Profile Evaluation: GMAT 640 / Credit Analyst (5+ Years)

[ToDie4GMAT]

Thanks in advance for reading this!

Background: 28 year old male working as credit analyst for S&P

GMAT: 640 (Q45,V33)

College: Bachelor of Science in Quantitative Finance, Minors: Mathematics and Economics from James Madison University in Harrisonburg, VA. Graduated in 2007 with a major GPA of 3.5.

Work Experience: 5+ years as a credit analyst in both structured finance and corporate finance. Focus on consumer products and healthcare sectors. Have been promoted 3 times in 5 years with plenty of leadership/teamwork experience.

Extracurricular
1. I have a real passion for health and fitness. I am a certified personal trainer and I manage a few clients on the side. I'm also a member of the National Association for Health and Fitness. I also attend various Fitness and Nutrition seminars in my free time.

2. I do a significant amount of volunteer work. For the past 5 years, I've been involved in the Everybody Wins! Power Lunch reading program where I read to inner city school children. I also volunteer through NY Cares where I typically read to children and teach them the importance of exercise.

3. I am also involved in several other extracurricular activities. I am a mentor at my company for new hires. I also participate in the Toastmaster's speaking group where I've learned to strengthen my public speaking abilities. I also play on the company basketball and volleyball team.


Target Schools: Yale SOM, Johnson, Tuck, Kellogg, Anderson

Post MBA Goal: After an MBA I want to get into non-profit management, particularly in the health and fitness field. Long-term goal, start my own non-profit organization geared toward teaching children the importance of both exercise and nutrition.

Now to the questions I have...
Is my GMAT score too weak for the schools I listed above? I think my background as a credit analyst and my degree in Quantitative Finance shows I'd be able to handle the challenging course that top MBA programs offer, but I'm worried I may be weeded out by my GMAT score. I've already taken the exam 3 times and 640 was my highest (590 and 620 the other times). Would it be worth attempting a 4th try? I'd like to apply in the 2nd and 3rd rounds of my desired schools.


Please help.

[Heidi Granner]

Hi ToDie4GMAT,

Thanks for your post.

If you used GMAT preparation services with your previous GMAT tests and don't anticipate being able to score a 30+ point increase in future testing, then I recommend staying with your current score. Taking the test more than three times can be a concern for some admissions committees, so unless you anticipate a significant improvement than you will be better off applying with your current score.

That said, your score will present a limitation in your application as the schools closely manage the average GMAT score for their classes. Kellogg, Tuck, and Yale would be far reaches since their average scores are more around 715/720. I would consider Anderson and Cornell to be 'reach' schools where I think you could be competitive.

If you are viewing an MBA as a 'must-have', I suggest a couple additional options: 1. broadening your list of schools to include top 30 MBA programs, and/or 2. consider part-time MBA programs. Being in NY you have access to Stern's part-time MBA program and 80% of their students have a GMAT score of 620-730 so you would be in the range there.

Hope that helps. Please reach out to [email protected] for a free detailed profile evaluation.

Best,
Heidi
________________
Heidi Granner
Clear Admit, LLC
[email protected]
215.568.2590

[ToDie4GMAT]

Thank you Heidi. I really appreciate your honest feedback.