NEED HELP!!! Chances of Admission

[MCollier]

I need some help and advice on my chances of admission. Took my GMAT last Saturday and tanked!

Some background info:
22 year old Black Woman
Undergrad degree in Construction Engineering & Management
3.0 GPA that trends up from freshman to senior year (achieved while working to support myself all four years)
TONS of community service
Countless awards from industry, work and community organizations
3 years of quality part-time/internship work experience
1 year of post bachelor full-time work experience
Great letters of recommendations
Horrible GMAT score of 540 (embarrassed BBM face)

I'm thinking about the following: University of Chicago, Wake Forest (MA in Management), University of Illinois, Georgetown, George Washington, Emory, BU, Boston College, Vanderbilt, Purdue.

Hoping I can get some help here. I'm very worried about being denied everywhere...

[Lisa Anderson]

Dear MCollier,

You have a good mix of schools on your list, but I agree that you are right to be concerned (especially at this point in the admissions cycle). While I believe you will be an attractive candidate for a few reasons, I also believe admissions committee members might have reservations on your profile as well. Your GMAT score is not horrible, but it is not helping you. How much it hurts depends on the breakdown as your quant score will need to show you have the aptitude to handle the quant/analytical nature of business school. Likewise, your GPA is in range, but how you performed in specific courses will factor in to your evaluation. In addition to the GMAT, your amount of work experience might also raise concerns as you have only been out of school for a year. While you did work during college, some committee members might feel more comfortable if you had another year (or 2) of full-time experience before entering business school. Since you are applying late in the admissions cycle, it might be worth considering waiting and apply in round 1 this fall for entry in fall 2012. That would give you another year of experience, time to retake the GMAT and time to visit these schools to establish a relationship with the admissions offices. Your competitiveness would then increase, hopefully making the trade-off of waiting worthwhile.

Good luck,
Lisa

[MCollier]

Thanks for the advice. I seem to be getting the same response from all the experts. Seems like another year or two of full-time work experience, a GMAT prep course, being a year older and taking a few classes at the JC in the next year will help me be a more competitive applicant for Fall 2012 or 2013. I also didn't realize that I could've applied through the Consortium which I will be able to take advantage of if I wait...and hopefully I can become competitive enough for scholarships/fellowships. If waiting means saving $50,000 + in loans...I'm in no rush!


Thanks again,

Marlissa