GMAT Course Discounts | GMAT Course Reviews

Career change from design to marketing

[This topic has 1 expert reply and 0 member replies]
Forum Index Ask an MBA Admissions Consultant
Write Like an Expert Series: Breaking Down This Year's Top B-School Essays – From HBS to GSB, experts break down each essay. This series is FREE. Reserve Your Spot!
Post New Topic   Post Reply

ksmrahc
Just gettin' started!

Default Avatar

Joined: 12 Mar 2010
Posts: 2

Thanks given: 2
Thanked 0 times in 0 posts
Topic: Career change from design to marketing
PostFri Mar 12, 2010 9:26 am
My background:
Nationality: Canadian
Ethnicity: Chinese
Age: 27 years old
Undergrad: Bachelors of Design Honours Degree GPA 3.2
Work Experience: 2 years as a co-owner of a boutique specializing in wedding invitations, in this position I had one employee and my responsibilities included but are not limited to client management, graphic design, production, marketing, everything really. Volunteered for 3 months in a eco-friendly socially responsible clothing company as a marketing/sales intern.
GMAT:720
Reasons for career change: Although I still enjoy graphic design and creative thinking, I have lost the passion I used to have for spending hours in front of the computer tinkering with minute graphic details. I would much rather be part of the overall picture and take advantage of my entrepreneurial spirit. Furthermore, I am unsatisfied with the lack of financial gains in the creative field.

My questions are as follows:
1) How competitive am I as an applicant for top-tier American schools such as Wharton, Harvard, and Kellogg? If I am not competitive at the moment how can I improve?

2) Is my work experience is strong enough? If not, would you advice me to spend another couple of years working? What type of work experience should I look for? Or should I apply to a local Canadian university such as Schulich which is not in the top 10 rankings but still within the second-tier of schools and much more convenient and affordable.

3) What is the ROI of attending a top ten American MBA school.

Thank you in advance for all your help and comments. I look forward to your opinion.
Recommend this topic
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Beat The GMAT Practice Questions -- You'll Love Them!
Reply from GMAT/MBA Admissions Expert
See All Featured Experts
Bryant@VeritasPrep
MBA Admissions Consultant



Joined: 27 May 2009
Posts: 501

Thanks given: 0
Thanked 66 times in 65 posts
PostFri Mar 19, 2010 7:48 am
All good questions:

1/2) While your GMAT is excellent and UG is fine, you correctly identify a potential weakness in your fairly brief work experience. The key here will be to pitch it correctly, as a startup where you garnered lots of leadership and mgt. experience. I would not emphasize too much that you simply "tweaked minor details" on invitations. It's all in the sizzle! make your background sizzle! Tough to comment directly on the three schools you name, but you definitely have a shot at a top 10 school if you package your application well. Being Canadian will also appeal to schools from their diversity/international quota perspective.

3) Studies demonstrate a good return from the top 10 schools and especially if you ever plan to work in the US, you'd be better off having MBA from a top 10 school here if you can get in.

good luck!
_________________
Bryant Michaels
MBA Admissions Consultant
Veritas Prep

Enroll now. Pay later. Take advantage of Veritas Prep's flexible payment plan options
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Visit poster's website
20% off or up to $360 off Veritas GMAT Prep until Sept. 7 only. Use discount code: BTG20OFF.
Display posts from previous:   

Post New Topic   Post Reply All times are GMT - 7 Hours
Page 1 of 1
 
Forum Index Ask an MBA Admissions Consultant
Best Conversation Starters
1. gmat_perfect 93 topics
2. sanju09 86 topics
3. pradeepkaushal9518 57 topics
4. Gurpinder 53 topics
5. adi_800 30 topics
See More Top Beat The GMAT Members
Most Active Experts
1. Tani Wolff - Kaplan
Kaplan GMAT Teacher 		145 posts
2. Rahul@gurome
Gurome 		131 posts
3. GMATGuruNY
The Princeton Review Teacher 		100 posts
4. Stuart Kovinsky
Kaplan GMAT Teacher 		95 posts
5. David@VeritasPrep
Veritas Prep 		77 posts
See More Top Beat The GMAT Experts