dwalker0219 wrote:
Hi, I was hoping to get an assessment of my profile. I'm considering applying to UW Foster, UM Ross, CM Tepper, Duke Fuqua, UV Darden. I'm starting to doubt whether I have a shot at any of those schools.
age - 30
undergrad - University of Washington
degree - chemical engineering
gpa - 3.5
Gmat 720
Work experience:
4 years as a process engineer for SNC-Lavalin (Canada's largest engineering firm, but my office was based in seattle)
Here's where things get tricky. I quit my job 4 years ago to play professional poker. I paid my way through college with poker winnings, was making a higher hourly rate playing poker on the side while woking as an engineer and decided to just go for it. Online play was eventually shut down in the US. Tried to wait it out for online to come back by playing poker "live" in casinos, but became really sick of that lifestyle and so here I am. The long term goal however was always to get back into the workforce via an mba and pursue a career on the business side of things, and I plan to have my essays reflect that (i.e - I won't make it sound like I'm going for an mba because I'm sick of poker).
Questions:
How bad does the poker playing look? I've received mix feedback from non experts. Some have told me it actually looks good, others have told me I need to lower my expectations (as well as my target schools).
Do I have a shot at the schools listed? Should I retake my gmat to overcompensate for other weaknesses in profile?
Very stressed, thank you for any and all feedback.
Hi,
Thanks for writing here.
Your situation is challenging, but you have been a player and I am sure you love challenges, so please do not get stressed first.
Now, every event in your professional or personal life is a story and experience (not a failure or success only). What is more important is how you craft the same in your essay.
Feel confident, these days I am keeping very busy, but I will be very happy to review your essays. I do not run a professional company to review the essays, but I review the same for giving back to community and as a passion to help someone (please refer to the link in my signature)
Looking forward to help you and we succeed
Thanks