Profile Eval Please

[eileen1017]

Background Information:

Female Chinese American
Age 31
Undergrad: Management Information Systems/French
GPA: 3.52 Magna Cum Laude
Certification: Oracle Certified Professional Database Administrator
Current GMAT: 660 (51Q 27V)

Work Experience: 7 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 and training junior dbas.

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 am a member of United Nations Chorus Houston chapter

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. What are my chances for these schools (Tuck, Duke, Boston U, Vanderbilt)? Besides the slightly low GMAT score I have, I also had lower ranked undergraduate institution, and difficulty to get recommenders (I do not want to jeopardize my current position by asking my surpervisor to write one.) Thanks in advance.

[MBAApply]

First, I (like others who may be reading this) am glad that you're okay and recovering.

However, keep in mind that b-school adcoms are going to be evaluating your candidacy based on your professional history, regardless of what happened to you in 2002. It was certainly a traumatic experience, but you have to be careful about how you disclose it as making adcoms feel awkward or uncomfortable won't necessarily help your case (i.e. they're not going to be guilted into accepting you simply because you disclose something traumatic). Just be judicious about how you disclose it, and be very careful about not coming across as exploiting your past.

Anyhow, you should be in the mix for the schools you mentioned based on your profile. You're on the older side, but not to the point where it's going to be a severe handicap for your target schools.

Alex Chu
alex@mbaapply.com
www.mbaapply.com
http://mbaapply.blogspot.com