Admissions Counseling - Changing Schools for higher chances of acceptance...

Graduate School Business School - MBA
1

<p>Hello,</p>

<p>I have a great question for experienced MBA applicants, applicant reviewers or graduates of an MBA program. I have researched “College Admissions Counseling”, but most websites are designed for the HS Student. My question refers to my current college that I am attending now, and that I am planning for the future.</p>

<p>Here is my dilemma. I’m currently going to a college that is a private university and it’s not ranked very high. I attend this college because it has; normal semester, online, 10-week and 5-week semesters and night classes. With my full time job, this is my only flexible option; taking classes across the world in combat zones, ect…. It is ranked higher than the other six choices that I could have chosen except one state university. Hawaii Pacific University is ranked “66” and University of Hawaii is ranked one point higher, at 67 on the Princeton Review, “scholastic” segment. Unfortunately, Colleges in the area are not ranked any higher than this. I do have to opportunity to attend the State University in classes during the late day and after hours, but it will be very difficult, limited scheduling and will take me twice as long (8 more months).</p>

<p>My background:
I am in the military, retiring at 20 years of service in one year as a U.S. Navy SEAL with proven leadership, stellar career performance and impressive recognitions and references (11 heroic combat and leadership awards, PMP and PgMP credentials, TS SCI). I will be classified as a combat disabled veteran when I retire. My overall GPA is 3.80 (3.61 Lower Level and 4.00 Upper Level) and GMAT will be taken in six months. I want to apply to an MBA program that has weight in the business community in production, industrial, or international management. Obviously, I have the dream of attending an Ivy League. I will be placing my applications for my top four choices, then three regional’s. I am fighting the clock, as I retire next spring. College MBA applications need to be submitted by Jan-Mar timeframe, so I am working a full time job, killing my self at night with four, 10-week semesters classes, but maintaining 4.0 in upper level.</p>

<p>Q – Does it truly matter that I attended Hawaii Pacific University, with a stellar resume, decent GPA and 600-700 (unknown) GMAT? I have heard over and over (rumor or fact) that Ivy League schools are very particular regarding your Undergraduate College. I don’t mean to discredit my school… I honestly don’t know how my school looks in the eyes of Columbia, Yale, Stanford, Kellogg…</p>

<p>Q- How much does the “University of Hawaii” matter when you have a great resume and the University only has one point higher than the one I am currently going to? If I switch over to University of Hawaii, my school year plan just got extended eight months. Is this worth it? Can I still apply to the MBA program while in “unfinished undergraduate studies” if I chose to go the UofH route?</p>

<p>Q - Is this something that I should explain in my essays, if I choose to stay with HPU, that it’s what I had to do with a full time job at the time? </p>

<p>In advance, I appreciate you reading this and as I have reviewed, there are many of the similar questions posted here on the board. I know that this was a big post and allot of questions. Thank you for adding your comments as they will all be read and taken in for advice. Or maybe you could lead me to someone that can professional assist?</p>

2

<p>A degree from any school in HI will come with preconceived notions (reference your screen name), and there’s not much you can do about that. It is not worth it to switch to a school ranked one notch higher because the distinction is irrelevant. As a non-traditional applicant you may have a shot at ivy MBA programs, even with an undergrad degree from HPU, but you will need top GMAT scores to validate the competitiveness of your HPU instruction i.e. prove HPU taught you the fundamentals as well as other schools taught your competitors. I think your essays should address your motivation to return to school as a non-traditional student, and you have a decent GPA with an upward trend, so all that’s left is test scores. Your test scores will likely be the most important part of your application from the prospective of admissions people because they’ll be unfamiliar with “quality” of students applying from your school. Lastly, if you know which state you want to live in after you finish your schooling, having a MBA from the flagship public university in that state will very likely open more doors for you in your second career than an ivy degree.</p>