Profile Evaluation

[spdf1]

Hi -

I've decided to apply for my MBA for fall 2014. I'm looking at both part time and full time options, but for the purposes of this post I am looking for feedback on my candidacy for full time programs. My background:

Age: 27

B.A. Economics (3.1 GPA) from a globally ranked top 15 US university (http://www.timeshighereducation.co.uk/w ... ld-ranking)

1 year consulting (not auditing) experience as an analyst at a big 4 firm

I left the firm to pursue environmental/social justice/workforce development work as an Americorps VISTA. As a VISTA, I led all employer engagement activities (for ex-cons and other unemployed) and orchestrated my non-profit’s (one of the largest on the west coast) biggest fundraiser in many years. (1 year)

M.S. Energy/Environmental Policy (GPA not officially calculated but converts approx. to 3.6-3.7) at another globally ranked top 15 University. (One 1st author publication)

Senior Economic/Statistical Analyst at an energy consulting firm, where I primary consult for large investor utilities in regard to their energy efficiency programs. (Will have over 2 years of experience by the time I start school). Since this is a smaller firm, I’ve had the opportunity to manage people, tasks, and projects (in addition to standard analyst work).

GRE Score: Quant 165 (92%), Verbal 162 (89%) AWA (4.5) - Converts to approx. 710 on the GMAT using the ets comparison tool.

MBA career path: Though I like my job (and love my firm and will strongly consider returning though an MBA is not required), I would also consider using the MBA to get into a management rotational program at an investor owned utility or move to another company that has an energy practice (potentially work for one of the companies I currently consult for, not a competing consulting firm).

Target schools: UCLA Anderson, Yale SOM, Michigan Ross.

Also considering: Berkeley Haas (will need GMAT) and Dartmouth Tuck

Most of the energy companies I am looking at recruit at these schools specifically.

My questions are:

How realistic are my target schools?

Will my undergraduate GPA hurt my candidacy? My low grades mainly stem from my pre-med days. I had over a 3.4 in my final year. The school I went to is known to grade on a strict curve, unlike other top universities that are known for grade inflation. However, my grad school is known for grade inflation, so I’m not sure how to bring this point up....I’ve also built an alternative transcript by taking additional statistics, accounting, and calculus classes.

Should I retake the GRE for a higher score or take the GMAT? I took the GMAT in college and scored a 700 (47 Q, 40 V), but I think this score expired- This is on the lower end of what I was scoring at the time. I think I should be able to get another 20-30 points (or 2-3 on GRE) if I take the test again. The question is: will this higher score significantly improve my candidacy?

Thanks for your input,

[mili]

Hi,

Thanks for sharing your profile. You have a very interesting background, and a strong career narrative - I think this will serve you well. Your target schools seem like really strong fits based on what you want to do, so that is also an advantage. I think your undergraduate GPA could be a concern, though your graduate GPA might be weighted more heavily since it's more recent. I do think that your target programs (UCLA, Yale, Ross) are realistic targets with your current profile.

If you decide to retake a test, I would definitely focus on the GMAT. You already have a decent GRE score, but GMAT scores are favored at these schools, so it wouldn't make sense to put more time into the GRE. A strong (700+ GMAT score), combined with your alternate transcript and strong grad school GPA, should help to alleviate any concerns about your undergrad GPA (I'd address this in an optional statement as well).

Other than that, the only weaknesses I see in your profile are a lack of extracurriculars and community (outside of work) activities. If you have time to get involved in some of these now, it might still be worth - especially if you can make an impact on the organization in a short period of time.

Good luck!
Mili

Mili Mittal
Senior Consultant
http://www.mbamission.com
 
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[spdf1]

Thanks for your insights.

So to make sure I understand clearly: a 710 GMAT score is more desirable than my current GRE score (which converts to a 710) to an admissions committee?

If that is the case, then I will definitely re-take the GMAT. Do you know how the IR section will be evaluated by admissions committees in 2014?

I'm also curious to know what my chances would be at Tuck or Haas. Would I need a GMAT score significantly above 700? And based on my profile, (and assuming I am 100% on going back to school and will get over a 700 on my GMAT retake) do you think its a good idea to apply to some other programs (e.g. USC, UT, and/or Cornell)?

Thanks again.

[mili]

Hello,

As the GMAT is considered a more difficult test, I do believe a 710 on GMAT is more impressive than a 710 on GRE. I still don't think the IR section will be very heavily considered/weighted in 2014, but that's a great question to pose on the general inquiries forum on this site.

Tuck and Haas are very competitive programs with very small class sizes. I think your social impact/energy background aligns well with their strengths, so from a "fit" perspective, these programs make a lot of sense for you and vice versa. These programs do really value multi-dimensional candidates (extracurriculars, community), so that would be a disadvantage. It would definitely help to score in the 730+ range for these programs, but it's not going to be a deal breaker if you apply with a 700. It will depend on the execution and balance of your application after that.

Hope this helps,
Mili

Mili Mittal
Senior Consultant
http://www.mbamission.com
 
Read the mbaMission Insider's Guides (16 individual school titles)
 
Download [url=http:// http://info.mbamission.com/MBA-Personal-Statement-Guide/]mbaMission’s Free Personal Statement Guide[/url]
 
Visit the mbaMission Blog
 
Follow mbaMission on Twitter

[shubhamsmartguy]

i need to shortlist 5 colleges..to which i cam going to send my score on my D-DAY (14th dec)

i am hitting around 680-710 in the mocks !

and my profile is -

1) Led a Polio drive as a troop leader (Boy Scouts), persuaded the villagers and the religious leaders who thought that Polio vaccine is an american ploy to infertile Muslims.
i did this when i was 14, at that time, i was not so focused on certificates...so i don't have any particular certificate of polio drive..
however, i have a lot of certificates of my Scouting career

2) i am a National Player of Table Tennis.

3) i got selected in one of the top notch tech colleges of India..(was in top 1% of all candidates)

4) My CGPA=7.6, i am not sure..how to convert this in USA GPA
this is not so great cgpa though..
5) Joined AMDOCS,which is a telecom software firm, I am handling Business & System Migration ..here, i get to deal with clients on a regular basis.
6) I do PRE SALES activities...presenting ppt's to clients..persuading them so that they buy our products...
"persuading"--> same as in 1)..continuation of skills.. :)
i have got good recos from clients and my manager...for effective speaking skills..

7) once we sell the product..we migrate their old system to our AMDOCS's system..its a very critical business process..as whole system is live..
for this, i have got a 5 month International experience (Indonesia)

8) I joined / started toastmaster's club of AMDOCS..and now, i am VP-membership of this club..
i have won all my best speech awards

9) I am also a member of CSR (corporate social responsibility) group of AMDOCS ..
where we teach the unprivileged children..
i got awarded by Head of AMDOCS-INDIA for this..

10) considering the upcoming election in India...i had a look on 2008 election data..and i was shocked to see the voting percentage was only 49 % in my state..
me with my frnds made a volunteer group- Vote Pune Vote..
where we conducted voter drives in all over the city...to register people for voter card.

--> i am not sure.to whom should i ask for certificate ? will he photos be enough ?
at max.. i can ask my HR from AMDOCS to give me on a letter head..
since i conducted this drive in AMDOCS as well..
--> my short term plan- IT consultant ..or Non Profit..i still decide on this.

this is my whole profile..kindly let me know your comments..
and also, plz let me know 5/6 schools to whom i can send score on the D-DAY..
i would like to have -2 ambitious...2 average...1 safe school in my list.

[mbamissionjenK]

Hi there,

Good luck on the upcoming test! Side note-- while it is certainly good to pick out schools you may apply to now, to send your scores to, it's also very common to ask for score reports after the fact too, if you change your mind on your school list. ;) And sometimes your score affects the range of schools you decide to apply to!

It sounds like you have a very interesting background, with a lot of life experiences to draw from, and a lot of initiative and determination on your part. Lots of great community involvement and also the international experience is a plus. Also the communications and public speaking experiences will serve you well.

I don't believe I read about your goals; keep in mind that is very important in a b-school application as well-- explaining the WHY behind this whole thing! ;)

Don't stress too much over 'certificates' for things other than school; you are expected to be honest on the applications (and theoretically they are occasionally audited... if you are found to be dishonest/untrue of course that would be grounds to remove you from a program!), but it's generally honor system for your accomplishments and such. Certainly others citing them in recommendations is a plus.

As for schools, really depends on what YOU are looking for... geographic region; specialties & curriculum; class size; employment profiles, etc. If you score in the GMAT range you hope, I would apply to 1-2 schools ranked in the top 10-12 or so; and another 1-3 outside that range. (see US News & World Report ranking, or Financial Times for global ranking if looking beyond just the US). Hope that helps, good luck!