Profile Evaluation : GMAT 650, LOW GPA

[farid.k.baig]

Male/ Indian / 25 years

GMAT : 650 ( Q-48, V- 32)
10TH : 85.6 %
12TH : 75%
B.E. IN ELECTRONICS AND COMMUNICATION : 5.8/10 (This is the part I am extremely worried about because I know my GPA is beyond terrible but trust me I did not want to do engineering but was rather forced into it)

WORK EX - 1 YEAR as a teacher in a coaching institute, Last 2 years in IBM India Pvt Ltd as IT consultant

I also moonlight as a movie critic for a magazine for the last 6 months

EXTRACURRICULARS :

Have won a few debate and speech competitions back in school as well as been the Master of Ceremony for a few events

Took part in extempore, mock press, elocution competitions back in college as well as dramatics and again won a couple of runners up and winners certificates

Have volunteered for a marathon held in my current city Bangalore

Now here is the thing - thanks to my low GPA and average GMAT score I know I cannot aim too high. Still I am hoping that if nothing else I can get into a decent university as I hope barring the GPA my profile isn't all too bad. So here are the list of schools I am looking at. Please advise :

1) Carrol school of Management, Boston College
2) UB School of Management, SUNY Buffalo
3)Whitman School of Management, Syracuse University
4) Zicklin School of Business, City University of New York
5)Rutgers Business School, New Jersey
6) University of Illionos AT uRBANA - Champaign

[mili]

Hello,

I think you're being very thoughtful about your school choices and that they make sense. You're correct about your low GPA/low GMAT combo, unfortunately. On top of that I don't see any stand out differentiators in terms of career and extracurricular activities, so I think aiming for less competitive programs is a good strategy. You could perhaps put one slightly better ranked program (maybe like Ohio State University or something like that) if you want to try for it.

Best of luck,
Mili

Mili Mittal
Senior Consultant
http://www.mbamission.com

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[farid.k.baig]

Hey Mili

Thanks for the advise. I definitely don't want to aim too high and not end up getting anywhere. The schools I have mentioned (specially choices 2-5) are simply where I think I have the best chance of getting in. Could you tell me if I do have a good chance of getting into these programs or here too the probability is that I might miss out? A clearer picture would definitely help before I send in my application. Thanks :)

[mili]

I'd think that 4,5,6 should be realistic. 1 might be a slight reach, but otherwise I think your list is good. I would suggest that you address your low GPA in an optional statement - explain that you really weren't into engineering, etc., take responsibility for not taking your studies seriously, etc.

Sorry that I don't have a better school-by-school breakdown for you - I'm not as versed on the nuances of these particular programs as I am with the top 25, but I think it's a reasonable list. As long as your GMAT is within range and the program feels like a good fit for you, give it your best shot and see what happens!

Best,
Mili

[farid.k.baig]

Hi again

Been thinking a little bit more about the schools I am applying to and a couple of programs got me really interested. So I thought I will show up here again and ask if it was worth applying to the following schools with my profile.

1) Pennsylvania State University - Smeal School of Business
2) University of Massacheuts - Amherst
3) Temple University - Fox school of Business

Pennstate and Amherst are programs I am really interested in while Fox also seems like a good fit. Please let me know if with my profile these schools are worth applying to. Thanks a ton.

[mili]

Hi,

Yes - I do think these would be worth applying to. The rest of your profile is decent - I wish there was a way to bring up your GMAT score to give you an even better chance at success or to enable you to aim higher! But I understand this decision. I know it's a tough one! Could you enroll in supplementary courses to show that you can do well in a classroom setting?

Best of luck,
Mili

Mili Mittal
Senior Consultant
http://www.mbamission.com

Read the mbaMission Insider's Guides (16 individual school titles)

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[farid.k.baig]

Hey Mili

Thanks for the advise once again. I am not sure about supplementary courses - in India the idea of going back to take extra classes to make up for poor grades doesn't really exist or at least is not well heard of. I will still try and look around. But if I don't get into any of my chosen programs this year I will definitely give the GMAT again because I am pretty sure I can get that verbal to somewhere close 40. I gave too much emphasis to Quant in my GMAT prep thinking Verbal was my strength and eventually paid the price.

By scoring high in TOEFL can I show that my verbal is actually much better than my GMAT score suggests?

[mili]

Sounds good. Yes a strong TOEFL score can help, as can well written essays!

Best,
Mili

[sachin.w]

Hi Mili,
For the 1 year MIS course in SUNY Buffalo, what would be a good score?

A 650 with 47 in Quant and 35 in Verbal would be good enough?

Regards,
Sachin

[mili]

Hi Sachin,

Unfortunately I do not know the answer. I am more familiar with MBA program requirements than I am with MS requirements, and despite some digging, I was unable to find average scores for SUNY's MIS program. You could probably call the admissions office and ask what the average GMAT score is for accepted students.

Sorry,
Mili

Mili Mittal
Senior Consultant
http://www.mbamission.com

Read the mbaMission Insider's Guides (16 individual school titles)

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