Scores and Background

Scores and Background

I scheduled the GMAT around college football season as I knew I would never actually study with my beloved Gators distracting me. I took the test on September 5th. I didn’t know what to expect in terms of results, practice tests ended with scores ranging from 450 (eek) to 550 (ok). Since I studied for this exam more than I had prepared for any standardize test before, I was going to do my best. So my score was…

…we will get there.

Everyone Has a GPA Excuse:
Firstly, I was all over the place in college, before settling on a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration. Boy ‘o boy did my GPA suffer for my lack of a clearly defined path. I took engineering courses and accounting courses and science courses… the list goes on and on. Undergrad ended with a relatively poor GPA, I never cared much, until I realized how much easier the graduate school application process would have been if my GPA had been better.

Score: 2.96/4.0.
Completely Useless Percentage (CUP): 74.00%

Lesson learned from GPA: GPA is important for more than just obtaining your first job out of college.

LSAT: The No Other Current Options Test
You should know, I have always been pretty schizophrenic when it comes to my career choices. While I was in college I wanted to be a Chiropractor, a testament to my healthy lifestyle, but I am horrible in the sciences (and honestly, unsure about the field). Next, I assumed, as many college juniors do, lawyer-ing (made up word, but I like it) would be the path for me… took the LSAT, didn’t enjoy any aspect of the preparation, and didn’t perform nearly as well as my GPA demanded I do to get into, well… any school really.

Score: 148/180.
CUP: 82.22%

Lesson learned from LSAT: don’t take LSAT if you aren’t sure you want to go to law school.

Real Life Out of Necessity:
My first job out of college was a job (that’s all, not a career by any means). I got a 9-5-er as a Sales Manager with a very reputable Hotel Company. The job was perfect for everyone, they paid me very little since it was a first job out of college, and I approached it as… well… a first job out of college. My boss’s all jumped ship when the hotel sale was announced and a less productive co-worker was promoted over me. She made my life hell until I left. Worked there for 2.5 years.

Spent six months as a Restaurant Manager. Highly not recommended.

I was offered a job in Atlanta from former bosses and the previous hotel management company. Left Hotel Company for good for current consulting job, been here for 14 months.

Score: 4.5 years of work experience

Lesson learned from Real Life: Do your job, see if you want a career in that field, if not, look for next job, don't burn bridges, and never be out of work.

GRE:
I took the GRE as a possible out from job one. Did decently, but not nearly well enough (again, as my GPA demanded) to land in a decent school in any type of graduate program. Alas, out of necessity, I focused on my career.

Score: 1070/1600
CUP: 66.88%
Analytical Writing: 4.5/6.0
CUP: 75.00%

Lesson learned from GRE: my score was competitive for many programs… however, my GPA was a load of poo. Real lesson learned: if your GPA isn’t very good, then you better get a REALLY REALLY good score on your GRE.

GMAT: My Last Possible Option for More Education
The night of September 4, rather than cramming for the test (which I know wouldn’t help me) I spent the evening drinking beer with my beautiful girlfriend (more on her later). I woke up at 6:00 AM with a massive headache and, soon to be, hangover. It was a struggle, but goodness I did pretty well.

Score: 610/800.
CUP: 76.25%
Analytical Writing: 5.5/6.0
CUP 91.67%

So, if you are keeping score at home I have now taken all three major, non-medical, graduate admissions exams.

Lesson learned from GMAT: A pretty good score and some work experience is really the only way around a poor GPA.

Hopefully I get into a program.