The Application Process

Hi all,

I just recently decided that I want to pursue an MBA, so I'm at the beginning stages of preparation. I can only pursue it part time as I can't afford to give up my full-time job, so that limits me to schools in the Atlanta area (where I live). Basically my available options are Georgia Tech, University of Georgia, Georgia State and Emory (with any of the three state schools being far more likely because of cost). I plan to apply about a year from now.

Since I'm just starting the process, can anybody offer any advice as to what I should start doing now to prepare or maybe point me to a resource with good suggestions? I just started looking at the GMAT and plan on taking it in about 6 months. Here is a quick summary of my attributes that I understand to be relevant to the application process:

Age: 31 (this is about average for the state schools here and a bit higher than Emory's)
Undergrad GPA: ~3.5 (business/finance major, but started out with engineering, so I have plenty of math and technical background)
GMAT:: Unknown (I took one GMATPrep practice test without any preparation in a distracted environment and scored 650, so I think with 6 months of prep I can get it above 700).
Work Experience: Approximately 10 years of professional software development in a wide range of firms. I've worked a Fortune 500, a start-up, independent consulting and am currently at a state pension fund. I wouldn't characterize me resume as "job-hopping" as 8 of those 10 years were at either the start-up or my current job.

Thanks in advance.

best place to start = this forum
Also try the section articles and the resources.
I think that you are going to find a lot of information
If you have any doubt please feel free to ask.

and take the gmat asap! in order to start with your applications!

I think that the most challenging thing for you (and one of the most important) is to craft a convincing story as to why business school is the best next step for you and why now is the right time (and why, specifically, you didn't apply a few years ago).

Your work experience and recommendations will be very important because you do have a significant work history. You will also need to show consistency between what you have done in the past and what your future (short and long term) goals are.

The GMAT is important, but, with a 3.5 and 10 years of experience, the GMAT score is not "make or break" for you. For the schools you are targetting, a 700 would be great.

Best of luck to you!

Jessica@VeritasPrep wrote:I think that the most challenging thing for you (and one of the most important) is to craft a convincing story as to why business school is the best next step for you and why now is the right time (and why, specifically, you didn't apply a few years ago).

Your work experience and recommendations will be very important because you do have a significant work history. You will also need to show consistency between what you have done in the past and what your future (short and long term) goals are.

The GMAT is important, but, with a 3.5 and 10 years of experience, the GMAT score is not "make or break" for you. For the schools you are targetting, a 700 would be great.

Best of luck to you!

Thanks for the feedback. I gave my "story" some thought and I think I have a pretty convincing one. When I worked for the startup, I worked a lot of irregular hours and simply didn't have time or a structured schedule necessary to pursue an MBA. It ultimately failed, as many do, and I attribute the failure to management mistakes. So now I recognize the true importance of effective management (which is truly why I want to pursue an MBA). I was newly married when I started working for the pension fund I work for now, so I deferred for a couple of years while we settled down. Since I have a pretty rigid and predictable work schedule, I can only now reliably attend classes.

I checked out the average ages for the part time programs I'm looking at, and they range from 29-30 when first entering. So I'm a bit above that average, but I'm not hoping by too much!

This applies to full-time MBAs, but should be a good resource:
https://www.skoolix.com/MBA-Admission-Requirements.aspx