Profile Evaluation, if you please!

[dakotakorth]

Hi everyone, thanks for taking time to read this.

I just took the first of 2 scheduled GMAT tests on Saturday, and was thrilled to score a 710. I had been scoring well on Verbal but knew I had more work to do on the Quantitative section, so was very pleasantly surprised to score so well on the first test.

To my mind, this takes all the pressure off of test #2, which is already paid for. The breakdown is a bit concerning, though, and I would appreciate your insights on both the test and my overall viability as a candidate in the top-20 programs. I scored a 99th percentile on Verbal and 64th on Quant, which gave me a 92nd percentile overall. I think I can do better on the quant (though that was the best I had done to date) because it's mostly memorization and timing issues for me, and I have 5 more weeks to study. So here are my questions followed by my overall demographic info. Thanks again!

-if I hadn't taken already paid for it, would you have recommended taking it a 2nd time? Are there any possible negative repercussions for taking it a 2nd time? [I think it's unlikely to score 99th on Verbal again, but I would hope to pull my math up into the 70s or even low 80s]

-Given my data (below), what are my ballpark chances for some of the top programs -- notably Wharton, Booth, Ross, HBS?

About me:
-33 yr old white male from the Midwest
-low (2.8) GPA from Michigan, entered undergrad as sophomore in Engineering school, transfered to liberal arts, but took many classes in the business school. Graduated semester early (despite poor GPA)
-10-11 years work experience, including: Peace Corps (taught international business at a university in E. Europe); 7 years in foreign policy/international relations project managment and policy development; left org a year ago to found a new NGO focused on international relations; primary function at startup is as the financial and operational director.
-regular volunteering experience, including leadership roles
-generally nice guy ;)

[rachel]

Hi! Your overall GMAT score is good - but your quant score is on the low side for a top school. Many of the most competitive schools look for quant scores to be over the 80th percentile. I would give yourself another shot at taking it, and really focus on the quant section. Remember that schools only take your highest score, so if you go down the second time, it won't work against you. In reviewing the rest of your profile, two other things grab my attention. First, your undergrad GPA is low, so you might consider writing an optional essay explaining why your grades what they were. Maybe a lot of it had to do with your time studying engineering, and if that is the case, explain that to the AdCom. In addition, you are older that the typical business school applicant. That doesn't mean you won't get into a top school, but you very much need to convey to the AdCom why now is the right time for you to get an MBA and what you want to do after you get your degree. For older applicants, this is very important to clearly articulate. Otherwise, you seem to have an interesting professional background, which will help differentiate you from other applicants, and you have regular volunteering experiences, which is very important when applying to business school.

Best of luck,

Rachel Beck

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