thanks everyone for your support....especially rhyme who provided a lot of initial advice and feedback and gmatblackbelt who doesn't know me but i feel like i know from reading about his struggles with the gmat. gmatblackbelt also helped me a little bit when i had some gmat questions back when i studied for it....and i like bj penn so it was always fun looking at his avatar.
i've come a long way since creating this thread...today, i received my early decision phone call from Wharton West.
i applied to 3 EMBA programs...UCLA, Berkeley/Columbia, and Wharton West. i was originally considering applying to USC if i don't get into UCLA but after getting into UCLA early on, there was no need for USC.
UCLA - accepted 1/25 (need to commit by 2/25...hence the early request to wharton)
Berkeley / Columbia - waiting (they are supposed to notify me by 2/29)
Wharton - accepted 2/22
i'm going to wharton. classes start in May.
RVD.