BREAKING: Target Test Prep releases Brand New 2026 On Demand GMAT prep course

Redeem

What to write in alternative career plan question

Free advice from the world's top MBA consultants
This topic has expert replies
Post new topic Post Reply
Previous Topic Next Topic
Newbie | Next Rank: 10 Posts
Posts: 3
Joined: Thu Aug 15, 2013 6:48 am

What to write in alternative career plan question

by dsehrawat133 » Thu Aug 15, 2013 9:46 pm
I am applying in Emory school of business and there is an essay on the topic :
If your initial career plans are not realized, what else are you considering?
I am a software engineer with a little over 1 year of experience and my short term goal is to work as a consultant ,long term goal is to be an entrepreneur.
Besides MBA, I have an interest in directing movies. I have never actually directed professionally nor taken up any course,I have directed some short films just for fun. If somehow I do not get into an MBA i would like to take up direction more seriously..learn about it and start my own comic series on YouTube as a full fledged project while continuing to work as a software engineer. I also would keep learning through my job and when i feel i know enough and have enough resources,venture into entrepreneurship.
My question is, should I write about all this or focus on something that keeps me more attached to getting an MBA? I mean,is this good enough or sounds a bit haywire.
Top
Source: — Ask an MBA Admissions Consultant |

GMAT/MBA Expert

User avatar
Legendary Member
Posts: 1088
Joined: Thu Apr 18, 2013 3:29 pm
Thanked: 171 times
Followed by:52 members

by CriticalSquareMBA » Sat Aug 17, 2013 5:37 pm
Hi there,

If you ever make it to Sundance, you'll have to let us know! As for the question, they're not asking you what you will do if you don't get your MBA and don't get into your career goal. They're assuming you'll have your MBA. They're asking what career you will pursue if your first option doesn't pan out.

So no, direction isn't quite what they're looking for. They're saying if you don't get into consulting, will you look at QA for a large tech firm? Or will you explore a tech strategy role at a Fortune 100? It is your post MBA back up plan / contingency strategy.

Does that make sense?

Bhavik
Critical Square | MBA Admissions Services

Web | Facebook | Twitter

Sign up for a free consultation today!

We love helping! Was this post helpful to you? Thank us and let me know!
Top
Newbie | Next Rank: 10 Posts
Posts: 3
Joined: Thu Aug 15, 2013 6:48 am

by dsehrawat133 » Sat Aug 17, 2013 9:47 pm
Thank you for your reply,and I will sure let you know if i go to Sundance :p. However, you got me more confused about the question. If I am getting my MBA and I have chosen Consultancy as my area of interest in my application,is it not obvious that consultancy would be my specialization.Do you mean this question is to offer me an admission into any other specialization,in case i do not get selected for consulting?
Top

GMAT/MBA Expert

User avatar
Legendary Member
Posts: 1088
Joined: Thu Apr 18, 2013 3:29 pm
Thanked: 171 times
Followed by:52 members

by CriticalSquareMBA » Sun Aug 18, 2013 1:31 pm
Ah, I see your concern. You don't "get accepted" into consulting as a focus. Specializations in MBA programs are a series of suggested courses that you can take to learn more about a certain aspect. At the end, you may get a distinction or you may not. You merely "choose" what you're interested in and take those courses.

So you're not applying to Emory in the Consulting specialization. You're applying to Emory. Period. You are saying you'll pursue that specialization but a) you're not tied to it and b) you can pursue something else instead or in addition to it.

You're applying to enter the program. That's it. There is no selection beyond that.

Bhavik
Critical Square | MBA Admissions Services

Web | Facebook | Twitter

Sign up for a free consultation today!

We love helping! Was this post helpful to you? Thank us and let me know!
Top
User avatar
MBA Admissions Consultant
Posts: 810
Joined: Thu Jun 16, 2011 1:12 pm
Thanked: 127 times
Followed by:35 members

by MBAPrepAdvantage » Mon Aug 19, 2013 3:18 pm
The MBA Admissions Committee wants to see your resiliency and capacity to create and execute an alternate career plan. Usually this alternate career plan should be in some way related to your primary plan so you do not seem completely unfocused.

I would first question your initial career plan and whether first being a consultant would logically prepare you for your long term entrepreneurial career goals. If your long-term goals, though, are to run a consulting company obviously there would be a fit. So, you might choose as an alternate goal to accelerate your long-term goal and start a venture directly from MBA school availing yourself of Emory's entrepreneurial resources. You might also choose another short-term goal that prepares you for your long-term entrepreneurial goal. Suppose your long-term entrepreneurial goal was in a certain industry you might choose to pursue a position in that industry.

I hope this helps elucidate the question.

Good luck,
Michael Cohan
MBAPrepAdvantage Founder & AIGAC Board Director
305-604-8178
www.mbaprepadvantage.com

Please thank and/or like individual posts.

Follow Michael Cohan on Image Image and BeattheGMAT.
Follow MBAPrepAdvantage on Image Image Image.

For a free assessment email [email protected] your target schools, goals, resume, GPA and GMAT or fill out our Free MBA Admissions Consultation Form.
Top
Post new topic Post Reply
• Page 1 of 1