profile evaluation, please

Launched April 26, 2006
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profile evaluation, please

by cumba » Sat Jul 14, 2007 4:30 pm
My undergrad is in the Social Sciences. My biggest concern is my gpa. I have a 2.7gpa. I don't think that reflects my intellegence in the least. My first 2 years were terrible. I was going through some family health issues and my mind was very far away from school. I plan on writing an optional essay to explain this. My gpa for my last 60 credit hours is 3.44 and I am currently in the process of taking business, accounting, and economics classes to prepare for mba course work.

I have worked in banking for the last 4 years. I started at an entry level and was promoted three times in my first 3 years to my current level. I now run a branch office with 12 employees reporting directly to me. I am the youngest person in my company at my current position. I have spoken with my department executive and company president and they have agreed to pay for my MBA on a part time basis. The president of the company graduated from the same program I plan to enroll in.

I will have 2 very good letters of recommendation from my professional experience. I need a third letter and I wanted to know if it should come from someone outside of my professional career? I don't think letters from former professors are normally preferred but could it be a benefit due to my gpa?

I am a member of a professional networking group and I am active on the Public Relations and Education committees with this group.

I also do volunteer work for the American Cancer Society and United Way.

The one school I need to get into is the University of Illinois because I would be able to attend on a part time basis and still work at my current position. I will need this degree to continue to advance in my company to the levels I am capable of.

I expect to score between 650-700 on the gmat based on practice tests.

How much will my gpa impact being accepted? Is there anything I can do to strengthen my application? What are my chances of getting in to the University of Illinois?

Thanks for any help.
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by Stacy Blackman » Sat Jul 14, 2007 10:55 pm
I am optimistic that you will be admitted to U of Illinois despite the GPA, given your story and the classe that you are taking. When you write your optional essay emember that their concerns are about your ability to juggle academics with other things and your commitment to your studies - not just your intelligence.
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