casey 08-27-2006, 02:37 PM Hi there, i'm so thankful for the info i've found on this site! i was hoping i could some views on my own situation. I'm curious if I could get some advice about whether or not I have a chance of getting into a top MBA program. I'm looking to apply to UM Ross, Berkeley & Cornell for Fall 2007 and I'm wondering if I'm crazy for thinking I could get in. Here's my (brief) bio:
Education:
Undergrad: Univ of Toledo (Ohio) Bachelor Bus Adm
Major: Int Business Minor: Marketing
GPA 3.0 (3.7 over last 60 credits)
worked 30+ hours/week to fund education
Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity
Summer study abroad in Taiwan 2003
Post-grad: Studied for one year at National Taiwan University Mandarin
Training Center.
Work Experience:
Durtech Systems, Inc Taipei, TW
6 month internship while studying at NTU
helped market/sell medical devices in US
translation/interpretation (FDA docs, trade shows, etc)
Royal Pacific Foods Monterey, CA (dec 2005 - present)
sales and marketing - responsible for Japanese market
80+ direct accounts, including several "key" accounts
several international accts (Bermuda, Togo, Taiwan)
GMAT: 700 (42Q67P, 45V98P)
letters of recommendation should be strong.
I am conversationally fluent in mandarin - read/write intermediate level.
I figure my undergrad is so-so, but GMAT score is strong. work experience, while not significant in quantity, is quite good in terms of quality and international exposure. i want to get involved with managerial strategy for comanies looking to expand into Greater China and so MBA is necessary to develop these skills. my quant scores are low (GMAT and undergad) so I'm currently taking a Calc course at UC Berkeley Extension (grade of A+ expected).
I'm also very involved in extra-curricular activities - including martial arts (black belt - jujutsu, karate & aikido - practice 20+ hr/week).
I'm willing to do what it takes to get into a top program - do you think i have what it takes to get in now??
Icemastr 08-28-2006, 02:28 PM Your GMAT score is slightly above average but not much and your service and extra curricular activities might put you a bit above average however your GPA is below average. Something key will be proving your leadership. Being involved in activities is great but you will have to demonstrate how you have been a leader. Were you an officer, organizer, or founder? What have you done to set you apart from your peers and lead others around you to accomplish more? Overall your application is probably around average for a top school. If you want to get in with little work experience I would expect you would need to be exceed expectations in every category and demonstrate how you will benefit and how your fellow classmates will benefit by doing an MBA program with so little experience. You can try applying and you might get accepted but I wouldn't be disappointed if you don't get accepted. You also might apply to a less regarded school and get accepted and get your MBA accomplished sooner if you have good reasons for doing so.
You will probably be better off applying in a couple more years. Something you should consider is with two years full time work experience before you start an MBA what kind of job will you get when you graduate? To recruiters your lack of experience will leave you over educated for the jobs you have experience for and under experienced to get the type of jobs they are hiring MBA grads for. Unless you are planning to work for the same company or start your own business you would probably be better off having 3-5 years experience at your current job. This would also put you in a better position for your current employer to pay all or part of your education.
casey 08-29-2006, 01:04 AM Thanks for the quick reply - much appreciated! I have been considering the same questions you have posed: is now the right time for an MBA?
I feel that deciding "when" is one of the hardest questions. My goal is to move into more of a consulting-type role working with firms looking to expand into Asia. Ideally I will be self-employed, but realistically I will need to work with a consulting firm for a few years first and gain experience (and contacts). The problem, however, is that these firms tend to hire only MBA's or those with extensive international experience. I don't see 3-5 more years in my current position bringing me closer to this goal. Therein lies my dilemma! Do you think if I re-took the GMAT and scored higher it would improve my chances? I felt that I could have studied more and done a lot better - I felt I bombed the quant section and yet I still scored a 700 overall. Also, do you think the Calc class I'm taking will improve my chances?
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