Profile - US Hispanic, radio background, 25 , 640 GMAT today

[joseph.mitchell710]

Hi Experts,

After completing the MGMAT online course and reviewing for about 3.5 weeks beyond that, this is what I walked out with:

640 (73%): Q40 (52%), V38 (84%)

My top score on a CAT test was 670, while most of the other scores were in the lower half of the 600s, so I was not surprised by the final score. I did think my verbal would be the higher of the 2 though (early CAT tests had me in the 99% for Verbal).

My background seems to be in its own category on these forums:

Positives:
-25-year-old Hispanic male (Honduras-born, Minneapolis-raised)
-Music/Spanish for my undergrad at St. Olaf College (MN)
-top academic scholarship at undergrad + music scholarship
-post-college: radio production intern for a national program with a highly reputable radio company
-worked my way into a membership position
-on the side, I've been applying the business tips and radio skills I've gleaned off the older employees to start building my 6-month-young Latin Crossover website SpanglishNoise.com (it's set to reach 20k page views this month alone)

Negatives:
-underperforming undergrad GPA of 2.8
-mother diagnosed w/ MS
-father lost his job (now employed again)
-my own mistakes: poor friend choices 1st year, first
exposure to a poor grade

-640 GMAT??

I really want to join an MBA program next fall, focusing on strategic marketing. Anything a program can offer related to digital and entertainment/media would be a bonus. Should I apply, given my GPA and GMAT score? I really don't want to take the GMAT again because I'm working fulltime, demand is growing for my website, 2nd round deadlines are approaching, and my father is undergoing surgery that will leave him on crutches for the next month (meaning I'll be doing more for my family).

Schools I'm interested in:

-University of MN (Carlson)
-University of Miami Florida
-Cornell Johnson
-Emory
-NYU (I'm guessing a long-shot)
-I'll take recommendations

Long-term, I'd love to work in an entertainment/media marketing role, ideally in the music industry.

Sorry to be so long-winded. I appreciate any advice on the GMAT score and schools to consider. Thanks!

[mili]

Hi there,

Thanks for the detailed background. I would say that you can probably explain away the undergrad GPA given your family circumstances at the time, but the GMAT will be tough. Your website and job are interesting/unique, and your family history/personal story will certainly be interesting and different. I don't see a ton of leadership in your profile necessarily, nor do I see lots of community or extracurricular activity outside of the website, so I think you'll be leaning pretty heavily on personal stories to round out your profile.

I'd say given your academic scores and non-traditional profession (which doesn't seem like it lends itself to loads of leadership/team experiences), NYU and Cornell may be long shots. USC Marshall could be a great fit -they have a Business of Entertaining certificate that might be of interest to you. I'd imagine UCLA would be great too, but again might be tough for you to get in there. It's still worth applying to NYU and Cornell given your interests, just know they are stretches. I'd also look at programs that are in big music/entertainment towns -- LA, NY, Austin, Nashville (Vanderbilt maybe?)... they are likely to have stronger programs in the field you're interested in.

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

Follow mbaMission on Twitter

[joseph.mitchell710]

Hi Mili,

Thank you for taking the time to reply to my inquiry. I forgot to write about my volunteer experience! Over the past two years (post-college) I’ve volunteered to mentor inner-city Latino youth at an after-school program, I assisted a local nun with her ESL program, and I’ve performed several free concerts with local community orchestras.

Your advice helps and I will look into USC Marshall and perhaps Vanderbilt. Thanks again!

Joseph

[mili]

Glad to hear you have that great community experience, Joseph! That will definitely help!

Best of luck,
Mili