Profile Review and Target GMAT Score : Ask mbaMission

Hi, I am planning to pursue an MBA and wanted some insights about the the quality of my application and what my minimum target GMAT score should be. Details below, please let me know if more details are needed. Thanks!

Demo: Pakistani Male, 27, US Citizen.
Education: B.S. Civil Engineering. UT Austin. Combined GPA 2.7/4
GMAT: 660 (43 Quant, 39 Verbal)
Work Experience: 4 years total. 2 doing project controls consulting for major utility provider. 2 in niche tax consulting firm for engineering companies in which I am fully client facing.
Extracurricular: Ongoing work for school in Pakistan for underprivileged (founded before migrated to the US)

I believe my profile is not quite strong enough for the top schools so looking for advice on what I can do to increase my odds. I will be taking the GMAT again and am aiming for 740+ but what should my minimum score be for a chance at being admitted considering my low GPA?

I am targeting the below schools in order of preference. Likely will not apply to all of these but what I am considering at this point. Please also let me know if there should be others on my list.
1. MIT Sloan
2. Columbia
3. NYU Stern
4. Darden
5. McCombs
6. Georgetown
7. Rice (Jones)

Hi aasheriff, thanks for reaching out to us at mbaMission.

I think you are right to have some concerns about your low GPA, but it's great that you still have time to increase your GMAT score as that is the best way to mitigate a low GPA. Note that you could even try the GRE if you think that will help you get to an above-average score faster. But if you're sticking with the GMAT, then I would try for a 750 if you want to apply to top schools like Columbia and MIT. For other schools on your list, I think a 730 or 740 would be suitable.

Otherwise, your work profile seems strong with consulting and client-facing work, and after 4 years is a good time to apply. Curious how you'd translate that niche work into your post-MBA goals, but that's something you can figure out as you prepare to write your application essays.

Definitely keep up the school involvement as an extracurricular and perhaps even ramp that up, or add something else to give back? Having some really impressive leadership or impact in extracurriculars can also be a nice way to mitigate a concern in one's academic background.

Hope that helps some!
Kate

aasheriff wrote:Hi, I am planning to pursue an MBA and wanted some insights about the the quality of my application and what my minimum target GMAT score should be. Details below, please let me know if more details are needed. Thanks!

Demo: Pakistani Male, 27, US Citizen.
Education: B.S. Civil Engineering. UT Austin. Combined GPA 2.7/4
GMAT: 660 (43 Quant, 39 Verbal)
Work Experience: 4 years total. 2 doing project controls consulting for major utility provider. 2 in niche tax consulting firm for engineering companies in which I am fully client facing.
Extracurricular: Ongoing work for school in Pakistan for underprivileged (founded before migrated to the US)

I believe my profile is not quite strong enough for the top schools so looking for advice on what I can do to increase my odds. I will be taking the GMAT again and am aiming for 740+ but what should my minimum score be for a chance at being admitted considering my low GPA?

I am targeting the below schools in order of preference. Likely will not apply to all of these but what I am considering at this point. Please also let me know if there should be others on my list.
1. MIT Sloan
2. Columbia
3. NYU Stern
4. Darden
5. McCombs
6. Georgetown
7. Rice (Jones)

With a 740+ score and a work resume in service to the underprivileged, I think the application, once submitted, will easily stand above the rest.

GMAT: 660 (43 Quant, 39 Verbal)

I will be taking the GMAT again and am aiming for 740+

For Quant, seeing whether there are any subtopics you may be a bit slippery in terms of fundamentals may be helpful. The ESR of your current attempt/past mock data could be useful in identifying them. For Verbal, if you feel your fundamentals are solid, consider working on your solving approach. May boost your score a bit. Had a student for example who went from a V41 to a V45 in about 10 days so this type of learning doesn't necessarily have to take very long. Perhaps work with a study buddy who has strong Verbal skills.

All the best.