Profile Evaluation

[chase.j.thompson]

Hello,

Any feedback will be greatly appreciated.

I am an America, M, 26, with 5 years work experience.

Undergrad majored in Economics and International Affairs. Graduated with honours with a 3.43.

I have taken the GMAT twice, first score was a 590 (V60%, Q60%) and more recently scored a 640 (V89%, Q52%).

I am an Editorial Manager for Oxford Business Group. I have managed projects in the Middle East (primarily), Caribbean, Europe, and SE Asia. Have seen quick promotions since I began my professional career. I can get very strong letters of recommendation from both my current and previous employer.

I would very much like to go to INSEAD in the fall - meaning that I would be applying 4th round. Other schools I am looking at are Yale, Georgetown, and USC.

What can I do to maximize my chances of being accepted?

Do I stand a fighting chance with a 640?

How much better are my chances if I wait for 1st round next year?

Again, feedback is greatly appreciated.

Please let me know if there is anymore information I can provide.

Best,


Chase

[mbamission]

Hello Chase,

Thanks for all of the information that you provided. I think that you would have much stronger chances if you waited to apply in the first round of the next application season. If you can, I suggest that you retake the GMAT to improve your score. If you can increase it by 30+ points that would help you significantly. Also, the quant percentile is a bit on the low side and assuming that the work that you do is not very quantitative (editorial work) then admissions committees might be a bit more concerned about the low quantitative percentile. I think that you are likely to be competitive Georgetown and USC, though Yale might be a stretch. Remember that it has a very small class. The same goes for timing for these schools. No matter what your GMAT score is, your chances of gaining admission are higher for the first or second rounds in the next application season, compared with your chances of gaining admission in the last round of this one. Good luck to you!

Sincerely,

Akiba Smith-Francis

MBA Mission
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[chase.j.thompson]

Hi Akiba,

Thank you very much for the evaluation. That all makes perfect sense.

Now to get through the GMAT once and for all :)

All the best,

Chase