Philip Said:

How flexible is a Roth IRA?

We Answered:

If you intend to emigrate permanently, I would not use an IRA as an investment vehicle.

Tara Said:

can u tell me if i could be accepted by business school?

We Answered:

I strongly disagree with Tangent. You have a strong GMAT for any top business school (the averages are between 680 and 720 at the very top schools), you have a very compelling background, great experience and should be able to tell some great stories in your application.

Your GPA may be a little on the low side, but I know people who have gotten into top schools with lower GPAs, you just need to have a compelling story.

As for the math, if you've completed Algebra II, you'll be fine. I did an MBA (from a top school) and a few years of investment banking and never once needed calculus (though it does exercise your brain and makes you smarter!). You'll really have to dig to find a specialization where you'll need calculus, and once you have an MBA, you're more likely to hire someone else to do that level of number crunching.

For an MBA, experience trumps GPA. If you want to make yourself a stronger candidate, double down on studying for the GMAT and retake it. If you can get close to 750 no one is going to pay much attention to your GPA.

The admissions folks really do look at the whole person. They want someone who's going to be a successful business person and give back lots of money to the school. GPA and GMAT are not strong indicators of how successful you'll be — there are many other factors. Business schools are well aware of this.

You may not get into all the top schools you apply to, but you shouldn't have trouble getting into a top 25 school and with some great essay writing and perhaps a higher GMAT, the top ten are definitely within reach.

Good luck!

Dave Said:

What are your thoughts on this part of Obama's State of Union Speech?

We Answered:

The workforce makes money and pays taxes and spends their money in the local economy. Theoretically, a higher level of education will allow one to earn a larger paycheck, to pay more taxes and spend more in the economy.

The question you should be asking is why do taxpayer subsidies go to banks in the first place? By the statement they are "unwarranted". They are a private business, not a government entity, regardless of the bailouts. And why are students being brainwashed to go that far into debt when over 80 percent will never actually work in the field that they're educated in? Why are colleges allowed to charge that much money for what will be for most a substandard education? And how are these financial institutions going to stay in business if billions of dollars of debt are going to be "forgiven", that's not government money, that's money that these banks have provided for educational purposes with the promise of repayment. These are the answers I would ask...just sayin.

Gary Said:

Future Growth in Field of Real Estate Appraisal?

We Answered:

I would definitely not pursue this as a career.

Real estate appraisers are becoming obsolete. Computer models can do what they do more cheaply and more accurately.

This website will make the profession virtually extinct:

http://www.zillow.com/


Plus, the real estate boom is over.

Find something else.