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Peace Corps

by slynch » Sat Aug 28, 2010 11:20 am
I've always wanted to join the Peace Corps, but I want to know how the top-tier schools feel about it. I'm trying to get into a top 5, top 10 program at worse, and I'm wondering whether doing the Peace Corps would either help or hurt my application profile.
I've only been out of college and working for one year and I'm considering either doing the Peace Corps in a year and then going to B-school or working another two years and then going to B-school. These two option would give me either (a) 2 years of work experience + 2 years of Peace Corps, or (b) 3 years of work experience. I feel like I already have a pretty strong profile (see below), but I'm looking for the edge that will set me apart from other applicants. Any feedback will be greatly appreciated.

Age: 23
GMAT: Male
Degree: Dual Degree - Accounting and Finance
Undergrad GPA: 3.96/4
GMAT: 740 (V41, Q49, AWA 5.0)
Current work experience: 1 yr Big 4 accounting firm
Other: Licensed CPA
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by Lisa Anderson » Mon Aug 30, 2010 7:50 am
Dear slynch,

Peace Corps experience is viewed positively by MBA programs. It is competitive to be selected and the experience is interesting and personally enriching. I think the key for you is to have a solid rationale for why you chose to do the Peace Corps after working for a couple of years and how it relates to your overall career plan. Your profile is competitive for any MBA program in terms of GPA and GMAT, so it is now a matter of gaining the quality work experience and a track record of successful leadership and team experiences. If Peace Corps is something you really want to do, not for your applications, but because you really want the experience, then I think you should look into it.

Good luck,
Lisa
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by Tani » Mon Aug 30, 2010 7:53 am
The feelings about the Peace Corps will vary by school and by individual admissions officer, however, I doubt very much that it could hurt you. In fact, it may provide insights and experiences that would be very useful in the classroom and in your career. On balance, I would favor the 2+2 option you mention, especially if international or not-for-profit work is part of your career goal. Your stats are terrific. You will be competing against a lot of people with a couple of years in a Big 4 firm, and the Peace Corps experience might be the thing that sets you apart. Remember schools are looking for diversity of opinion and experience to maximize the value of classroom and study group discussions. Your perspective from working in the Peace Corps would add more to the class than another year slogging away at an accounting firm.
Tani Wolff
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by slynch » Mon Aug 30, 2010 5:28 pm
Thanks for the input. I definitely want to do the Peace Corps at some point in my life, with in the relatively near future or later in my life. I wanted to get an idea of how B-schools view experiences such as this to see either I could kill two birds with one stone-- fulfill a life goal and get into a top-tier B-school. Thanks all.
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by Tani » Mon Aug 30, 2010 5:59 pm
Go for it! And enjoy!
Tani Wolff
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