Profile Evaluation Please

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Profile Evaluation Please

by Kaneda215 » Tue Nov 08, 2011 4:08 am
Hello

School - RIT
Major - Electrical Engineering
GPA - 3.11
Although not stellar, I feel like my GPA is slightly above average in such a difficult major - I did AFROTC my entire time there and it actually ended up being a handful to deal with (almost no other cadets were in "difficult" majors). Juggling the duties of a cadet and the heavy workload of an engineering student, probably contributes to my non >3.5 GPA. I'm in no way trying to make excuses, I'm just stating some facts that may give you a better idea of my 'overall package'.

Also worth noting - I finished in the top 15% at Field Training (boot camp for officer candidates), which many view as a pretty good accomplishment.

GMAT - 550 (Q:38 V:28)
This is my weakest point. I'll go ahead and say that I'm a pretty poor standardized test taker. I studied off and on for about two months and took about 7 different CAT tests (while always skipping the AWA which probably had a negative effect on my test day). My CAT scores in order were: 460, 540, 550, 590, 540, 580, and 620. I feel that I have a strong backing in math, despite my poor performance on test day. Unfortunately, a lot of the subjects on the GMAT were not touched upon throughout college, as 99% of my course work dealt with calculus, so my skills are not as strong as they once were. I probably could do a little better on the GMAT if I actually got a little more disciplined/motivated to grind through the material, but I really would rather not if my overall package is good enough.

Employment - Officer in the USAF. By the time I will be applying for grad school I will (hopefully) have completed Undergraduate Pilot Training, which will be in roughly two years. The online MBA programs I am applying to are as follows (and are in order of personal preference):

Indiana University
Pennsylvania State University
University of Florida
Arizona State University
University of Massachusetts Amherst
Northeastern

After a great deal of research, I believe that all of the aforementioned universities have really decent online programs. Unfortunately, I am limited to an online program because of the nature of my work.

Ultimately, I feel like my "overall package" is a lot stronger than what my GMAT might imply about my intelligence (or test taking abilities). That said, I do have a lot of confidence in the remaining factors of my application (essays, letters of recommendation, etc.). Are graduate programs a little more lenient with active duty officers regarding admittance? Lastly and as mentioned above, I would really rather not retake the GMAT if I don't have to, but I know a 550 may be detrimental to my chances of getting into the colleges I listed.

Thanks for your help!
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by Lisa Anderson » Thu Nov 10, 2011 2:08 pm
Dear Kaneda215,

I can say with certainty that active duty officers are not viewed differently or held to a lower standard, so you will be evaluated like any other applicant to these programs. However, the fact you are active duty will be noted as 1) interesting professional experience with a unique perspective and 2) a large commitment of time raising questions on your ability to juggle the MBA with your responsibilities. Thus I do encourage you to explicitly address in your applications how you will manage your MBA courses with your current AF assignment. I do think the online MBA programs on your list are possibilities, even with your current GMAT, as you did fine in your undergraduate degree program and scored competitively on the quant section of the GMAT. It is the verbal section where you faltered; hence your essays and any interviews will need to demonstrate your communications skills. Likewise, your recommendations should support a strong skill set. Finally, I do suggest you address your low GMAT in an optional essay if possible, noting it is not indicative of your ability and then offering evidence of your past academic and professional successes that demonstrate you can handle an MBA program.

Good luck,
Lisa
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by Kaneda215 » Thu Nov 10, 2011 2:30 pm
Thanks for the response and information. So, in other words, I stand a strong chance of getting into the online programs I've listed with my current GMAT score? You stated that I could "possibly" get into those programs, but to me that doesn't seem very reassuring.

I just got my official report and I got a 6.0 on the analytical writing section. I'm aware that schools don't really look at the AWA section, but surely this should help out my case regarding my communication skills?

I really just want to feel a little more confident about my chances of getting into these schools, especially my top 2 and I don't want to spend the additional $250 on another test if I don't have to.

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by Lisa Anderson » Mon Nov 14, 2011 12:54 pm
Unfortunately, it is impossible to give any specific odds or probability on anyone's chances at any school. Admissions decisions are not made based on a formula. Without knowing how each of those programs evaluates applicants and what the rest of the applicant pool looks like, I cannot tell you with certainty you will be admitted anywhere. I do think it is possible with your current GMAT and a strong, total application package. If you want to improve your chances, then one way to do that is to increase your GMAT score. I encourage you to reach out to these programs for specific questions on your profile relative to the program; the admissions folks can offer the best insight on your situation relative to that particular school.

Regards,
Lisa
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