I currently have two years of advisory experience with a Big 4 audit firm. I would like to move into strategy consulting, specifically global growth/expansion. I am also aiming for Harvard, Wharton, Kellogg, Stanford, and Columbia. I have a 710, 3.9 GPA, and was an accounting/finance major from a large state school.
I am up for promotion this year, but given the economy my chances are looking slim. I would like to apply this year, but do you think I should wait until I get promoted and/or have more work experience?
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Wait for Promotion/More Work Experience?
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Cindy Tokumitsu
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Hello,
There are a few additional factors to consider in making your decision. To be competitive at the schools you mention any time, but particularly if you’re on the younger side, you would want to show:
- a strong track record at your work (i.e., that you excel even among high-achieving, accomplished peers and that you’ve had substantial impact)
- strong leadership (formal or informal) at work
- a record of extracurricular involvement during school but even more importantly later during your career (this can be quite varied – it doesn’t necessarily have to be the traditional philanthropic or community service)
- you can articulate a clear and compelling rationale for your goals and for pursuing them now (and therefore earning the MBA now)
Getting the promotion and increasing the work experience won’t necessarily make the application stronger next year – the key points to consider regarding work experience are (a) that you have something to say about it – that you think/learn/grow/gain insight, and (b) that you excel and have strong impact relative to your peers.
If you can demonstrate the above points, then it would make sense to apply this year, because schools are trending younger, you may well get admitted with a strong application, and in the worst case you can reapply. With the possible exception of HBS, being a reapplicant at the schools you mention is not a negative factor.
Best regards,
Cindy Tokumitsu
Senior Editor, Accepted.com
www.Accepted.com
There are a few additional factors to consider in making your decision. To be competitive at the schools you mention any time, but particularly if you’re on the younger side, you would want to show:
- a strong track record at your work (i.e., that you excel even among high-achieving, accomplished peers and that you’ve had substantial impact)
- strong leadership (formal or informal) at work
- a record of extracurricular involvement during school but even more importantly later during your career (this can be quite varied – it doesn’t necessarily have to be the traditional philanthropic or community service)
- you can articulate a clear and compelling rationale for your goals and for pursuing them now (and therefore earning the MBA now)
Getting the promotion and increasing the work experience won’t necessarily make the application stronger next year – the key points to consider regarding work experience are (a) that you have something to say about it – that you think/learn/grow/gain insight, and (b) that you excel and have strong impact relative to your peers.
If you can demonstrate the above points, then it would make sense to apply this year, because schools are trending younger, you may well get admitted with a strong application, and in the worst case you can reapply. With the possible exception of HBS, being a reapplicant at the schools you mention is not a negative factor.
Best regards,
Cindy Tokumitsu
Senior Editor, Accepted.com
www.Accepted.com
