business to apply towards healthcare or even stay in the green industry. I feel that going to school the possibilities are endless. My main concern, though is my low GPA, will my high GMAT score and grades in business related course be enough? Should I take some course at a local community college to increase my GPA? Which aspect of my experience so I focus on for my essays? Also, will the fact that I worked in a field unrelated to my undergrad major hurt my chances?

Thank you so much for taking the time to read this.

[Lisa Anderson]

Dear aznmexicana,

You have the foundation for a competitive application to many California schools. Your GMAT will be telling and I wish you all the best on your next attempt to get your total score closer to 700. Even with your current 650, I would encourage you to still apply to a good mix of the reach, competitive and safety schools. A strong, overall application package can make a difference, so use those essays, recommendations and interviews to your advantage. To answer your questions:

My main concern, though is my low GPA, will my high GMAT score and grades in business related course be enough? Should I take some course at a local community college to increase my GPA?
Your GPA is the weakness in your profile based on your post. A high GMAT and solid grades in your quantitative courses will help to mitigate that measure. You cannot change your GPA at this point, but if you wanted to take a few courses at a community college, you could do that to demonstrate your ability to succeed in the classroom. I would suggest taking a calculus class and maybe a statistics or basic finance course.

Which aspect of my experience so I focus on for my essays? Also, will the fact that I worked in a field unrelated to my undergrad major hurt my chances?
Many people work in industries or functional areas that appear to be unrelated to what they majored in or studied in college. That is not unusual nor will it cause a concern. What matters to the admissions committees is that you show progression in your career and have accomplishments and contributions in each position. You want to be sure and demonstrate how you have added value to your company, the impact you have made, as well as highlight the managerial skills you have developed in your tenure (i.e., teamwork, leadership, communication, problem-solving, analytical, etc.). Choose examples for your essays that answer the question and showcase how you will be a great fit for the school.

Best of luck on the GMAT & your applications!
Lisa