Ask an MBA Admissions Consultant

-23 year old male, U.S. born citizen.

-I graduated with a 3.9 GPA in Finance, 4.0 major GPA from a #30 ranked undergrad business school.

-2 years work experience as a financial analyst at a top technology company. Got a promotion 1.5 years in. Plan to work for another 1.5-2 yrs as is detailed below.

-gmat shooting for 700+

Extracurrics:
-started own nonprofit that is a 501c3 registered U.S. charity
-board of director and treasurer for a nonprofit that focuses on the intersection of business and the environment
-Lead volunteer at a top 5 business school's social entrepreneurship program
-had a small online marketing business on the side
-toastmasters

My whole "angle" and reason for going to business school is to pursue social entrepreneurship. I think my extra currics speak to that fact. I am hoping to get into a top 10 school, top 5 preferably.

Also, in order to achieve this goal and since I've worked 2 yrs in finance, I am thinking about quitting that job and working full time on my nonprofit to really build it up. I think that would speak more to my commitment to the field and why I want an MBA, and is something I frankly would enjoy more than working in my current job.

What are your thoughts?
Would a person with 4 yrs work experience in finance at a top tech company be better off than someone with 2 yrs in finance and then 2 yrs running their own nonprofit? How do you think companies recruiting MBA students would look at that?

Thanks and Happy Holidays!

Hi and thanks for your post. It sounds like you have a very strong background and, if you can get your GMAT to come in at or over 700, you should be a competitive applicant (recall that there are not guarantees when applying to programs at the very highest level).

If your goal is to get into social entrepeneurship (by which I assume that you mean a particular kind of non-profit activity), then --if you are TOTALLY committed to it-- you might want to consider programs that are especially strong in that. Yale comes to mind as does a program at Stanford. Berkeley is also a possible candidate but it is focused more on business entrepeneurship than social entrepreneurship but if the West Coast appeals look them up.

A few things I think you need to bear in mind:

- There are programs that specialize in NFP management but...it may still be better (for many reasons) to go to a tranditional MBA: contacts, training, rigor, etc.

- Your angle is pretty unique. Your Soc. Ent. focus is going to set you apart and make you appealing and interesting. That will give you, then, something of a competitive advantage (again: no guarantees, though!).

- Your extracurricular experience is great and compelling. Also an advantage.

Since my last posting (above) 6 months ago I'd like to share some updates. I will be applying early R1 and want to see whether I have a good shot at getting into at least one of these schools. Also, whether I should apply to either or both of the safety schools listed below, or just wait to R2 in case I don't get into any of my 7-8 target schools.

Updated Information
-700 GMAT Q47 V40
-My resignation in my prior corporate finance job to run my nonprofit full time has went really well. The organization has received a very generous grant and has made other significant accomplishments since my fulltime involvement.
-I started hosting a talk series in the social enterprise field that is sponsored and published by a top 3 business school where I have been working for the past year (I interview leaders in a variety of sectors and then publish the talks) (I have also received a letter of rec from the Associate Director of the program I'm working with)
-Why an MBA? I want an MBA to broaden my business and management skills in order to scale up my social enterprise, and I'm specifically targeting schools with strong social enterprise programs
-Starting another nonprofit initiative but at the very early stages at the moment

Stanford
Harvard
Wharton
Columbia
Yale
Haas
MIT
Northwestern (not sure if I will apply here)
UCLA (safety)
NYU (safety)