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creation2k5
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Joined: 27 Aug 2009
Last visit: 04 Jan 2010
Posts: 8
Given Kudos: 1
Location: Boston, MA
Concentration: General,Entrepreneurship,Health sector
Schools:BU, Babson, BC
Posts: 8
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Profile evaluation. Interview tips 11 Nov 2009, 15:04
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Profile:

Female, Indian

My GMAT is 700
TOEFL-120 on internet based
GPA of 3.8 in Under grad and 3.6 in Grad ( Master's in Biological sciences)-
Both from very average colleges
2 years of experience as an executive recruiter.

Now the problem area- Been unemployed since 2007. Basically moved to Boston on a visa that does not allow me to work. I have been volunteering as an English as a second language tutor since december 2008.

Target schools are

Boston University
Boston College
Babson

Babson and BU would be my top choice. Babson for the entrepreneurship program and BU because of the health sector management. I think that would allow me to integrate my academics with career aspirations

I have already made the round 1 admissions and have interviews scheduled with Boston college and BU and I hope to do well.

I want to know what are my chances of getting into Babson or Boston univ. What can be the problem areas.

Any help would be appreciated.

Thank you
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PaulBodine
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Profile evaluation. Interview tips 11 Nov 2009, 22:47
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creation2k5,

Your long unemployment presents a big challenge for you. You need to show that despite your status you have been doing what you can to work toward your goals, build leadership, and have an impact. Your ESL tutoring may not be sufficiently strong to do this, and it seems to have started late. The schools will also have a concern about your ability to fund your education. Since yours is a difficult and unusual case I recommend you approach each of these schools directly and ask for their candid assessment.

Hope this helps,
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creation2k5
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Joined: 27 Aug 2009
Last visit: 04 Jan 2010
Posts: 8
Given Kudos: 1
Location: Boston, MA
Concentration: General,Entrepreneurship,Health sector
Schools:BU, Babson, BC
Posts: 8
Kudos: 0
Profile evaluation. Interview tips 12 Nov 2009, 07:06
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pbodine
creation2k5,

Your long unemployment presents a big challenge for you. You need to show that despite your status you have been doing what you can to work toward your goals, build leadership, and have an impact. Your ESL tutoring may not be sufficiently strong to do this, and it seems to have started late. The schools will also have a concern about your ability to fund your education. Since yours is a difficult and unusual case I recommend you approach each of these schools directly and ask for their candid assessment.

Hope this helps,
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Thank you for the response. I understand what you are saying and to a large extent I also realize this is pretty unconventional. I have finished two certification program and was volunteering with the library here even before I started as an ESL tutor. I can come across as strong on taking initiatives and turning an unfortunate circumstance into something worthwhile. My work experience and time at under grad college and graduate university have explicit instances of leadership taking abilities. I think I can put these things across quite convincingly.

My question is very simple. What could I have done different in these two years? I have introspected and it might be naive of me, but I can not really come up with anything. If you were on the ad com, what would be one thing you would suggest I should have done during this time?

I pushed the plans of doing an MBA to 2010 because of the funding problem and I think I am in a position to handle it now.

If I lay out the above information, does it make my profile stronger to get into the target schools?
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PaulBodine
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Profile evaluation. Interview tips 15 Nov 2009, 22:54
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creation2k5,

Yes, the additional information you gave me does make your case stronger. You asked, what could you have done differently? But that is not the question the adcom will be asking. S/he will be asking: should we taken this applicant (you) who has had to go through alot to overcome her difficulties or should we choose from these 4 or 5 other applicants whose applications don't raise the question marks that this applicant (you) does? Your profile will certainly help you stand out, and your good efforts to overcome your situation are certainly likely to win the adcom's sympathy for you, but that may finally not be enough to overcome their doubts and convince them that they should admit you over applicants with fewer question marks. By all means, make the best, strongest case you possibly can but also reach out to the schools and get feedback on how they perceive your candidacy.

Hope this helped you,