Dear Stacy:
I would appreciate your feedback regarding my chances at being admitted at UNC or Duke.
My UGPA is 3.91 and GGPA is 3.5 at top 20 engineering school. I have both BS & MS in Computer Science and 15 years of experience as a SW engineer. I am currently studying for GMAT, so I have no idea what will be my score.
I know, I am "old", will be 40 entering 2010 semester. But, I am also a mother of a preschooler and I have no intention of working and going to school, so full-time is the only option for me. This decision has been prompted by my layoff, which allowed me to actually go back to school as a full time student. I wouldn't quit my job voluntarily to go back to school.
My grad school transcript says that I withdrew from the University half way. That is because I had a serious medical condition, followed by a divorce. Should I say that in my optional essay, or just let it slide since I did get my MS?
Now, in my defense, I had lots of ups and downs in my life. I came to the US in the middle of war in Yugoslavia. I grew up in communism, so "business" was not even a word in my vocabulary back then. I took me a while to realize that I like business so much better than programming. Once I realized that, I put my ambitions on hold so I can be a mother to my young child. Now, close to 40, I am ready to work on my education again.
How should I approach all my obvious weaknesses during the admission process?
Thank you for your feedback.
I would appreciate your feedback regarding my chances at being admitted at UNC or Duke.
My UGPA is 3.91 and GGPA is 3.5 at top 20 engineering school. I have both BS & MS in Computer Science and 15 years of experience as a SW engineer. I am currently studying for GMAT, so I have no idea what will be my score.
I know, I am "old", will be 40 entering 2010 semester. But, I am also a mother of a preschooler and I have no intention of working and going to school, so full-time is the only option for me. This decision has been prompted by my layoff, which allowed me to actually go back to school as a full time student. I wouldn't quit my job voluntarily to go back to school.
My grad school transcript says that I withdrew from the University half way. That is because I had a serious medical condition, followed by a divorce. Should I say that in my optional essay, or just let it slide since I did get my MS?
Now, in my defense, I had lots of ups and downs in my life. I came to the US in the middle of war in Yugoslavia. I grew up in communism, so "business" was not even a word in my vocabulary back then. I took me a while to realize that I like business so much better than programming. Once I realized that, I put my ambitions on hold so I can be a mother to my young child. Now, close to 40, I am ready to work on my education again.
How should I approach all my obvious weaknesses during the admission process?
Thank you for your feedback.
