Hi Lisa,

I just took the GMAT today and got a 690 - 40V and 44Q. It wasn't as good as I hoped because I was doing 42-44V and 46-48Q on my practice tests, but it is what it is. I got a bit spooked on 2 hard math questions and I stupidly used too much time I would love to just be done but of course I'm concerned about my quant score. Hoping you could put my worries at ease.

I graduated from the University of Michigan's Ross School of Business with over a 4.0 (we get 4.4/4.0 for A+s). I got As/A+s in Accounting, Operations, Business Statistics, Finance, and some other quant classes. I am also starting a job at Microsoft in marketing soon, which has some quant elements to it as well.

My #1 goal would be Columbia, as I have family in NYC and am originally from NY, so if I go back to grad school, I also would like it to be a chance to be near my family. I expect to apply there early decision.

So, is it worth taking the GMAT again and trying to get a 700 or 710 with a slightly better Quant score? Or can I make up for it with my background and strong essays?

BH

Hi Stacy,

My name is Thomas Wang, and this is a short profile/bio

School: Fordham College of Business Administration (graduate in june 2011)
Major: Finance with a concentration in business economics
GPA: 3.97 (probably will graduate as either salutatorian/valedictorian)
GMAT: 740, (plan to retake to get 760+)

E/C

Finance Society, Boyle Society (for Fordham business students with GPA >3.7), Beta Gamma Sigma, Global
Business Honors Program (special advanced classed with Fordham MBA professors), Dean' List, tutors
for a variety of subjects (economics, financial management, etc), Honor Thesis Paper on economic development and
IPOs, study abroad in London, and short internship at stock exchange in Shanghai

Leadership:

Student credit union: acting as chief financial officer. Manage over $200,000 worth of assets. Also perform
a wide variety of financial management functions: asset-liability management, interest rate risk management,
and liquidity management

Federal Reserve Challenge: planning to participate next semester. Competition on recommendation for
Federal Reserve's economic and monetary policy.

Internship:

JPMorgan Chase: currently an operations intern for prime brokerage. Probably will receive a full time offer in the
fall and plan to work there.

Asia Society: worked as an business intern. Helped facilitate relationship between Asia Society and major Asian
companies.

I am hoping to get into

1) Harvard Business School/London Business School (1st choice)
2) Wharton (2nd choice)
3) Booth School of Business of U Chicago

safety schools: NYU or Columbia

What are my chances and what other things can I do to improve my chances in the meantime. Thank you
so much for your time and look forward to hearing your evaluation.

Dear Lisa,

First, I would like to thank you for your very quick and detailed response. I indeed plan to work for several more years
until my MBA. Is 2-3 years the standard? I understand that it's different for everyone, but that is the average right? I also
have a question about your suggestion to increase the "breadth of my experience." Would that mean trying out several
different financial services companies or trying different roles in J.P.Morgan or possibly both? I am very interested in your
company's consulting services. Can you please give me a very brief description of the number and types of services that
your company offers? Much appreciated.

Best Regards,
Thomas Wang

i have a
3.3 GPA from University of Arizona...is my gpa to low
minority: dad is from Cuba...does being a minority help me out alot
i think i am going to get a GMAT: 710
I might work for Merrill lynch or some private trading company for 2 years
can i get into
Yale, Columbia, Harvard, NYU, Dartmouth, or any other ivy league schools

if i complete everything you say will i have a chance for Yale or Columbia

Dear Lisa,
I'm from Toronto and currently attending the University of Toronto. Pursuing my BBA, and will have one year worth of relavant work experience when I graduate, through the co-op system. Does this give me an advantage when I am applying to business schools?
On another note, currently my GPA is around 2.6, thats because of me slacking off first year. However I have upped my game over the last year and a half and by the time I graduate I expect to have my GPA in the range of 2.8-3.0. My intent is to score relatively high on the GMAT, over 680. I'm sure I am capable of that. I was wondering if I am allowed to take the GMAT's while I am still in my third year of school? Also from what I have read, it will not hinder my chances if I write it more than once?
I was planning to apply to U of T Rotman School of Management or Schulich school of business, because they only look at your last two years of school, and I believe my GPA will fall in range with the norm. They say a 3.0 GPA is required over the last two years, and I am sure i can have it around 3.3. WHat are my chances of getting into these two schools? Also what are my chances of getting into either Stanford, Fuqua, Chicago, Berkley or Columbia. THose are the 5 American schools I'm looking at and just wanted to know what my chances were with regards to the American and Canadian schools I have listed. Do you believe I have a shot any of the AMERICAN schools?
My extracurriculars are slighlty above average since I am either an associate or executive on a few associations. I was wondering if with my extra curriculars, my GPA, my work experience, above average essays and a relatively high GMAT scores where I stand.

I know I have a legitimate chance with the Canadian schools ( I think). I am just wondering if American schools will consider the last two years, the way the two Canadian schools do.

Looking forward to your response

Hi Lisa -

I got a 2.9 GPA from the University of Notre Dame, due to the fact that I had to work 3 jobs to help with tuition and room/ board, but I was a valedictorian in high school. I am from South America and I speak Spanish and German fluently.
I have also 6 years work experience at top firms, such as General Electric, NBC Universal, National Basketball Association and Univision Communications. I am currently a board member of the Notre Dame Alumni Board and have done numerous extra curricular activities. I have managed teams of 5 people in my jobs and graduated first of my Financial Management Program at General Electric (2 year rotational program plus classes) and have great reviews and top performance in all my jobs.

If I get a 700+ in the GMAT, do you think I might have a shot at a top 10 school, or should I now even bother to apply with such a low undergrad GPA?

Please advise.

Thanks!