Work Experience for Applications

Figure out where you wish to apply
This topic has expert replies
User avatar
Newbie | Next Rank: 10 Posts
Posts: 8
Joined: Fri Sep 06, 2013 5:31 am
Location: Miami, FL
Thanked: 2 times
Followed by:1 members

Work Experience for Applications

by SoBeMBA » Mon Oct 07, 2013 9:01 am
I wanted to get some feedback on how the adcoms view work experience if you do not come from a big name company like Google, BCG or McKinsey. I am still a year away from my applications, but I am a little concerned about how my non-profit background will be viewed. I notice a lot of the forum members work for prominent companies. I work in public health research, and in my area the main employers are the local research universities. My current employer is a small local university, and it would be difficult to switch jobs to a more high profile company, plus I am not sure that would be in the best interest of my applications (for getting recommendations).

I am applying next year, so I have time, but the schools I am interested in are very competitive (Booth, Kellogg, Tuck, Yale, Fuqua, Emory). I know admissions is "holistic" but I feel like I have already have a lot working against me. I am an older applicant (36 at matriculation), my GPA is low (2.9 though it was in a hard science and I worked during school), and now I am concerned about my work experience.

I am a female URM, but I know I can't rely on those stats for admissions. I am trying to employ every possible advantage I can - member of Forte Foundation, applying to MLT MBA Prep, and will apply through the Consortium for the member schools. I am also studying my behind off to get a solid GMAT score, and am building an alternative transcript to demonstrate my quant skills.

Is where I work really a big deal, or am worrying over nothing?

User avatar
Legendary Member
Posts: 2109
Joined: Sun Apr 19, 2009 10:25 pm
Location: New Jersey
Thanked: 109 times
Followed by:79 members
GMAT Score:640

by money9111 » Wed Oct 09, 2013 11:05 am
you've got to think of your story a different way:

- "seasoned" :-)
- non-profit background = unique perspective, different from the finance/consulting types

Yes, your age and GPA will work against you, but it's not totally a lost cause. I had a classmate @ Johnson at Cornell University who was older than you. Sure there is an inverse relationship between age & acceptance beyond a certain age, but it can be done.

A) do not underestimate the URM thing... but more importantly B) do not overestimate it either. As an URM, who had a 2.56 GPA, I can relate.... but I knew that I had to take ALL of the steps necessary to highlight my strengths.

Check your Private Messages
My goal is to make MBA applicants take onus over their process.

My story from Pre-MBA to Cornell MBA - New Post in Pre-MBA blog

Me featured on Poets & Quants

Free Book for MBA Applicants