Profile Evaluation - 720 GMAT, 3.03 GPA

[Pioneer1010]

Hello. I would greatly appreciate a profile evaluation and candid thoughts on chances at a Top 15 MBA program.

Biographical:

30 years old
white male
live in Colorado

Work Experience:

7 years full time experience
First 6 with a Fortune 500 firm working in a merger & acquisitions role focused on international acquisitions. Have worked in South America, Europe, Asia, the Middle East and Australia. Four legitimate promotions in 6 years
Last year on my own as an independent consultant. Starting a consulting business and am providing advice to an investment bank, private equity firm and small technology corporation
Internships during undergrad a Merrill Lynch in a wealth management office and a boutique technology investment bank

Education:

3.03 cumulative GPA. Transferred colleges going into my junior years. First school my GPA was 3.18 and school I graduated from I had a 2.90. Bot were reputable top 50 programs. Not community colleges or junior colleges.
Worked full-time through out school to finance own education
First in family to graduate a 4-year university

Extracurriculars:

Worked full-time in undergrad
Had two different unpaid internships
Played intramural and club sports
Raced go-karts on a regional level
Little league baseball coach
Junior Achievement volunteer - participated in sessions to teach middle school students personal finance astuteness

Goals:

Short-term - Go back into a merger & acquisition role with a Fortune 500 firm
Long-term - Head of global mergers & acquisitions for a Fortune 500 firm

GMAT:

Took four times. Highest score was 720 with over 80th percentile in quant and verbal

Target Schools:

Wold like to target top finance programs. E.g. Wharton, Booth, Stern, Haas, Anderson. London

Specific questions:

I realize my GPA is below the 80% range for all of these programs. Do I realistically have a shot at getting into one of these programs during round two applications?

Thanks in advance for your thoughts.

[MBAApply]

Hello. I would greatly appreciate a profile evaluation and candid thoughts on chances at a Top 15 MBA program.

Biographical:

30 years old
white male
live in Colorado

Work Experience:

7 years full time experience
First 6 with a Fortune 500 firm working in a merger & acquisitions role focused on international acquisitions. Have worked in South America, Europe, Asia, the Middle East and Australia. Four legitimate promotions in 6 years
Last year on my own as an independent consultant. Starting a consulting business and am providing advice to an investment bank, private equity firm and small technology corporation
Internships during undergrad a Merrill Lynch in a wealth management office and a boutique technology investment bank

Education:

3.03 cumulative GPA. Transferred colleges going into my junior years. First school my GPA was 3.18 and school I graduated from I had a 2.90. Bot were reputable top 50 programs. Not community colleges or junior colleges.
Worked full-time through out school to finance own education
First in family to graduate a 4-year university

Extracurriculars:

Worked full-time in undergrad
Had two different unpaid internships
Played intramural and club sports
Raced go-karts on a regional level
Little league baseball coach
Junior Achievement volunteer - participated in sessions to teach middle school students personal finance astuteness

Goals:

Short-term - Go back into a merger & acquisition role with a Fortune 500 firm
Long-term - Head of global mergers & acquisitions for a Fortune 500 firm

GMAT:

Took four times. Highest score was 720 with over 80th percentile in quant and verbal

Target Schools:

Wold like to target top finance programs. E.g. Wharton, Booth, Stern, Haas, Anderson. London

Specific questions:

I realize my GPA is below the 80% range for all of these programs. Do I realistically have a shot at getting into one of these programs during round two applications?

Thanks in advance for your thoughts.

In terms of GPA, what's in your favor is that you're on the older side - college is ancient history for you. So regardless of your GPA (even if it was strong), the adcoms will pay closer attention to your GMAT anyhow, since it's a more recent indicator of your raw academic ability compared to the person (kid?) you were 8-12 years ago. And your GMAT is in range for these schools so while your GPA will raise an eyebrow, it's not going to be fatal.

With that said, you have a solid profile, and you're targeting the right range of stretch (Wharton/Booth/LBS) and sweet spot (Stern/Haas/UCLA) schools. And given your level of experience I wouldn't venture beyond the top 16 anyhow -- in other words, if you don't get in this year, then consider a part-time or exec MBA the following year.

In practical terms, just focus on doing the best on your applications. As for your GPA, it's really just addressing it in an optional essay - a few sentences saying that you were young, immature, etc and not as focused - and that your GMAT is a more accurate indicator of your academic ability.

[CriticalSquareMBA]

Hey there,

I echo what Alex says - your GPA can be quickly and easily addressed and it's importance has waned for you considerably. One thing I would add is to make sure your recommenders touch upon certain skills and themes that are proxies for academic performance. For example, if you have strong quant skills, make sure those come across. Or the fact that you pick up new material quickly and drive insights, etc.

Which, based on your profile, you should have NO problem showing examples for.

Good luck!

Bhavik

[MBAPrepAdvantage]

I agree with the other posters so I will focus on additional information here.

I would suggest you add Columbia. You can also apply to the two year program during the regular admissions cycle and to the accelerated program afterwards if you are not accepted (you just cannot have two open applications simultaneously). Given you are looking to go back into a similar role, have you considered accelerated programs like Columbia's J-Term (https://www8.gsb.columbia.edu/programs-a ... nes/j-term)? It is easier to gain acceptance to this program than to Columbia's full 2-year program. Applications are rolling so you would want to submit in May.

Good luck,

[Pioneer1010]

Thanks for the insight and thoughts guys. I actually did apply to Columbia ED and was dinged without an interview hence my post here to here to get an honest candid assessment of my profile.

Planning to apply to Duke, Michigan, Booth and Haas in January round.

[CriticalSquareMBA]

Hey there,

I'm sorry to hear about Columbia! I would suggest adding a safety school or two. Without knowing what comprised your Columbia app, I can't identify what may have caused the ding but consider looking at at least one school application in the #15 - 20 range.

Bhavik

[MBAPrepAdvantage]

I am sorry to hear that.

I would recommend adding UCLA Anderson (mentioned above), Cornell Johnson, Virginia Darden and NYU Stern as well as considering Columbia's J-Term (applications usually open up in May) should you not be accepted.

Best of luck,