The Application Process

Last year, I made a drastic change in careers from being a salaried engineer to a freelance screenwriter. Unfortunately, I have yet to make significant income as a screenwriter. I personally see this as just a career change and I am fully employed, but because there is no salary, will adcom see this as a gap in employment? Is this something I need to explain in the optional essay?

Hi Cinji18,

First of all a huge CONGRATULATIONS to you on pursuing your dream of being a screenwriter. That's awesome! Once I got to business school, I developed the audacious goal to be a lifestyle entrepreneur, writer, documentary filmmaker, and talk show hostess (yes, all of those things) and Harvard was nothing but 100% supportive. Now, all that support came once I was part of the Harvard family, but I wanted to share that tidbit, because I was so impressed and encouraged by Harvard Career Services, my professors, and my classmates.

Yes, you need to explain your decision to make such a drastic career change--either in your optional essay or in one of the regular essays--but the AdCom is not going to chuck your app in the trash can and say, "He's just another unemployed person applying to business school." First of all, it should be listed on your resume as a position, where you list your tasks, results thus far, etc. Even if you haven't earned significant income yet, it is your full-time job.

You may also want to consider incorporating yourself as a business (https://freelanceswitch.com/the-business ... ed-to-ask/) --kind of like "You, Inc." It is a common practice among freelancers and may make sense for you as well as help demonstrate your seriousness as pursuing this as a career and sustainable enterprise.

Go you!
Kaneisha

I would also add that it is important to talk about the skills gained in this position that will help you succeed in business school and beyond.

As an Adcom member, I wouldn't look at it as a career gap but I might have concerns about why a screen writer (and a relatively new one) would want to go to business school. You'll need a cohesive story about why business school is a necessary next step in your career and how/why/if screenwriting fits into this.