Four years of work experience in the insurance industry where I've held a few roles with increasing responsibilities and passed all my actuarial exams to receive my FSA designation. Managed a few interns and first years, mentored new employees and served on the actuarial development committee. Was a three year starter on d3 football team in college. 3.4 undergrad gpa and 670 gmat.
Planning on applying round 2. What do you think my chances are at H/S/W? I think being an actuary will help me because it will add diversity to campuses, right? Worried about gmat score though, should I retake?
I think you should try to score a minimum of 700 on the gmat to have a chance. Being an athlete looks good, and helps offset an ok gpa, but gmat is low. Shoot for 730
cc66 -
There definitely are things to like about your profile, but your academic profile is likely to be a non-starter for the H/S/W crowd. As GoIllini suggested, you should definitely retake the GMAT and do what you can to score in the 700s. Being an actuary in and of itself isn't going to be a highlight of your professional profile, but leadership, managerial, and mentorship experiences will be things to emphasize in any application.
Happy to discuss further . . . feel free to contact me directly if you'd like to share more specifics about your background.
Regards, Jon
no chance, give up
seriously, with a 3.4 from a non target, average industry and not even a 700, you're not getting in not trying to be harsh, but would like you to have a realistic approach
Idunno. I think you stand a decent chance at an M7. You may be in the running for Wharton (they are desperate for qualified applicants this year). I am less sure about Harvard/Stanford.
A strong GMAT is important here. Strong references are also important. Any indication that you were a huge outperformer at the insurance company would be helpful- if your responsibilities at 26 look like a 35 year old's that would help.
Interesting hobbies always help.
You have no chance at those schools. Your stats are very weak and your background is in no way unique or interesting.
Why not go for schools ranked in the top 50? They all offer great networking tools at a substantial tuition discount. Simply aiming for H/S/W seems alittle out of reach. I would be more realistic with what schools you'd get into.
I think that the schools in the top 50 all cost about the same....give or take 10k. That is the real problem - no disparity between cost of education, but huge difference in value of the degree.
http://grad-schools.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-graduate-schools…
I think that profile is more of a Fuqua/Darden/Tuck/NYU type level... still impressive and shows you've got potential, but it'd be a pretty big reach to shoot for H/S/W with a 670 and 3.4 and only "standard but respectable" W/E. I think people that are saying "top 50" are a bit pessimistic though... try 8-20.
I ordered Manhattan GMAT prep books last night and plan to retake (my first attempt was with very minimal studying with the free MBA.com materials). Is it at all frowned upon to take GMAT very shortly before round 2 deadlines?
btw my 3.4 GPA includes a very difficult courseload as I was a double major (Econ and Math), if that makes any difference
Thank you all for the criticism, both constructive and unconstructive ;)
Why would it be frowned upon? If you can study, take the test, do better, and still manage to complete all of your applications, then good on you.
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