MBA Program Recommendations Needed!


Nick1138

Hey all! I was simply wondering if I could get a few pointers, suggestions or recommendations in terms of which European programs could be well-suited for me. At the same time, I'd need to be at least competitive enough (profile-wise) to be potentially accepted.

Preferably, in terms of concentrations offered, I'd like to find my way into something related to Entertainment/Media Management, though I've also flirted with the idea of getting into Sports Management and perhaps Marketing in general. I know it's a bit vague, but I'd love to know what kind of options I can look into.

Here's my profile and work experience:

Undergrad GPA: 3.11 (Concordia University (Montreal), BA in Communication Studies, Graduated in 2008)
GMAT Score: 640 (Q44, V34)
Nationality: French-Canadian (Caucasian)
Age: 28
Fully bilingual in French and English (Written and Spoken)

-My first job was actually during university and I was the assistant manager at a video store for a total of 4 years. I was working 20+ hours a week during my BA, which helps explain my lower-than-wanted GPA.
-During the end of 2008, I started a music video/commercial production company with two friends of mine. After a few months, we completed a couple of projects but given all of our youth and inexperience (I was 23 then), the venture was soon abandoned.
-In early 2009, I started working for a film producer here in Montreal. I started off as being his assistant, though over time our work relationship developed and I became more of a producing partner. Since 2009, we've been involved in three feature-length films which had various distribution agreements (ie, they're not TV movies that no one ever saw). We've also been developing an $8.7M project on our own and we're getting closer and closer to actually getting it made. My title on the project would/will most likely be Associate Producer.
-I also produced a few commercials and music videos on the side just to keep myself busy.
-In the Summer months of 2011, I was part of a Graduate Course in Film Producing at UCLA. As such, I lived in Los Angeles for a few months and got to know the area and the school pretty well.
-In the Spring of 2012, I started working for Fidelity Investments as a Sales Coordinator. I also continued with my film work on the side.
-I've played ice hockey for the majority of my life and played some AA in my teens. I still play now in a recreational league.
-I've been a part of training programs for Aboriginal youth in Northern Quebec. Long story short, I put together particular film courses covering a range of general topics and taught them to a dozen youth or so.
-I will more than likely be traveling for a couple of months next May either in Europe/SE Asia/South America. I plan on either volunteering if I can find a good program or perhaps I might teach English and/or French.
-It may be important to point out that I have no background in math, except for two courses during my BA (Intro to Real Estate and Personal Finance) for which I got A's for.

Any help is greatly appreciated!

Hey all! I was simply wondering if I could get a few pointers, suggestions or recommendations in terms of which European programs could be well-suited for me. At the same time, I'd need to be at least competitive enough (profile-wise) to be potentially accepted.

Preferably, in terms of concentrations offered, I'd like to find my way into something related to Entertainment/Media Management, though I've also flirted with the idea of getting into Sports Management and perhaps Marketing in general. I know it's a bit vague, but I'd love to know what kind of options I can look into.

Here's my profile and work experience:

Undergrad GPA: 3.11 (Concordia University (Montreal), BA in Communication Studies, Graduated in 2008)
GMAT Score: 640 (Q44, V34)
Nationality: French-Canadian (Caucasian)
Age: 28
Fully bilingual in French and English (Written and Spoken)

-My first job was actually during university and I was the assistant manager at a video store for a total of 4 years. I was working 20+ hours a week during my BA, which helps explain my lower-than-wanted GPA.
-During the end of 2008, I started a music video/commercial production company with two friends of mine. After a few months, we completed a couple of projects but given all of our youth and inexperience (I was 23 then), the venture was soon abandoned.
-In early 2009, I started working for a film producer here in Montreal. I started off as being his assistant, though over time our work relationship developed and I became more of a producing partner. Since 2009, we've been involved in three feature-length films which had various distribution agreements (ie, they're not TV movies that no one ever saw). We've also been developing an $8.7M project on our own and we're getting closer and closer to actually getting it made. My title on the project would/will most likely be Associate Producer.
-I also produced a few commercials and music videos on the side just to keep myself busy.
-In the Summer months of 2011, I was part of a Graduate Course in Film Producing at UCLA. As such, I lived in Los Angeles for a few months and got to know the area and the school pretty well.
-In the Spring of 2012, I started working for Fidelity Investments as a Sales Coordinator. I also continued with my film work on the side.
-I've played ice hockey for the majority of my life and played some AA in my teens. I still play now in a recreational league.
-I've been a part of training programs for Aboriginal youth in Northern Quebec. Long story short, I put together particular film courses covering a range of general topics and taught them to a dozen youth or so.
-I will more than likely be traveling for a couple of months next May either in Europe/SE Asia/South America. I plan on either volunteering if I can find a good program or perhaps I might teach English and/or French.
-It may be important to point out that I have no background in math, except for two courses during my BA (Intro to Real Estate and Personal Finance) for which I got A's for.

Any help is greatly appreciated!
quote
Duncan

Just to be clear, when you say that you are French-Canadian, do you mean that you are a dual citizen? Or that you are Québécois?

The industries you are looking at in Europe are not big recruiters of MBAs, especially in France.

I recommend these two articles:-
* GMAT Tiers - strong schools for your GMAT www.find-mba.com/board/27082
* How to use LinkedIn to find the best school www.find-mba.com/board/33571

My gut feeling is that Manchester or Warwick might be good schools for you to target, but with a better GMAT you could consider Cass or Imperial (being in London would be much better).

Just to be clear, when you say that you are French-Canadian, do you mean that you are a dual citizen? Or that you are Québécois?

The industries you are looking at in Europe are not big recruiters of MBAs, especially in France.

I recommend these two articles:-
* GMAT Tiers - strong schools for your GMAT www.find-mba.com/board/27082
* How to use LinkedIn to find the best school www.find-mba.com/board/33571

My gut feeling is that Manchester or Warwick might be good schools for you to target, but with a better GMAT you could consider Cass or Imperial (being in London would be much better).
quote
Nick1138

Hey Duncan,

Thanks for the quick reply! I did indeed mean that I was Québécois. Sorry for the confusion...

In terms of Post-MBA work prospects, I'm very much open to working anywhere in the world, whether it be in the US (though it's hard to get a work visa unless I get an MBA in the US), Europe or even here in Canada.

I know we're on the Europe board, but if you could point me to some programs in the US for which I might be a good fit, I'd be more than appreciative. I was initially interested in UCLA and USC, but I realize that my profile isn't up to par for those particular programs...

Hey Duncan,

Thanks for the quick reply! I did indeed mean that I was Québécois. Sorry for the confusion...

In terms of Post-MBA work prospects, I'm very much open to working anywhere in the world, whether it be in the US (though it's hard to get a work visa unless I get an MBA in the US), Europe or even here in Canada.

I know we're on the Europe board, but if you could point me to some programs in the US for which I might be a good fit, I'd be more than appreciative. I was initially interested in UCLA and USC, but I realize that my profile isn't up to par for those particular programs...
quote
Duncan

Well, I can just point you back to the post on GMAT tiers for other schools. It does feel to me as if LA is the right place for you. Your profile feels very much like a Pepperdine MBA...

Well, I can just point you back to the post on GMAT tiers for other schools. It does feel to me as if LA is the right place for you. Your profile feels very much like a Pepperdine MBA...
quote
ralph

Yes, Pepperdine is a great suggestion - although if you can bump your GMAT score a bit higher, UCLA, with its entertainment/media specialization is a really good option.

Alternatively, if you wanted to focus on sports management as you suggested initially, there are only a few programs to consider. George Washington is one - not a bad fit for you - but there's also SDSU in San Diego.

Yes, Pepperdine is a great suggestion - although if you can bump your GMAT score a bit higher, UCLA, with its entertainment/media specialization is a really good option.

Alternatively, if you wanted to focus on sports management as you suggested initially, there are only a few programs to consider. George Washington is one - not a bad fit for you - but there's also SDSU in San Diego.
quote

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