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SubieRX
- Junior | Next Rank: 30 Posts
- Posts: 13
- Joined: Wed Aug 12, 2009 6:15 pm
- Thanked: 1 times
- GMAT Score:710
I'm in a bit of a pickle and would greatly appreciate some advice!
I was laid off from my job in January 2010. I've already sent in my applications for UCLA and USC (unfortunately.. all round 3), and I have been accepted to UCI Merage with a $35k scholarship. I'm still waiting on Anderson and Marshall.
My situation isn't really the end of the world, as I believe Merage is a decent school and it is especially appealing with the scholarship. However, my dream schools are UCLA and USC. UCLA has always been a bit of a stretch, but I believe that with my background and scores... I may be competitive at USC.
Prior to the lay-off, my mentality was to go to business school if I got into USC or UCLA. But if I didn't get in... I would simply continue working for a year and apply for round 1 in 2011, where my chances would be better.
Now that I have been laid off... would this significantly hurt my chances next year? It was a non-performance based lay-off and I have several letters of recommendations that vouch for me.
Additionally, I am currently looking for a new job, but thus far, prospects are rather dim. I would most likely need to accept a position that would be considered a "backwards step in my career progression." If I did "take a step back" and accept a lower position, or worse yet, if I am some how unable to find a job for a significant amount of time... would this lower my chances of getting into my target schools next year?
ALSO, since I have just submitted my applications for USC and UCLA, if I get an interview invitation, it will most likely take place next month. Would my lack of employment since January hurt my candidacy? During this time I have been devoting much of my time to non-profit and charity work.
Here is my profile:
Undergrad: UCSD with a 3.1 GPA in Biology
GMAT: 710/5.5 (Q47, V40) Overall - 92nd Percentile
Work Experience: 1 year in Commercial Insurance consulting and 2 years in Medical Consulting (Laid off in Jan 2010)
Extracurricular:
- Founded a multi-chapter car club in college (it's expanded to 5 southern California universities with over 1000 members.) Our mission was to educate students on the dangers of street-racing and drunk driving.
- I am currently leading a committee of volunteers to develop a charity concert tour for MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Driving). We have already secured over $15,000 in private donations, and our expectation is that we will raise over $20,000 for MADD.
As I am a bit of a pessimist (and like to evaluate decisions based on worst-case scenarios), what are my chances of getting into USC or UCLA if I remain unemployed (but very active in non-profit) until Round 1 apps for 2011? And would my lack of employment hurt my chances during the interview next month? Given the current economy... is it even likely that my interviewer will make a big deal of my situation?
Thanks a lot!
I was laid off from my job in January 2010. I've already sent in my applications for UCLA and USC (unfortunately.. all round 3), and I have been accepted to UCI Merage with a $35k scholarship. I'm still waiting on Anderson and Marshall.
My situation isn't really the end of the world, as I believe Merage is a decent school and it is especially appealing with the scholarship. However, my dream schools are UCLA and USC. UCLA has always been a bit of a stretch, but I believe that with my background and scores... I may be competitive at USC.
Prior to the lay-off, my mentality was to go to business school if I got into USC or UCLA. But if I didn't get in... I would simply continue working for a year and apply for round 1 in 2011, where my chances would be better.
Now that I have been laid off... would this significantly hurt my chances next year? It was a non-performance based lay-off and I have several letters of recommendations that vouch for me.
Additionally, I am currently looking for a new job, but thus far, prospects are rather dim. I would most likely need to accept a position that would be considered a "backwards step in my career progression." If I did "take a step back" and accept a lower position, or worse yet, if I am some how unable to find a job for a significant amount of time... would this lower my chances of getting into my target schools next year?
ALSO, since I have just submitted my applications for USC and UCLA, if I get an interview invitation, it will most likely take place next month. Would my lack of employment since January hurt my candidacy? During this time I have been devoting much of my time to non-profit and charity work.
Here is my profile:
Undergrad: UCSD with a 3.1 GPA in Biology
GMAT: 710/5.5 (Q47, V40) Overall - 92nd Percentile
Work Experience: 1 year in Commercial Insurance consulting and 2 years in Medical Consulting (Laid off in Jan 2010)
Extracurricular:
- Founded a multi-chapter car club in college (it's expanded to 5 southern California universities with over 1000 members.) Our mission was to educate students on the dangers of street-racing and drunk driving.
- I am currently leading a committee of volunteers to develop a charity concert tour for MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Driving). We have already secured over $15,000 in private donations, and our expectation is that we will raise over $20,000 for MADD.
As I am a bit of a pessimist (and like to evaluate decisions based on worst-case scenarios), what are my chances of getting into USC or UCLA if I remain unemployed (but very active in non-profit) until Round 1 apps for 2011? And would my lack of employment hurt my chances during the interview next month? Given the current economy... is it even likely that my interviewer will make a big deal of my situation?
Thanks a lot!
710 (Q47,V40)
