Hi guys,

Had I found the forum earlier, I would have had time to retake my GMAT and prepare a strong SOP.
Could you help evaluate my chances to be admitted into PhD in Finance program; and which group of schools should I aim at? I know the clock is ticking...

- UG in Banking and Finance, Distinction (8.2/10, top 5%) from Academy of Banking, Vietnam (1998-2002)
- MA in Accounting and Finance, Distinction (1/2) from Leeds University, UK (2004-2005) (top 15 business school in UK but I guess it doesn't matter), full scholarship
- Currently enrolled in MSc in Quantitative Finance at the University of Texas at Arlington, USA - I just completed my 1st semester and got GPA 4.0 (two classes). The reason I joined in this program was to warm up and have some credits hopefully transferable to the doctoral program I am trying to get into.

I have a lot of disadvantages:

- GMAT: 730 (Q 50 V 38, 96%, AWA 4.5) but taken too long ago (3/2008)
- Paper: nothing but 2 graduation dissertations for UG and MA degrees. 60-80 pages each.

- W/E: 2 years full-time and several internships in big banks (in home country 2002-2004). Got a job in US for half a year now but unfortunately it's not finance-related.
- TA experience: let's say none officially (have some experience private tutoring secondary high-school students).

- The biggest disadvantage is discontinuity, Asian, female, 31 as I am, I have thin W/E compared to young candidates (had a hard time being neither an employee nor a student). All I have, I would say, are critical thinking and quant skills.

So, given that I may have a strong SOP, do I have a chance to get admission somewhere? I would prefer schools in CA, TX or FL, but as long as I have the admission, relocation is not a problem.

If I wait one more year, I may have chance to improve my GMAT and SOP, but the disadvantages eg. age would become even bigger. Or should I give up this dream and simply try to finish this MSQF program? It is hard to work full-time and have evening classes at the same time.

What do you think? Any advice will be really appreciated. Thank you.