Profile Eval

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Profile Eval

by Isaac77 » Wed Sep 17, 2008 11:52 am
I would like to apply to Harvard, Stanford and Columbia. I was wondering if you could give me your thoughts on whether or not to apply 1st round with my current GMAT score or apply 2nd round and retake the GMAT or if you think i don't stand much of a chance at any of the schools.

*I'm 30 years old.
*Graduated 5 years ago from a major state university with a 3.0 GPA in Economics.
*I was Director of the Technology Board of Student Government
*The following year I was Student Body President. Managed a budget of 1.6 M.
*Along with SBP, I sat on the Board of Trustees of the University and was asked to sit on the Presidential Search committee formed by the Board of Regents when the University needed to find a new President.
*Though i don't have a degree in Computer science, I was well under way in the computer science program at my school when i switched to Economics. I continued taking Continuing Education Classes at night in software programming and web development after i made the switch. I do consider myself a highly skilled and knowledgable computer programmer, though i currently spend my time managing software projects and employees instead of actually writing the code myself.
* I speak Italian fluently
* I am a good musician with professional recordings. I play guitar, banjo and sing.
* I've lived; 1 year in Romania when i was younger because my Dad had a fullbright scholarship at the university of bucharest (back then it was still under communist rule), 6 months in France (exchange program), 2 years in Italy (LDS mission), and 6 months in India (work related). I've had the opportunity to travel to many other places around the world as well.

W/E
My introduction into the business world was when I started working for a company called International Business Development Corporation that was the parent company for many small to medium size companies located in countries around the world. I started as an office manager/network administrator and soon became an associate consultant with the firm. I worked directly with the owner and had a lot of solid business exposure. I was with this firm for 2 years

I started a Web development Consulting firm in 2002 with two other partners. We did relatively well and it was a great experience. We went our separate ways a year and a half later to pursue other goals.

After graduation, i moved to San Francisco and worked for a small Market Research Firm. I worked directly with the owner who himself graduated from HBS. This firm sent me to India to manage a team of programmers to build an online survey software application. I stayed in India for 6 months and when the project was complete i returned home to Salt Lake.

I then started my own software services firm and have been managing my company for the last two and half years. I currently have 8 employees in India, Sri Lanka and the US.


I know that my GPA is average at best. I definitely made the mistake of making my education second priority to my business and extracurricular activities. What should i do about this? Also, i believe i have good references who will write good letters who have themselves attended the business schools above.

Thanks in advance for you advice!
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by Isaac77 » Wed Sep 17, 2008 12:08 pm
woops... totally forgot my GMAT score.

Q:41
V:38
Comp: 640
AWA: 5.5

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by Lisa Anderson » Thu Sep 18, 2008 5:48 am
Dear Isaac77,

Honestly, I think you need to retake your GMAT and get a 680+ to be competitive for HBS, Stanford and Columbia this year. Since application volume will be up this year and thus the competition increased, you might also consider identifying 1-2 safety school options in the top 20-40 range. You will find many of these schools excellent and be able to provide what you want from business school.

You do have some great professional experience and so leverage that to your background. In another year, it might have been enough to give you an edge at these three schools (and it still might be), but better to have a backup plan if you want to be in business school next fall.

Best of luck,
Lisa
Lisa Anderson
Consultant
Stacy Blackman Consulting

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