The Application Process

GMAT: 730, 48 Quant (76th%) and 42 Verbal (96th%)
3.51 GPA, B.A. in Psychology from a mid-tier UC (Davis/San Diego/Santa Barbara/Irvine group).

1.5 years working in entry-level sales support at Intel in the Bay Area. Worked hard to transition into a marketing role or get promoted, but couldn't make anything happen until last week. Had a meeting with the GM of my group and he has moved me into a Channel Demand Marketing analyst role.

At the same time I had been looking at other companies. I've been interviewing to be a marketing associate with this small digital marketing agency with offices in the Bay Area and Chicago. Its been a long time dream of mine to get out of the Bay Area (only ever left for school) and this company is willing to let me move to the Chicago office. This would be a huge quality of life boost for me, but I'd be transitioning to a much smaller, less well known company than Intel. I'd lose some of the continuity, be taking a risk in working for a company I don't know too much about (although it has been recommended to me by a couple people), and be starting day 1 at entry-level again (to be fair, my current position is junior level). I might have the potential to make more of an impact due to the limited size of the agency.

The money between the two positions is about the same, both are in my desired field of marketing, and I find both exciting. The differences are in company brand name, continuity in work experience, and working for an agency versus industry. My heart really wants to take the agency job to get out of the Bay Area. I'm somewhat willing to stick it out in my current spot if I could apply to B-School this fall and have a realistic shot at a top 15 school. Does my profile merit such consideration? If I have to wait until fall 2016 to apply, that means minimum 2.5 years here by matriculation time, and I feel that's a long enough period that I'd be better off just moving to Chicago and seeing what comes of it. Is taking this new job actually going to hurt my shot at a top MBA?

I think you probably would benefit from a little more experience. You definitely can get in with only 2.5 years, but your story has to be rock solid. As far as the move, that is really up to you (big life decision). I will say that smaller companies give you a shot at more responsibility more quickly, something bschools love.

Good luck!