Request for Profile evaluation (GMAT: 630; GPA: 3.23)

[genera74]

Dear Lisa,

Firstly, thank you for taking your time in evaluating our profile. I find the information in this forum very insightful and valuable.

I would greatly appreciated if you can give your opinion on my profile:

General: 23/M/Asian Pacific/
GPA: 3.23 (School: San Francisco State University; Major: Financial Services)
GMAT: 630 (73 percentile); Quant: 46 - Verbal: 31 - AWA: 5.0
Work experience: 2.8 years (over 3 years by time of admission - July/2012)
Employer: HSBC Vietnam
Current position: Relationship Manager - Commercial Banking Dept.
Some primary responsibilities include
+ Manage and grow portfolios of borrowing and high-value corporate customers
+ Actively provide client-value added solutions to existing clients
+ Increase profitability and retention of an existing customer base by maintaining high service standard

Extra Curricular: volunteer in several company charity events.
Career goal: Upon finishing MBA, my plan is to continue working in financial sector, with a concentration in Investment Banking (mergers & acquisition, Corporate finance advisory or in other words, sell-side of Investment Banking). My goal is to work for global financial services firms that are reputed in Investment Banking services, such as Morgan Stanley, JP Morgan or HSBC (current employer) .

For MBA, I've decided to stay within Asia Pacific (instead of going to U.S like I did for bachelor), particularly in Singapore (due to distance, as well as cost-related reason)

Please can you help evaluate my chance of getting into following schools:
+ Nanyang Business School
+ NUS
+ Singapore Management University

Any other opinion of points I need improving would also be appreciated!

Many thanks for your help!

Mark

[Lisa Anderson]

Dear Mark,

There are many positives to your profile, namely your work experience, realistic career goals and competitive GPA. The potential concern is your GMAT relative to the applicant pool, particularly other applicants with similar professional experience. Thus you want to use every piece of your application to your advantage to balance out the GMAT such that the admissions committees will want you in the class. Presenting a solid rationale for the MBA in relation to your goals, along with how each school is a good match, will strengthen your case for admission.

Good luck,
Lisa