Recommendation for MBA programs
Hello all. I'd like to know what programs WSO members would recommend for buyside with my profile: 590 gmat, 3.5 gpa non target. I know the gmat is low and I'm going to take it again. I worked 4.5 years in the navy as an electrical guy with some decent ecs tutoring inner city kids and volunteering for vets. I also have a short, but decent track record for investments with a 19.4% return ytd (2012).
I'd just like some realistic recommendations since my dream school Columbia seems out of reach even though I really want to enroll in Columbia's value investment program.
you were in the Navy, had god knows how much time on a ship without anything to do, and you couldn't study for a better GMAT score? Dude....
As a vet, I think you should rethink this ignorant comment. Most military jobs regardless of branch or operational capacity aren't 9-5, bro.
Let me clarify. I'm not saying its 9-5, I was in the military also. When I was on a deployment back in the day 6 days a week 13 hour shifts were very normal. However, all I was alluding to is that GMAT is not a test of IQ, but instead of study habits. With enough study time you should be able to get a good score.
And although you do work a lot when deployed, I also remember how there is next to nothing to do during your off time besides go to the gym. So bury your head in the GMAT books and take those practice exams on a weekly basis until you are constantly hitting in the 700s.
If a banker who works 90+ hour weeks and has temptations of NYC, girls, drinks, and clubs during his free time. A military guy should be able to be more disciplined and get this thing out of the way.
Also to the OP, I recommend the online classes through Veritas Prep, they are a bit pricy but I was scoring in low 600s before I took them. They teach you a lot of tricks on how to approach problems that you might not reazlie are there, which greatly improved my score and got me into my dream school.
It's difficult to gauge your profile without knowing your GMAT score, as you plan on retaking. The old adage goes "a good GMAT score doesn't necessarily open doors, but a bad GMAT score sure as hell closes them." You asked for realistic advice, so I'll give it you. If your goal is buyside, without previous buyside experience, post graduate school, then it needs to be a top MBA program. No MBA program outside of the top 10 will even give you a shot. That being said, a sub 600 GMAT doesn't qualify you for the top 25. So keep studying and get the GMAT above the 7XX threshold before looking any further.
Trailmix I really wish life on a ship was hokey dory with nothing to do, alas that is not the case. But I did study my ass off considering my limitations. It's just been frustrating all the time I put into the gmat and out comes this horrible score.
Thanks SlickRock. Just as I had thought, I am doomed without a better gmat.
This could be a pretty strong profile, but you need to get 700 ish or slightly over. Then Columbia looks good. Hell, even Wharton might be in play. Did you go to the Naval Academy?
sounds enlisted to me.
and no, you are not "doomed" just because you don't make it to the buy-side. not everyone does, and it's obviously not for everyone.
Thank you for the comments and encouragement. I am enlisted. Let's chalk it up as my fault for not properly researching what the recruiter tells you.
I've been using the Manhattan Gmat and their online courses. As for discipline and study habits, I use all my off time for studying since grad school is serious business. I'll also look into Veritas since I thought Manhattan was the gold standard for prepping for Gmat.
As others have stated, no 'top' school with a GMAT that low. As you said, you are going to retake it, which is good, but it's hard to say what you would qualify for not knowing what your final GMAT score will be.
Hypothetically speaking, if you get at or above 700, you could be a candidate at some 'top' schools, Columbia being one of them. My thought is, depending on which program and their individual support of military candidates, you could be competitive at schools in the 5-15 range given your GPA, ECs, length and type of work experience.
Regards
Thank you so much for the feedback. I'll update with my score in a week or 2 and see how it goes. By the way, is there anyone here who I can pm about some other questions about business school with my interests in investments? Thanks again!
feel free to PM me if you want, i used to work at a BB and am at a top school (and did 6 years in the military so can relate to you I guess).
Thanks for the help. Before I decide to ask more, I'll make sure to get that Gmat score up first.
Wow, the information provided by the seniors here is on spot. I was at an mba fair making my pitch while learning about programs and many of the schools liked my profile after looking at my resume and talking to me. Then every single one asks what is my gmat because I didn't put it on there and I go 590. All that "Yeah you have a great profile" quickly turned into, "well that's kind of low" (translation holy shit you serious?). By the way, these are 2nd tier schools and it was an eye opener.
Thanks again guys for the reality check on what I need to do since its provided even more motivation now to destroy that nasty score!
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