Profile Evaluation

[druegg8]

Hi - Can you please evaluate my profile for the given MBA programs? Any stretch / safety school advice is very helpful as well.

Demographics:
-26 yr old white male (27 at matriculation)

GMAT:
-660 (Q 46, V 35) first time
-Retaking with the realistic goal of 690 - 710

Undergrad:
-USC Marshall Business, emphasis Finance & Strategy
-GPA of 3.3
-Member of social fraternity / volunteer events
-Intern at a major film studio in the international business strategy & distribution group
-Undergrad tutor in Finance

Work Experience:
-3 years at national financial and operational advisory consulting firm (not Big 4 or Big 3 Mgmt consulting firm) - promotion from Associate to Senior Associate
-Then after that, 2 years at global well known film studio in finance & business development group (promotion from Senior Analyst to Manager)

Volunteer Experience:
-Peer mentor to an underprivileged youth and Junior Partner through Big Brothers Big Sisters organization
-Volunteer at Special Olympics

Post MBA Goal:
-Strategy / business development / or marketing at an entertainment, media, or technology firm

Targeted MBA Programs:
-UCLA (top choice)
-NYU (2nd choice)
-USC (3rd choice)
-Duke
-Emory
-UT Austin

Any other advice on programs or anything is welcome, thanks!

[mbamissionjenK]

Hello,

Thanks for your post. You have a lot of positive factors listed for your profile....including solid professional experience with promotions and with exposure to your desired post-MBA industry, and your volunteering and extra-curricular involvements that indicate that you'd likely be involved on the b-school campus as well. The GMAT is likely the biggest weakness at the moment, as you've acknowledged, so I do encourage you to re-take since schools will take the highest score, and it's not uncommon to take it more than once. I suggest considering a prep course or tutor if you have not already done so. Will be worth it in the end hopefully! ;) No other glaring weaknesses thus far, though your GPA could be higher. Still there are a lot of well-qualified applicants at the schools you've mentioned, so your essays and recommendations and interview will play an important part in showcasing an even more in-depth perspective on who you are and what you'll bring to the class, so don't underestimate the potential impact those components can have.

With a higher GMAT, your school list sounds reasonable and you've included some schools with more ties to entertainment and media which makes sense. NYU as you may realize will definitely be the biggest reach as it's quite selective statistically, and with a class size smaller than some. Duke's applications seem to be up this year so it would be between them and UCLA in terms of the 2nd-most-competitive options on your list.

Focus on the factors you can STILL CHANGE.... namely the GMAT and your essays, for the coming months. Good luck and let us know how we can help with your applications!