Profile Feedback for a Pet Eng - Targeting top tier schools

[codygauer]

Hi everyone,

I am preparing to apply to several top tier schools this fall and I was hoping to get some feedback on my profile. I am looking to get an MBA primarily because of the opportunities that I think will become available in my industry in the next 3 to 5 years. So here is my profile.

GMAT: 620. A very poor effort. I choked on the Quant and I will be retaking the test in 4 weeks time. Practice tests range from 630 to 710. I have pinpointed weak areas and have redoubled my efforts. I am realistically hoping to land at 700.

Current Occupation: Petroleum Engineer with a major oil and gas exploration and production company, 5 yrs experience.

I have worked across North America (Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, Colorado, Wyoming, and now Alaska.

I have worked in the field on a drilling rig and as a supervisor of field ops, and in the office as a lead project engineer for well design, and as the developer and controller of a budget forecast tool for a $500MM business unit.

I have worked in three of the most high profile, environmental significant oil and gas fields in North America.

Undergrad Information:
Received a technologist diploma from a two year technical institute in British Columbia, Canada
GPA: 77%
Average class hours per week: 35
Average homework hours per week: 20-25
Worked one part time job: 25 hrs per week
Managed the campus rock climbing gym: 15 hrs per week

Received a B.Sc. in Petroleum Engineering with a Minor in Mathematics from Montana Tech.
GPA: 3.6
Completed in 2 years, using some transfer credits

Previous work experience:
Athletic equipment sales
Top salesman in my department in 2 separate stores.
Store designated ski department expert

Vineyard Construction
Labor work
Work closely with viticulturalists and wine makers to create optimum growing conditions for the grapes

Contract Treeplanter
Again,hard labor
Responsible for the reforestation of clear cut logging blocks
Notable items:
Planted an average of 2000 trees per day, 6 days a week for 3 months a year. I planted over 200,000 trees.
Lived in a tent
No running water
Paid by the tree
Took a helicopter to work everyday (kinda fun)

Summer Camps
4 years working at the same camp holding the following jobs:
Head Lifeguard
Counselor
Mountain Bike director
(Developed and implemented program at 16yrs old)
Climbing wall coordinator

General Facts:
Formerly a sponsored competitive mountain biker and freeskier
Still an avid mountain biker and skier
Enjoy landscaping and construction
Son of entrepreneur parents

Career Goal:
Short and sweet, I want to move from an engineering position to an asset management position. A huge generation gap in my industry will lead to several key managers retiring in the next five years and not near enough qualified people to take those roles. The two most common age groups in my field are over 50 and under 25, making up approx 60% to 70% of the work force. My focus is to gain the necessary business and leadership skills to lead a team at a progressive energy company that is focused on responsible development of existing energy technology in addition to working towards sustainable development of new energy technology.


Target School:

MIT Sloan
Stanford
Haas
Wharton
Kellogg

I apologize for the length but I wanted to give as comprehensive picture as possible. I appreciate any advice you can give me. Thanks again.

-Cody

[mbamission]

Hi Cody,

Thanks for the inquiry.

Sounds like you have some interesting and unique professional experience as well as personal interests/hobbies!

You are taking the right steps in terms of retaking the GMAT. A GMAT score isn’t everything, but simply by retaking the test you are showing Admissions Committees that you are committed to the process and improving your score would, of course, strengthen your candidacy.

You provided detail on your undergraduate extracurricular activities and previous jobs but some of this seems to be from awhile ago - are you or have you been involved in any community service organizations over the past few years?

Based solely on the information in your posting and recognizing that you do hope to improve your GMAT, I would think that Stanford, Wharton may be a reach. Might you consider rounding our your target list with schools like Tuck, Ross or Darden?

Regards,
Erin

Erin Schuhmacher
MBA Mission
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