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Confused about my application approach- please help!

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by RickerNYC » Wed Sep 08, 2010 6:52 pm
Hello,

I initially wanted to go get my MBA to become a management consultant, but my heart is telling me to become an entrepreneur. I am always coming up with new ideas for businesses but I don't know how to implement them. My problem is that I don't have any entrepreneurial experience, nor do I know exactly what kind of business I would want to start after business school, which is why my brain is telling me to go into consulting.

Since graduating with an engineering degree in 2003, I worked as a Sales Engineer in HVAC for 6 years before getting laid off last summer. I was approached by other companies to do the same job, but I never enjoyed the work, or the industry, so I have been interviewing for more interesting jobs (but obviously haven't been successful).

I did my college co-op rotations as a productivity consultant and enjoyed it a lot, which is why I was strongly considering going back into that field. I'm just concerned that since it is so competitive, I am at a serious disadvantage compared to other applicants.

My stats summary is as follows:
710 GMAT (47 quant/40 verbal)
2.7 undergrad GPA in engineering (yes, it's low, but I'm a lot more mature now and party a lot less)
very successful while working as a sales engineer (full stats on resume)
year of unemployment- worked with 2 small businesses during that time to make them successful from the brink of shutting down.

do I have a realistic chance of getting in as a management consultant? should I go for the entrepreneurial route even though I don't have any particular business plan in mind?

The schools I've been considering are:
UCLA
Michigan
NYU
UT Austin
USC

Thanks in advance, I greatly appreciate your help.
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by Bryant@VeritasPrep » Fri Sep 10, 2010 12:45 pm
You should have a good shot at those schools with your credentials. Consulting firms actually love engineers because they know how to solve problems. And by the way, a few years of MGT consulting (particularly in strategey or new product development, would be great start for an entrepreneurial career. It's tough to convince a b-school that they should give you a seat if your only goal is entrepreneurship. Most entrepreneurs do not go to business school. A much better plan would be to cast a vision for a short term career in consulting and perhaps a longer term vision for launching your own business. hope this helps.
Bryant Michaels
MBA Admissions Consultant


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by RickerNYC » Sat Sep 11, 2010 12:58 pm
Thanks for the response Bryant, I really appreciate the advice!
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