eileen1017 wrote:
Background Information:
Female Chinese American
Age 31
Undergrad: Management Information Systems/French
GPA: 3.7 Magna Cum Laude
Certification: Oracle Certified Professional Database Administrator
Current GMAT: 640 (Will take it again in Jan 2008 and shooting for 700+)
Work Experience: 6 years in a fortune 500 manufacturing company as database administrator, tasks include database design, backup recovery, replication, and production support of the mission critical database.
Why MBA?
Career switch. Actually, I want to go to medical school. But realized this option might not be feasible for me. I am interested in Healthcare MBA. I want to combine the knowledge of IT and healthcare management. It will be useful in the healthcare industry.
Post MBA goals:
After MBA, I want to get into healthcare industry and work in biotech, pharmceutical, and preferrably hospital
Extracuricular activities:
While in college, I was the president of Traditional Chinese Vocal Ensemble, treasurer of French National Honor Society, and member of MIS Honor Society and Golden Key Honor Society
Won 2nd place in French writing contest
Current Activities:
Oracle DBA Club
Volunteer at Children's Hospital
I play piano and violin. I won the first place in piano ensemble contest for adult division. I am a district member of the national piano guild. I played with orchestra in several local art festivals.
I know that my age might put me on the negative side. But I cannot control that. I will explain it to the adcom in the essay if I have to. I thought about doing MBA 5 years ago. But unfortunately, I was brutally attacked and assulted in 2002. The bullet missed my chest by just a little, otherwise, I would be another homocide victim. I am so grateful to be alive. This is my second chance to life. In fact, those who live in Houston might even know me. My case was all over the news when it first happened in 2002, and 2005 when I went to testify. Anyhow, I miraculously survived and I spent years in surgeries, recovery, and physical therapy. In fact, I am still dealing with the leftover medical issues. But I managed to battle with all the pains since I am allegic to all the pain killers and I won that piano contest after four surgeries to my right arm.
I am thinking about applying 2009. I need suggestions on schools. I notice not many school offer healthcare and not many people are interesting in the healthcare sector. I only found Boston University, Vanderbilt University, Tuck, Haas and Wharton has it. Tuck, Haas, and Wharton might be hard to get in. But, I definitely want to getting into some better schools. Can you suggest any that is great in the healthcare arena? And what are my chances for those schools? Thanks in advance.
eileen1017,
Sorry to hear about your terrible experience. It will greatly diminish the 'negative' impact of your age, and should obviously be a central story in your essay sets. Even aside from this story of tragedy and recovery, you have a lot of unusual elements: the music, the French, the current hospital volunteer work, and your goals.
Your big negative (aside from the GMAT) is what I assume is a lack of leadership at work. You will need to emphasize whatever informal leadership work roles you do have and emphasize your leadership experiences outside of work. I think you can also compensate by expressing ambitious goals, make them very specific, and obviously connect them to your personal health experience.
Given your leadership issue and the GMAT, Tuck, Wharton, and Haas will clearly be longshots for you. The power of your personal story may give you a chance at them, but understand that these are definite longshots. You should have a good chance at Vanderbilt and Boston U. As for other healthcare programs, I believe the following schools have healthcare strengths, but you'll have to go to their websites to be sure the match your needs: Duke, Geo. Washington U., Yale, Rochester.
Raising your GMAT score closer to 680+ and making a strong case for your leadership profile will increase your chances significantly.
Best of luck to you,
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21 Nov 2007, 21:01
