Profile Evaluation GMAT 680 (Q 45, V 39)

[riskylvrg]

So, I finally took GMAT today after rescheduling it twice. Unfortunately, I have scored below expected at 680 (Q45, V39). I was wondering if someone could help evaluate my profile:

1. Target schools (Harvard, Wharton, Columbia, Chicago, MIT, NYU)
2. Undergrad (UC Berkeley, Haas School of Business, 3.65 GPA, lots of Finance courses)
3. International Education Experience (Belarus - 4 years undergrad, China - 1 year abroad)
4. Work Experience (6 years as a Project Manager at a medium sized private security firm in San Francisco (600 people), a summer at a large tech firm and 2 years as a financial analyst at bulge bracket i-bank, New York)
5. Recommendations (1. Managing Partner at the the first job, 2. COO at same firm and 3. my current Senior VP at the investment bank)
6. Age: 29
7. Languages: English, Belarusian (native), Russian and Chinese - competitive courses for native speakers and took SAT Chinese while applying to UC Berkeley.

I think the main strength in my application could come from my life story. I grew up and attended college in Belarus, but was forced to quit for political reasons. Came to the US at 21 and had to go through a very lengthy and painful immigration process in Nevada while working odd jobs (such as making cardboard boxes at Amazon.com). After attending a community college in San Francisco, I was admitted to Berkeley and moved to New York after graduation. The fact that I worked through school, didn't give up and was able to become fairly successful while placing so much emphasis on my education could help as well.

One of my recommendation letters will be written by an ex-real estate lawyer and an i-banker from NYC (also Eastern European, but grew up in NYC after his family escaped from the Soviet Union, graduated from Georgetown), who became a very successful entrepreneur after the bank he worked at collapsed. Second by my superior and a former Army officer who is also one of my best personal friends. Third by a Wharton undergrad, Columbia MBA who knows me very well.

I am a president at a local Toastmasters branch (to improve my language skills), have volunteered for Habitat for Humanity and taught a Computer literacy class for one semester for refugees in San Francisco Community College). Extensive traveling and backpacking experience.

I have scored well on my practice tests ( CAT 1 - 690, CAT 2 -740, CAT 1 retake after a month - 720 but consistently 650 on my Knewton tests).

Apologies if I gave too much information, I was a bit upset this afternoon and decided to ask your advice on whether I have a shot to be a competitive candidate for any of the schools I have listed or I should retake the GMAT. Thank you in advance.

[mbamission]

Hi riskylvrg ,

Thanks for writing in and sharing those very interesting background details. I agree -- your strength is in your backstory, so you want to frame your application around that story, and not around your GMAT. You don't discuss your post-MBA goals but make sure that you use your essays to show clear links between what you learned from your upbringing and time in nontraditional roles. Combine that with your international experience and role in Toastmasters and I think you could have a very unique application. Of course a 720 is always preferable to a 680, but I don't think a 680 in itself is a reason to delay your applications, especially given that you already have ~8 years work experience.

Best of luck,

Daniel Richards
http://www.mbamission.com

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