Will my numbers impress?
I took my first diagnostic on Friday (official GMAT Prep) and scored a 740 (46Q, 46V). It's a lot higher than I expected, and now I'm wondering if I should reevaluate my list of schools for Round 2 in January. Realistically, because I work in non-profit, I can't afford to apply to many schools, so my list has to be places I have a decent shot of being accepted, no more than 5.
- GPA 3.5 from a top ten liberal arts
- MA in History, 3.8 GPA
- Goals: I want to work for a consulting company in educational tech.
- Work experience: 4 years right now. I built educational research databases at a HYP research institute, published several articles there, then took on a massive database automation project at another competitive school. When that project finished, I took a job teaching humanities at a private school when a headmaster in my network needed a replacement. Not necessarily the most attractive next step, but direct service experience is definitely in line with my career goals.
- Extracurriculars: Volunteer coordinator at a local non-profit, involved with a local environmental restoration project, and section leader in a local choir. Coached track and field at my last school, with more professional singing experience in the past.
- 28 y/o white male
I know this probably isn't the best place to have a non-traditional profile evaluated, but if I score as well on the real GMAT, where would I have a shot? After speaking with someone who works with liberal arts grads applying to b-school, I have Columbia, Tuck, Yale and Ross on my list. Any others that might be a good fit? Would I have even a slim, maybe 10% chance at Wharton, which is heavy on non-profit?
lol'ed at including last bullet point
The two things that will hurt you is that you're a 28 y/o white male and that your volunteered work is scattered. You can, however, work on the latter. Pick one that you can write and interview very effectively about.
Was not expecting that last bullet point
Guessing by your breakout that you're about 99% verbal and 65% quant, that might hurt you. Still a great score you should be proud of (my split was almost identical), but the weak quant makes the 740 less impressive than it would normally be.
That said, in my unprofessional opinion, I think you've got a decent shot at all the schools you listed, provided you can put together competitive rec letters and essays. That is, your GMAT/background aren't holding you back
Which schools do you think would be most receptive to my story? Also, any shot at HSW? The group interview at Wharton would be really tough, and I hate to apply if its a long shot.
I guess it changes with each round of tests. When I took it about 6 months ago my 47Q was 74%.
I don't really know enough to say which schools are receptive, but I would guess based on the info you provided Wharton is a long shot (but definitely still possible). I'd say you're most competitive in the rank 5 - 15 range, but that's mainly a guess
White male?
Auto-ding.
Craft a nice story around your experience (you need to have a compelling reason for why b-school) and you should be competitive for many top schools, but can't really say whether you'd be competitive for HSW.
With a good story and good recommendations, and if you get a 740, I'd think you have a great profile. I'm just saying this to mainly give you confidence that you are only as good as you think you are, since my advice is far from professional.
I think you posted a few months ago. 740 GMAT is a huge plus. Here's a totally unqualified opinion:
A) 3.5 in a lib arts major. That's not bad, but it's not a plus. A little below the mean at M7 programs. Your school sounds good. B) Masters. Fits your story, GPA probably isn't too relevant since masters programs are pretty lenient grade-wise, but if they do consider it, it's good that it's high? C) Goal is perfect. Consulting+hot industry+fits your background. Nice. D) Work experience is a little confusing. I don't think any MBA reader will understand your database/research stuff any real depth, but you could totally spin it to match up with the ed-tech thing, especially since it's at HYP and then another brand-name place. The issue is that then you went to teach at a private school. That sounds like career regression to me. If this were some shitty ghetto school, you could spin it as an altruistic move, but you went to your old prep school, right? This is something you're going to want to suss out in the essays. HYP researchers get into M7 programs. Teach for America-ers get into M7 programs. But private school teachers usually don't. A cynical reader might even think you were strugglin' to find a job and took the private school gig since you couldn't get anything else. I have no idea if that's actually true, but if it is, spin it. E) Extracurriculars are check-the-box good. D) Wow, definitely thought you were a white chick.
All that being said, I think your applications hinge on whether or not you can spin the private school thing as a step forward, and not a step back. All the schools you listed seem reasonable. Can't comment on your odds at Wharton, but the education background means you have a better shot than boilerplate IB/PE guys, right?
46 in quant is like 70%tile if I recall. my 47 was 73% a few months back and I think it's only getting worse by the day. I improved to 49 which was 81% in August so I guess you don't have to worry about the 80/80 split nowadays.
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