Profile evaluation

[roy55550]

Hi, I would love to hear your opinion regarding my profile.

Nationality: Israeli.
Age:27 years old.
Undergrad GPA 3.4: dual degrees in law and economics, graduated 3/2012.
GMAT score: I have taken the gmat for 3 times:
9/2010- 650 (q49/ v 30)
10/2011- 650 (q 49/ v 30)
2/2012- 680 ( q 47/ v 38)

Work experience:
- Served for 3 years in the army, in different commanding position. had led teams of up to 20 people.
- Have just started to work (in july 2012) as a Customer relationship manager at a credit insurance company (which is a subsidiary of Israel leading insurance company).

Extracurricular:

- 10/20010- 3/2012- CEO of an non profit.
The organization includes over 800 volunteers throughout Israel and a budget of over $400K.
- 6/2009- 10/2010- financial officer of the same none profit listed above.
- Those activates were done voluntary concurrent to my undergrad studies.

-2008-2011: played basketball Ina semi-pro basketball team.

Targeted schools:
1. Stanford/wharton/Harvard.
2. Kellog/Colombia/yale/nyu
3. Duke/lbs/ross

I loved to hear your profile assements, and espacilly regarding to Following:
1. What are my chances getting into one of the school above?
2. Do you think it will matter if apply for next year, or should I gain another year of work experience before applying?
3. Should I retake the gmat for the fourth time (on my practice test I averaged 700+)?

Many thanks,
Roy.

[mili]

Hi Roy,

You've got a pretty fascinating profile, and very robust leadership experience. Let's break it down:

Academics: I'd say you're pretty average in these categories. 3.4 GPA in law/economics and a 680 GMAT. The 680 is a touch low for many of the schools on your list, but I honestly think the rest of your profile will help you overcome that score. I'd say it's probably not the best use of time at this stage to retake the GMAT once more... better to focus on your application.

Professional experience: between your military experience and your current managerial experience, you'll have a lot of teamwork and team leadership stories, challenges you've overcome, etc. Your experience as a CEO of such a large-scale nonprofit is amazing, and will also lend itself to your leadership story.

Community leadership: You've got this covered with your non profit. Well done!

Extracurriculars: Basketball on a semipro team should suffice given your active role in the non profit (imagine you don't have a lot of time for extracurriculars!).

I don't know your specific experiences/stories in depth, but based on what I see, I imagine you have very strong ones and I think you've got a good shot at the schools you're targeting, even with a slightly lower GMAT score. I say go for it and apply this year - you'll have 4 years professional experience by the time you matriculate. Your military experience will be valued and counted, so I don't think you need to worry too much about that.

Hope this helps -- best of luck!
Mili


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

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[roy55550]

Hi mili,
Thank you very much for the detailed evaluation, it sure helps me a lot.
Your post has raised a couple of new questions:

Regarding to time of applying, one of the reasons that I thought it will be better to wait another year Is that way I would have better recommendations from my current place of work, while if I apply now It will be too early to get good (if any) recommendations.

About my military experience, I haven't mention it, but did you kept in mind in your that this experience is prior to my graduate studies Does it changes the way schools will look at it?


Thanks again,
Roy.

[mili]

Hi,

It shouldn't matter that your military experience was before your graduate studies - this is typical in Israel, no?

I see your point about recommendation letters, but I don't think it's a strong enough reason to wait a whole year. Of course, it is completely up to you, but if you're eager to go sooner rather than later, I think you have an opportunity to apply now. If you don't get in, you can always reapply with stronger recommendation letters, etc. next year without having lost anything (though of course there are fees involved with applying).

Good luck!
Mili

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

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

Download mbaMission’s Free Personal Statement Guide

Visit the mbaMission Blog

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[roy55550]

Hi,

Yes, it is typical.

Thanks again! you really helped me.


Roy

[mili]

Glad to hear it, Roy. Good luck with everything!

Best,
Mili


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

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

Download mbaMission’s Free Personal Statement Guide

Visit the mbaMission Blog

Follow mbaMission on Twitter