DarqByte

Alright, so in a previous post I mentioned that I was getting things together to apply for the MBA program at UNLV. For an update on that, basically they have all of my materials and will have a decision and information to me early next week. My GMAT scores have been calculated, but I don’t know yet what they are. Unofficially I got a 660 out of 800.

When I took a practice exam at home a few days before the actual exam, before studying, I got a 590. UNLV requires a 560 as a minimum for acceptance, as well as a bachelor’s degree in any field of study and a 3.0 or better on said undergraduate degree. Well, I unofficially scored 100 points better than their minimum on the GMAT and my undergraduate GPA was 3.56, well above their minimum. Combine that with my undergraduate degree being from UNLV and such, I think I’m a shoo-in to get in at UNLV.

But after I got that unofficial 660, I wondered where that ranked me in with the world. I decided to go see what the top 10 business schools were and what they accepted for scores on the GMAT. My 660 didn’t fare too badly.

Someone I know on Twitter, Jessica Mullen, said that her official score jumped way up from her unofficial, so if I jump 40 or so, then I’m in a really good range… Like, say, in range of MIT Sloan.

See, I’ve always had a semi-obsession with MIT. Back when my family and I discovered that I had some mathematically-based talent, I always thought that MIT and CalTech were totally awesome. Unfortunately, I never pursued either of them while I was in high school. I basically just said “Oh, I’ll go to UNLV” and left it at that. I still somewhat regret having never tried for either of them. CalTech sent me a lot of information about themselves too…

So now I could be within range of attending the 5th-best business school in the country. Yes, I know that link I sent to you listed it as 6th, but I’ve seen it as 5th just about everywhere else. So what do I do? I apply.

I’ve decided to apply to MIT Sloan before their application deadline in October. Right now they’re accepting applications for the start of courses in August 2010. So I’d have a long wait anyway. It’s a $250 application and I figure, since I’m sore over having never applied for any top schools for my undergraduate, I’ll give my choice school a shot for graduate.

Sure, if I get in I’ll have taken four courses at UNLV that won’t transfer. But that won’t matter. A degree from MIT Sloan is practically like gold. I could get a job anywhere. It would pay well. That’s part of the reason I’m even applying. The logistics of attending would be insane; Laura and I would be highly stressed both mentally and financially for the two years I’d be working for my degree. But the payoff would be so worth it.

That’s all assuming I’d be accepted. But I’ll apply. And if I make it in, I’m only one of 350 people that are accepted per year. Wow.

Update

It’s official, I got a 660. Good stuff! 83rd percentile!