Profile Evaluation - Non Traditional career path

[rubens.nigoghossian]

Dear All,

I'm willing to apply to Top20 B-Schools for Fall 2012 term, and would like some help on evaluating my profile.

Due to a career change during university, I had a different patch in the last few years. After 3 years at Pharmacy-Biochemistry School, where I had some professional experience, I changed my undergrad course to Business Administration at the most prestigious university in Brazil. Studied at the Business School full time for 2 years, in order to advance quicker in my course, and in my 3rd year started working as full time Investment Banking Analyst at an Invetment Banking boutique, dealing with local and cross-border deals.

One year later and with 95% of my course completed, I went to Shanghai, China, for one year working as an Investment Banking Associate at another Investment Banking boutique, founded by a former bulge bracket banker with strong local experience, where I was dealing with international corporate clients' investments plans in local Chinese market.

At both positions I was running projects all by myself, and not working as an intern at all.

After back to Brazil, joined a Change Management group, where I was leading Corporate Finance projects - M&A, Private Equity investments, funding strategies, etc. -, acted as business controller for a mid-sized client and I was just appointed to assume as interim-CFO at a client, while preparing the company to be sold to an international player.

Although all this great exposure in the last few years I have had, my formal graduation was just over 9 months ago (Jul-2010). Must add that almost all the exposure I had was not at bulge bracket banks or Fortune500 companies.

Do you believe it is realistic to aim a MBA at a Top 20 B-School with this background and experience, should I stick to where I am now, where I may have greater exposure of leadership positions at mid-sized clients, or should look for some "branding" for my CV at a Fortune500?

My idea with the MBA is exactly to rebrand myself and turn into the PE/VC Industry. If it is a realistic goal to join at the Fall 2012 term, I would take GMAT exams in coming months. My GPA is 3.0 (severely afected by 80+ working hours/week routine during my 3rd year at university), that I'm looking to "compensate" with a high GMAT grade - I would not apply with this GPA and a low GMAT grade.

Thanks in advance for the help.

[mbamission]

Hi Rubens,


Thanks for writing and sharing your most unique background. While I think your story would definitely grab top schools' attention -- if spelled out clearly of course -- my concern is that for all the switching and working you've done over the past several years, you've only been in the traditional workforce for about a year so far, and 2 years by the time you would start school. This doesn't mean you should not apply, but rather recognize this concern and attack it head-on in your essays -- why are you certain that this is now the right move?

I think a high GMAT would be key for you to break into a top-tier school, as it would show you are academically ready for the challenges of an MBA program. If you are not able to break into the higher range of your target schools, then perhaps further work experience is the best route to strengthen your profile.

While it's easy to show "name brand" work experience, schools typically are open to lesser-known companies, especially if you can clearly explain what it is the company does/your role.

Good luck!
Daniel Richards
http://www.mbamission.com

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[rubens.nigoghossian]

Dear Daniel,

I'm really grateful for your reply, thank you!

So there is a second doubt I would like to ask you regarding applications. It seems that I could have some chance, but the lack of longer experience plays against me. So taking a shot now to try my top choices and not being accepted would have an important over an eventual second application one year later, with a bit more experience?

I have had some difficulty on identifying schools that value a more heterodox path, could you give me a light over that?

Thanks again!

[mbamission]

Hi Rubens,

Your essays are your best chance for the schools to get to know you and your goals. Let's you fill those out this year -- and are rushed to do so -- and get denied admissions. When you reapply next year, many schools won't ask for your to rewrite those essays again, rather they'll just ask for one "reapplicant essay." Then the school will look back to your previous submission to remember what your goals are. So if you rush the essays out this year and put out an inferior product, you may not get a chance to correct the issue next season.

I'm not sure what you mean by a "heterodox path," but most schools have an open mind to non-traditional backgrounds, provided you explain clearly in your essays how they fit into the MBA program and your goals.

Good luck!

Daniel Richards
http://www.mbamission.com

Read the mbaMission Insider's Guides (14 individual school titles)

Visit the mbaMission Blog

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