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Joined: 22 Apr 2004
Posts: 1117
Given Kudos: 59
Location: Southern California
Schools:Kellogg MBA 2004
Re: Please evaluate
[#permalink]
18 Jun 2010, 11:19
Hi kamkam,
To answer your questions:
1. I think your unique life story should only help you, but don't fall into the trap of OVERestimating how much it will help you. It helps to the extent that it gives you some very interesting experiences to draw upon as you write your essays and answer interview questions, but just having a unique background itself won't get you in. It's what you do with that background can help you -- drawing upon your experiences to show how you've overcome adversity, how you'll bring a unique point of view to the classroom, how now challenge is too daunting for you, etc. Also your age means that by the time you'll enter business school you'll be above average (which isn't good these days), although it's your years of work experience that matters more, and in this regard you're average (which is good).
2. I think you have the beginnings of a competitive profile at a top-ten school, assuming that 1) you get a 700+ GMAT score, 2) your letters of recommendation are terrific, and 3) you have some specific things you can point to that shows your true devotion to the charity that you're involved with. If you don't have all of these things yet, you still have plenty of time to work on them. Also, your job sounds "ho-hum," so you'll want to be able to show career progression or some other evidence (including, but not limited to, your letters of reco) that you're an up-and-coming star.
3. You certainly can get in with 680-690, but in the name of not leaving anything to chance, I'd feel better about your candidacy if you could do a little bit better than that. Your GPA and undergrad school don't sound very spectacular, so ideally you can offset those a bit with a great GMAT score.
Good luck!
Scott