Leadership Experience

[mbahopeful]

Alex,

In essays that ask for examples of leadership, how recent do they have to be? In my particular case, I would like to choose on professional experience and one experience in which I started a company during college. While the college experience is significant and shapes who I am today, it was almost 8 years ago. In your opinion, should I shy away from something that long ago or will adcoms be weary if the one leadership experience I cite outside work was a long time ago?

Thanks.

[MBAApply]

The more recent the better. I would probably find another more recent example unless the college one is of significant magnitude (i.e. you won a huge award for your service, an Olympic medal, etc.). It was 8 years ago, which is ancient history if you're in your late 20s/early 30s.

Alex Chu
alex@mbaapply.com
www.mbaapply.com
http://mbaapply.blogspot.com

[Guest]

Alex,

What if I have a certificate that was given to me for my achievement in early 2005, should I go ahead with it or should I use the most recent one in 2009 Jan (but comparatively less magnitude)??

Regards.

[MBAApply]

Go with the one that is strongest so long as it's within the past couple of years.

Alex Chu
alex@mbaapply.com
www.mbaapply.com
http://mbaapply.blogspot.com