Hi,
Need advise. I have score 680 in gmat (quant 49 and verbal 34)
Have nearly 1 yr and 7 months of full time work experience in IT industry. Have a gpa of 3.3. I have also represented my college in many inter school events. I am also associated with social activities conducted in my office. I am planing to give gmat once again but would like to apply with this score. Please advise in which colleges should I apply. Also advise that applying in which round is beneficial.

Awaiting help . Thanks!!

http://www.find-mba.com/board/27082 Given your low work experience, I suggest looking at the bottom of tier four.

thanks.... also another doubt that work experience is considered till the time we join or till the time of application?

Iam planning to apply to vanderbilt university, tepper school.....what will be my chance in those universities?

tier 4 colleges are way below my expectations. Also should i retake the gmat exam and aim for a higher score?

Please suggest?

I think you have practically not chance at those schools unless you have family connections to an alum or major donor. Average student at a school like that is 29, with a GMAT over 680 and around five years' work experience. Three our of four candidates fails to get in, and the unsuccessful candidates have a similar profile.

You need to reset your expectations. Either take a masters in management at a great school, or an MBA at a fourth/fifth tier school.

Masters in management is different from mba? What will be an ideal profile for these colleges? If I get a highr gmat score then will I get a better chance?

Yes, a masters in management is similar to an MBA, but it's designed for people with little or no work experience. You can read about the US options here: http://www.find-mba.com/board/23411

I think you will be better off with an MBA, but by September 2014 you not have many schools open to you since many MBA programmes look for at least three years' experience; generally students are in their late 20s in the US. But if waiting is not an option for you then an masters in management from a great school will be a much better option than an MBA from a fourth or fifth tier school.

There's an exception: In India, the MBA is generally taken in the early 20s. There are some great schools available in India but, because the students don't have much work experience, Indian MBA programmes generally fail to produce managers with the soft skills, team skills, communication ability and cross-cultural skills that the top global MBAs develop.

So, please consider the MiM programmes if you are in a hurry.

PS If you can look outside the US, to Canada, Europe, China or Taiwan there are some even better MiM programmes http://rankings.ft.com/businessschoolrankings/masters-in-management-2012