Profile Evaluation and Advice

[ajafari]

-23 year old male, U.S. born citizen.

-I graduated with a 3.9 GPA in Finance, 4.0 major GPA from a #30 ranked undergrad business school.

-2 years work experience as a financial analyst at a top technology company. Got a promotion 1.5 years in. Plan to work for another 1.5-2 yrs as is detailed below.

-gmat shooting for 700+

Extracurrics:
-started own nonprofit that is a 501c3 registered U.S. charity
-board of director and treasurer for a nonprofit that focuses on the intersection of business and the environment
-Lead volunteer at a top 5 business school's social entrepreneurship program
-had a small online marketing business on the side
-toastmasters

My whole "angle" and reason for going to business school is to pursue social entrepreneurship. I think my extra currics speak to that fact. I am hoping to get into a top 10 school, top 5 preferably.

Also, in order to achieve this goal and since I've worked 2 yrs in finance, I am thinking about quitting that job and working full time on my nonprofit to really build it up. I think that would speak more to my commitment to the field and why I want an MBA, and is something I frankly would enjoy more than working in my current job.

What are your thoughts?
Would a person with 4 yrs work experience in finance at a top tech company be better off than someone with 2 yrs in finance and then 2 yrs running their own nonprofit? How do you think companies recruiting MBA students would look at that?

Thanks and Happy Holidays!

[mbamission]

Hi and thanks for your inquiry.

There are many personal factors that should drive your decision beyond my thoughts, but since you asked I'll share them anyway.

I think working on your non-profit and making it successful could make you quite a compelling candidate, and what is nice is not just that is shows commitment, but that it shows you already can successfully switch careers. Business schools are somewhat leery of radical career changers, so to the degree that you can show that you have already done so successfully, that helps.

But quitting may not be your only option, especially if paychecks are a concern. I assume you don't feel like you can devote enough time to the nonprofit while in your current job, or you'd have mentioned it. But have you considered switching to a different kind of job that might give you more time and relevant experience for your nonprofit? For example - taking a finance job at a non-profit for two years might give you time to devote to your non profit while giving you some income and introducing you in a professional context to how nonprofits run. That's just one suggestions.

I think you could also stay in your current job and have a good shot at business school, but then you would really want to squeeze out time to make your non profit successful, because simply founding it isn't enough to show them that you can drive results.

I hope that helps.

Jessica Shklar
Senior Consultant
mbaMission
www.mbamission.com

[ajafari]

Since my last posting (above) 6 months ago I'd like to share some updates. I will be applying early R1 and want to see whether I have a good shot at getting into at least one of these schools. Also, whether I should apply to either or both of the safety schools listed below, or just wait to R2 in case I don't get into any of my 7-8 target schools.

Updated Information
-700 GMAT Q47 V40
-My resignation in my prior corporate finance job to run my nonprofit full time has went really well. The organization has received a very generous grant and has made other significant accomplishments since my fulltime involvement.
-I started hosting a talk series in the social enterprise field that is sponsored and published by a top 3 business school where I have been working for the past year (I interview leaders in a variety of sectors and then publish the talks) (I have also received a letter of rec from the Associate Director of the program I'm working with)
-Why an MBA? I want an MBA to broaden my business and management skills in order to scale up my social enterprise, and I'm specifically targeting schools with strong social enterprise programs
-Starting another nonprofit initiative but at the very early stages at the moment

Stanford (reach?)
Harvard (reach?)
Columbia (competitive?)
Yale (competitive?)
Haas (competitive?)
MIT (reach?)
NYU (competitive?)
UCLA (competitive?)
NYU (competitive?)
USC (safety)

[mbamission]

Hi -

It sounds like things have been going quite well for you.

I would think that you should be in good shape applying to 4-6 schools if you pick them well. It's quality, not quantity that is important in this process and for most people, there are diminishing returns after the sixth app (i.e. if you aren't getting into your sixth school, chancnes are you aren't getting into your seventh). I would suggest picking 2 of the reach schools, 2-3 of those you have listed as competitive and 1-2 "safety" options. Your decision in terms of building your target list is a personal one and depends on what is important to you in this process; however, if you do your research and narrow your list accordingly, I think you will be in good shape.

Given that you are starting so early, you could get all the applications in by R1, but it not then you could wait until R2 after you hear about your first round decisions.

My only other question/thought is regarding your GMAT - do you have 80th percentiles on Q and V?

Best,
Erin Schuhmacher
mbaMission