An unusual dilemma!

[alok296]

This thread's been tremendously enlightening!
I would really appreciate if you can please help me.
Boy,I'm in a huge and unusual dilemma.Here we go with a interesting lowdown on it:
I'm a freestyle rapper,composer,guitarist and a singer.I have a rockband (my bro is a drummer in the band).In the long term, I want to pursue music because this is what pumps my adrenaline and this is want I want to dedicate my life to.To me, it is not just a hobby,but a passion,or even more than that,a religion .But since I'm not one of those who ve been playing music right from their childhood ,and got introduced to this during my college days,so I still have way to go to make it big on the professional scale(my rap and some other compositions have received rave reviews,btw).But I know for sure this is what I want to dedicate my life to coz I am enjoy doing it,am good at it and can be great at it.I just can't visualise myself sitting in an office and doing a job.Since I need to network with the right people in this field,so post MBA I would like to work in companies such as Sony BMG, Universal music etc.However,my past work experience is in IT(worked at CSC for 2 years).However,this june I quit my job as I could no longer bear the monotony and boredom in office.Currently,I am working for an NGO(as an unpaid volunteer) and teaching MBA aspirants(to keep the money pouring in).I am very strong on the extracurricular fronts also(gold medallist in semi-cross country race,basketball tournament winning team member,headboy of school etc).Very strong Undergraduate G.P.A too and lots of other things which may impress the Adcoms).GMAT score-720.Now,here I go with the questions :
1. Should I be really honest in telling the Adcom about my future goals ? They may mistake me for a guy who's not serious about MBA .They may think that if he wants to eventually pursue music,so why the hell is he coming to a B-school ?On the contrary,they might love me for being a guy who can add a lot of diversity to their school and who have the guts to venture into an altogether different field and face the uncertainty instead of "settling down".Your opinions required .
2.As you'd ve come to know,my future career goals are absolutely different from my pre-MBA job profile.How do I present my case ?I can't even say that I learned so and so at CSC coz it ain't gonna be of any help in the future..
3. Or should I be NOT honest to the Adcoms by NOT telling them the real story for the fear of being interpreted as "no logical connection between the past and future.Not sure why he wants to do MBA,if he wants to pursue music" and take the simple path of telling them that I want to get into consultancy ,say in one of the Big fours ?
4.Do the Adcoms appreciate people who can think differently or will they raise doubt over the unconventional career path one may choose post MBA ?I assume most of them would be in the older age group and might not appreciate a rebel.

I'd be highly obliged if you can pitch in your valuable suggestions

[mbamission]

Hi, thanks for your inquiry!

I don't think the answer is any of the above. Think hard about why you want an MBA and what you want to do in the music industry. I know you want to perform, and some of the reason for the MBA is networking, but if you want to work in a company like Sony or Universal, the MBA makes more sense. Also at some point you may have to decide that the performing career isn't going to work out, and working in the music industry is the next best option.

So I think I would try to find a job in the music industry that you could see yourself doing if the performing career didn't work out and even while you are trying to make it a success. Then the MBA makes sense. Even as a performer, an MBA is helpful in terms of evaluating deals, venues, marketing, etc.

I think you can be open about your dreams and yet realistic about needing other options, and then tie the MBA to how it will help you with both. In terms of the disconnect with your past, try to think a bit differently about it. What skills do you need to succeed in the music business and how have your past experiences given you some of those skills? For example - you'll need strong interpersonal skills, which you're gaining now through teaching MBA aspirants. Maybe you'll need strong organizational skills, which you gained in IT projects. If you think creatively, starting with what you might want to do in the industry and what skills you need to get there, then think about where in your past you started developing many of those skills, you may be able to position this as a career shift that turns your passion into a profession, rather than a radical departure for something you have no experience in.

Adcoms do appreciate differences, but they're not looking for unfocused students who want to dabble and explore for a couple of years. If you can make a compelling case for what you want to do and how it fits, then you may really stand out in a good way.

Good luck,

Jessica Shklar
mbaMission

Our blog: www.mbamission.com/blog

[alok296]

Thanks a lot for the awesome reply.I am impressed with the kind of depth you provided.Otherwise,I have been getting very generic answers.Thanks a ton!
I have one more question regarding recommendations:
1.As I told you that I teach MBA aspirants.Broadly speaking, I teach GMAT/GRE/LSAT students.I'm in two minds about selecting a recommender.Should I get a recommendation from the director of the NGO I'm working with(am not very much comfortable with taking this recommendation) or should I get it from one of the senior members of the Preparatory institute I teach at(I hope this may not look too impressive to the Adcoms as I can't see what specifically the person from preparatory institute can write in the recommendations as I have been basically taking classes).
I know in the end,it's up to me to figure out but your guidance may provide me with a new perspective.

[mbamission]

I'm glad the reply was helpful.

Most schools will require two professional recommendations so you may not have much choice. If you have a recommender from your previous IT job as one, that would be ideal. If so and you have to choose between the NGO and the prep institute, your comfort level should guide you, but not constrain you. In other words, gut instinct is a huge factor but should not be the only one. First, think about which of the two options has seen you in the most professional capacity. If the prep institute person hasn't seen you teach, then they'll have trouble assessing your ability to interact with students, manage time, etc. The most important criterion needs to be that the recommender is someone who knows you well and can assess your abilities in detail (and is senior to you). It may help you to look at the recommendation questions for each school; seeing what they recommenders will be asked might guide you to picking one or the other. You can also consider other professional contacts - is there a club manager you have negotiated with for your performances, for example, who can attest to your professionalism, responsibility, promptness, motivation, etc.

Good luck!

Jessica Shklar

Thanks a lot for the awesome reply.I am impressed with the kind of depth you provided.Otherwise,I have been getting very generic answers.Thanks a ton!
I have one more question regarding recommendations:
1.As I told you that I teach MBA aspirants.Broadly speaking, I teach GMAT/GRE/LSAT students.I'm in two minds about selecting a recommender.Should I get a recommendation from the director of the NGO I'm working with(am not very much comfortable with taking this recommendation) or should I get it from one of the senior members of the Preparatory institute I teach at(I hope this may not look too impressive to the Adcoms as I can't see what specifically the person from preparatory institute can write in the recommendations as I have been basically taking classes).
I know in the end,it's up to me to figure out but your guidance may provide me with a new perspective.