need some advice/suggestions/opinions!

[sahggers]

my profile:

i have a pretty low gpa, 2.8, but a very high gmat 770. My gmat score is pretty even 99% verbal and 93% quantitative

I've been working for 5 years and since i graduated, i've earned a certificate in accounting from an extension program and have earned a 3.7 gpa in the intermediate/advanced accounting courses

I've passed the CPA exam and should be licensed by fall 2011

my question is, what are my chances at top 10-15 programs? I'm looking at Columbia, UCLA, Carnegie Mellon, NYU, Cornell, Michigan, USC, and maybe Kellogg and Booth if i find a few hundred dollar bills between my seat cushions.

Rd 2s are over so is it worth trying for Rd 3? and what is the possibility for partial scholarships at lower tier schools if i wait for next year?

thanks in advance to whoever responds!

[ApphelpGlobal]

Hi

There will definitely be Qs on why the low GPA vs high GMAT. You need to convince the adcomm that you have the ability but because of x,y,z reasons didnt do well at school. Highlight the CPA and extra courses that you did where you scored well.

You haven't mentioned anything about your work ex. Would be helpful to know that.

Define your goals well and your plans for the future and how the MBA would help you achieve that.

Good luck!

The Apphelp Global Team
Admissions Consultant
www.apphelp.us

[bizschoolprep]

Are there any specific reasons for the low GPA? For e.g. were you working while studying / struggled with something else that had effect on your academics, etc? If yes, you should definitely use the optional essay to explain these. Moreover, you should definitely leverage the transcripts from your extension program and CPA certification to talk about your academic qualities. Overall, we think you have the right components to comprehensively address the concerns about your low GPA to a large extent. Your stellar GMAT is surely going to help it.

You have a competitive profile for the schools that you mentioned. However, most of the applicants who apply to the top schools are qualified to be there but only few actually make it. A lot depends on factors other than your GPA and GMAT such as quality of work experience, extra curriculars, recommendations, etc. At the end, your chances of success will depend on how well you execute your application because that's what the adcom will see.

As far as R3 is concerned, most of the seats are already filled and you are competing for very very few seats with not only R3 candidates but also wait listed from first two rounds. Also, given low chance of success would you still apply in R3 and then use the "stale" essay for reapplication few months later for R1 or would you like to give it your best shot, and stories, in R1.