Advice for preparing for MBA admissions

[faisalfayyaz4]

Hi - I will be applying for my MBA ( Depending on where I am in my career) in next 3-4 years most probably. I have a Bachelors in Computer Science from Pakistan from a very reputable school ( It does not matter though because none of our schools are known internationally) My undergraduate GPA was not good it was 74% (2.91/4.00). I then came to Canada to University of Western Ontario and started my Masters in Software Engineering. I did half of my degree with 92% but soon transferred to a new program that was Masters in Management of Applied Sciences ( Specialization in Computer Science). I finished the program with 86%.

Few of the business related courses I took in this program are:
Organizational Behavior
Marketing for Managers
Corporate Finance
Project Management
Oral Communication for Business
Written Communication for Business

I gave a relatively cold GRE 3 years ago and got 314. 161 Q , 153 V. I think it roughly translates to 610 that is very low but as I gave it without much preparation I am sure I can improve and get somewhere around 680-700. I will aim to cross 700 though given my low undergraduate GPA.

I already have three years work experience as a Software Engineer and a Senior Software Engineer, and I am joining a company in Canada now as a Project Coordinator. I want to work for few years and get some experience here and move into at least a Project Manager position and then apply for the MBA.

I will mostly be looking into Schulich, Ivey, Rotman, and if I get really good scores in GMAT, I might go for some good MBA schools in U.S as well. I have few questions regarding what shall be my target MBA be, How shall I go on with my career from now onwards? Shall I take a GMAT or just go with GRE again ( I am very familiar with GMAT pattern and questions). Will my Master's degree help in mitigating the lower GPA especially if I apply to Ivey, which is the business school at Western, and I already have a degree in management and computer science from here? I might fetch a letter of recommendation from my professor who is a dean of a business school at Western that is different from Ivey, but he use to be a director at Ivey too. I am more concerned about my undergraduate GPA and if my masters will help with it when I apply for MBA.

[Jon@Admissionado]

Hello there good sir!
Lots of questions you have there and good ones, so let's dig in.

First of all as you can imagine, the GMAT is the key. It's hard to say what could happen without you getting that requisite GMAT (a 690+ would be all right for the Canadian schools, a 720+ better . If there is is no positive reason for you to take the GRE (i.e. either you test far better in it, or will apply to non MBA programs and need the GRE) then opt for the GMAT. The schools accept the GRE but know the GMAT better.

As for applying to US schools, that will really make sense if you get a high enough GMAT (720+), otherwise, given your experience in Canada, it seems to me like you can use that to your advantage when applying to Canadian schools which are on the whole less competitive than top US schools. It needs more consideration in detail once you get your actual score.

Regarding getting "another" Management degree, well they are different degrees, but you are right that at the same school, you should at least consult with the admissions office first.

Best,
JF