Hi All,
Have been combing over threads for days. Finally got the courage to sign up. ANYONE with insight or intel on UCLA and/or Berkeley's MPH/MBA programs please share your thoughts!!
After 3 years of post-undergrad soul searching and work experience I've come to a strong conclusion that I want to take my career toward Pharma/Biotech/Healthcare Management and quite possibly consulting. My dream school is Berkeley. While UCLA is just as wonderful and reputable I really want to head to the Bay Area because I love it out there and from what ive been able to determine, Berkeley is a perfectly tailored fit for me and my pursuits. Here are just a few reasons why:
Employment profile closely matches my aspirations
STRONG ties to consulting
Bay Area = Mecca for Tech
Average age of pupil is late 20s with about 5yrs Experience (As I will be)
Personal: Love the luscious landscape of NorCal and the 49ers!! On a deeper note, Ive been writing thesis papers on the U.S. Healthcare System and passion for Genetics since high school.
I plan on staying in California (Dont want to pay ridiculous out of state fees when great schools are here in CA). Again, UCLA is still highly regarded but from my impression it does not have as strong a Biotech/Pharma/Consulting arena as Berkeley. I could be wrong.
In either scenario I plan on completing a concurrent MBA/MPH program. My concern however lies in my performance metrics:
Undergrad: UC Riverside
Major: Sociology and Administrative Studies w/ an Organizations, Management, and Human Resources track
Major GPA: 3.3
Cumulative GPA: 2.9
Graduate Testing: Not yet taken
NOTE: My performance during undergraduate study was impacted. For my first year I was a Bio major and then my brother, whom has been diagnosed with Cerebral palsy and other chronic conditions since birth, went through hardship in terms of health and high risk operations. Father was diagnosed with Hairy Cell Leukemia. Also, my mother was found to have a pituitary adenoma. Further making this a difficult time for me was the fact that I come from a low income family. Transportation to and from school was a weekly hurdle as I had no car. Additionally the myriad of physician visits and dealings with insurance carriers was a job in itself.
Employment/Experiences:
In terms of experience here is where I feel things work in my favor.
For the last 2 years I have been a Pharmaceutical Sales Representative, 1 year of which has been in a Manager role leading a team of 6 spanning from Orange County to Ventura County including Los Angeles.
Have been responsible for the marketing and sales growth of key pharmaceutical products and services to all medical specialties with an added emphasis on the implementation of Toxicology and Pharmacogenomics (Personalized Medicine, Genetics! hence the interest in Biotech).
Since obtaining my BA I have had other roles as a Program Coordinator at a large non-profit Tutoring company which provided supplemental education to LAUSDs youth.
In this same firm I also performed
-Corporate Recruiting
-Community Outreach
-Payroll
I have also in the past:
-Worked as a private tutor for under served communities in Los Angeles
-Volunteered as an Instructional Assistant for Special Education at a local high school
-Held a role of Assistant Student Services Technician (which was a combination of school site liaison and school nurse)
-Participated in an occupational program specializing in Emergency Medical Response
In the future:
I plan on working for LA Care in some sort of IT role (waiting on my networking pals to warm up a recruiting coordinator to the thought of me)
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I am about 18 months away from the time I wish to be enrolled in my first class.
My main question is what are my odds??
What else should I know?
Any shred of advice is welcome...
Thanks in advance
