I have posted on here before, so forgive me if info is repeated, my stats have changed quite a bit.
28, Female
Current work experience: 3 years in production/design for a fashion/beauty magazine, 1 promotion, currently manage 3 people. My job is not Quant related at all (the only numbers I work with are magazine page numbers!), not quite sure how to address this.
Extra curriculars: Advertising Women of New York, young executive member, serve on hospitality board; runner (3 half-marathons, training for a full); past volunteer work in psychiatric hospital doing art therapy.
Goals: Marketing, brand management. I'd love to stay in fashion/beauty, working for a company like L'oreal or Estee Lauder.
GMAT: 590 (Quant was low, like 50th percentile, Verbal was high though, 80th), retaking next month.
Undergrad: Bachelor of Fine Arts, Graphic Design, from California State University, Channel Islands (newest state school, I was in 2nd graduating class), 3.85 GPA. Study abroad in London for 1 semester.
Target Schools:
Super reach: Michigan
Reach: UT-Austin, UNC-Chapel Hill
Safer bets: Notre Dame, University of Washington
My main question - do I stand a chance? If my GMAT doesn't go up much on my second attempt, is it worth it to still apply, or should I wait a year? Also, if I apply to round 1 for some schools, my current GMAT will be sent. If I retake the test after the 1st deadline and send those scores, will AdCom see it as a profile update, or will they put me in the 2nd round bucket?
Another side question - what are the benefits/drawbacks to a small program? I know Notre Dame class size is about 130, while UT is about 270 and Michigan is 430.
Thanks so much for any feedback!