Supply Chain Background

[dman25]

Hi Stacey and friends! I'm hoping you can look over my basic profile and give me a synopsis on my chances at a top school.

26 year old white male (27, just about 28 at matriculation)
Double Major from a non-elite Pac-12 state school (ASU, UA, Colorado, Utah etc.)
-B.S. Finance and B.S. Supply Chain Management, 2007
-3.64 GPA overall, magna cum laude
GMAT: 700 (44Q, 41V) and 690 (Q47, V38) - considering taking for a 3rd time in mid-July because deep down I know I can pull better than a 700 and it's honestly bugging me...just don't know if it's worth the time commitment

5 years of work experience at Honeywell Aerospace (still employed) in supply chain management (will be 6 at matriculation)
-Started in a 2 year rotational program after undergrad moving through 3 different procurement, planning, and production scheduling roles
-Next moved into a research and development planning position (15 months)
-Current role is a team lead in a planning group responsible for multiple production lines producing a combined $15-20 million in revenue per month (no direct reports though)
-In between my last two jobs I also was a key part of a team deploying a new planning system, responsible for troubleshooting and training about 50-75 people (while holding down my regular job). This lasted for about a year but again, no direct reports, although it did give me a taste of what consulting is like.
-Top performer in every role I have had with very good reviews
-One downside I see is that not many of my colleagues leave for full-time programs (mostly part time) and this type of job doesn't seem very sexy or super selective compared to consulting or finance.

Marginal Extra Curric's, nothing special: Some intermittent volunteering at a local community center doing fundraising and tutoring as well as some clubs and intramural teams in college...standard stuff if not below average

Letters of Rec: Will be from my current manager and director. I'm pretty sure they'll both say good things but neither have an MBA or connections so I won't get any special push there.

Goal: To move into a supply chain strategy or general management consulting role. I really want to get into a job where I can 'think bigger' and I don't see a path to that where I am currently and I feel like I'm starting to get pigeonholed.

My guestimate on where I fit with the schools
Target Schools with a solid chance - UCLA Anderson, Haas, Stern, Kellogg
Stretch - Harvard, Stanford, Wharton, Booth, Columbia, Sloan
Safety - USC or just go for part time UCLA

I would like to stay on the west coast (UCLA or Cal) but if I got into a top 5 school I might be forced to change my mindset.

Now my questions:
-Other than my own personal obsession do you think it's necessary to retake the GMAT? Which score should I submit, the 700 or the 690 with a higher Q? Does having the finance undergrad prove to schools that I can handle the quant so that I can submit the 700?
-Will my admission chances be hurt by the fact that I'm in what is considered a non-sexy industry (you know, not consulting or finance)?
-One of the big reasons for my lacking XC's, staying with the same company all 5 years, and moving towards the wrong end of the experience 'sweet spot' is because a parent developed early onset alzheimers so I transferred back to my home town 2.5 years ago to be a partial caregiver. I'm sure I'll be able to write some meaningful essays based on my upside-down personal life but do schools care about that kind of real-world family stuff (which I'm still dealing with)?
-Does a double major give me a boost? I didn't get to take many GPA boosters because I was taking almost all core classes and I'm just wondering if having the 2 degrees will give me any boost.

Thank you in advance for any advice/info you can provide!

[Stacey Oyler]

Hello dman25,

Thanks for your post. I think you have a great profile and a robust list of schools. It's always good to have three levels of schools and you've made some realistic choices. Nice work! Let's tackle your questions:

-Other than my own personal obsession do you think it's necessary to retake the GMAT? Which score should I submit, the 700 or the 690 with a higher Q? Does having the finance undergrad prove to schools that I can handle the quant so that I can submit the 700?

From my experience with the GMAT, if you're not happy you should retake. While I think your undergrad coursework will help mitigate any potential concerns around your quant score, I think the real issue here is that you aren't happy with your score. If you don't retake and you don't get into business school - will you regret it? Will you wish you had retaken it? If so, I think you give the test one more shot. Just a minor increase in your score takes you from average to above average. The clock is ticking though, so if you plan to do it be sure to do it soon!

-Will my admission chances be hurt by the fact that I'm in what is considered a non-sexy industry (you know, not consulting or finance)?

I actually think it's to your advantage that you aren't in a banking or consulting. Your application will be evaluated by others with similar experience and that pool is a lot smaller than the banker and consulting pools.

-One of the big reasons for my lacking XC's, staying with the same company all 5 years, and moving towards the wrong end of the experience 'sweet spot' is because a parent developed early onset alzheimers so I transferred back to my home town 2.5 years ago to be a partial caregiver. I'm sure I'll be able to write some meaningful essays based on my upside-down personal life but do schools care about that kind of real-world family stuff (which I'm still dealing with)?

This is a really important piece of information for your profile. It seems to me you think your career progression isn't up to par - you should certainly explain your personal situation in an optional essay. It might fit into another essay, but if not just use the optional one.

-Does a double major give me a boost? I didn't get to take many GPA boosters because I was taking almost all core classes and I'm just wondering if having the 2 degrees will give me any boost.

Double majors are great! You did well in school and had two majors. It's a nice feather in your cap.

Stay focused and be sure to apply in round one!

Best,

Stacey