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Joined: 12 Dec 2005
Status:Trust Experience, Trust Success
Affiliations: U. Chicago, Johns Hopkins, AIGAC
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Re: Please evaluate profile
[#permalink]
12 Aug 2009, 15:59
wolver123,
To answer your questions:
1) When I matriculate, I would be 30. Is that going to be an issue for Chicago, Stanford, HBS, Emory, Dartmouth or Duke?
HBS and Stanford, among other schools, are admitting more younger applicants these days, and generally speaking average matriculant ages are 27 in the U.S., so, yes, there may be a slight negative in your age. So you should specifically address why you have had to wait until now to apply (your family sickness story could help here). But your age will not be a deal-breaker, just something that needs explaining.
2) My movement in various job functions could be deemed a rolling stone. Jobs #1&2 are more support/back office roles but #3 and 4 are front office. I have tried very hard to change roles professionally (to front office). Managed to do just that after I returned to Asia. Jobs 1 and 2 are in NY but I had to leave US due to family reasons. Was going to do MBA after my second job, but family illness scuppered plans. Had to return to Malaysia.
You need to execute well in your explanation for why your career has taken the path it has. Emphasize leadership, growth, and if there is a common thread that unifies the career choices explain it to them. Changing job functions by itself won't be a major weakness, but lack of strong leadership and forward career momentum will be.
3) Understand that GMAT is quite low and need to get to 700+...but considering all my the factors I mentioned above, do I stand a chance to get into the schools?
The fact that you are from Thailand is an asset to you in standing out from other applicants. If you are a female applicant that would also help you. You also seem to have decent managerial experience. However, I don't think your profile is unusual enough or strong enough for Stanford and HBS to be realistic even if you raise your GMAT above 700. If you do get that score then you should be competitive at Emory and perhaps at Duke. Chicago and Dartmouth will probably be "longshots" but not in the way HBS and Stanford will be.
In terms of other schools, assuming your goals are in finance, then you could also consider Cornell, UCLA, UNC, Carnegie Mellon, among other schools.
Hope this helps,