MBA is where it's at. Please eval my profile

[MBAer]

Here is my profile. Thanks for your time:

Ethnic background: American Indian (US Citizen)

Graduated from Rutgers 2003 with 3.5 Double major finance, computer science

Worked for Accenture for about 18 months and now working for a mid-size consulting firm as a Senior Consultant in their healthcare practice. I am up for promotion to Managing Consultant this year.

GMAT 670 (95% percentile Quant, 66% percentile Verbal)

Had numerous extra-curricular in undergrad.

Key leadership differntiator:

Last year I founded a professional chapter of Net Impact and grew it out to 30 members in 1 year. Achieve quite a bit in 1 year. Successfully delivered two non-profit consulting projects, built strong relationships with a NJ based university's sustainable group. Had numerous speakers and fund raising events. I will be serving two terms as a President.

I think the only weak point in my application is my GMAT score especially because I am Indian and Indians are high achievers. I am planning on retaking the GMAT and shooting for 700. Which schools would you recommend me on the East Coast and Midwest? Will Harvard and Wharton still be out of question :( ??

[MBAApply]

To be blunt, your GMAT score won't be a deciding factor. A low score can keep you out, but a high score won't get you in.

Also, keep in mind that there's a difference between being good test takers, and being high achievers. In certain cultures they are synonymous, but in the US (which I'm sure as a citizen you're well aware), the definition of high achiever is much broader (academics is just one of many facets) -- and in that context (which is what b-school adcoms use to assess candidates), Asian-Americans or Asians aren't any better or worse than any other demographic -- in fact, if anything they tend to be weaker in areas outside of academics (which then balances out their strengths relative to others in academics).

As for schools, you're probably in the mix for schools in the Darden/Duke/Michigan/NYU/Cornell/Yale/UCLA/Haas range. You'll likely be a stretch for schools like Kellogg, Chicago, Columbia, Tuck and Sloan. And schools like HBS, Wharton and Stanford are likely out of reach.

Alex Chu
alex@mbaapply.com
www.mbaapply.com
http://mbaapply.blogspot.com

[MBAer]

Alex,

Thanks for replying. I totally agree with your assessment on what it means to be a high achiever in our American society. Having said that I really want to secure my admission spot rather than climbing that uphill battle with the bottom 50% of top 15 schools. How disntiguishing is my leadership experience with Net Impact?
Will b-schools overlook my GMAT score given I may have above average leadership experience?

Best,

MBAer

[MBAApply]

Not to rain on your parade, but it's one experience and while it's decent, the nature of the achievement isn't particularly exceptional in magnitude or impact compared to what other non-military applicants have. Again, one noteworthy experience doesn't make you "above average" in terms of leadership experience or ability. Multiply that Net Impact experience over 4 or 5 different instances from college onwards, and then you may have a case for being "above average".

The folks with above average leadership experience have a long history of accomplishments from their college days onwards in a leadership capacity. My guess is that you're overestimating your overall candidacy -- your GMAT isn't exceptional, but your overall profile isn't either. You're a middle-of-the-road guy when compared to many other applicants applying for decent MBA programs.

Alex Chu
alex@mbaapply.com
www.mbaapply.com
http://mbaapply.blogspot.com

[MBAer]

Thanks for your assessment. :)