Profile Evaluation Please :)

Hello Bet4232,
You’re still on the young side for top MBA programs, so I’d definitely suggest investing another year or two in building your resume. Your numbers are great, so no issues there. You definitely get some points on diversity: Thai/New Zealand is not a combo I see every day.

Now, your goals versus your work experience: it’s not unusual for people who are working in programming to switch careers through the MBA. But if you have, say, two years to invest in full-time work before you apply, how can you use that time most strategically? On the one hand, it’s good to put in a couple of years in one place; top business schools like to see people grow within a company, not just hop from job to job. On the other hand, three years as a programmer won’t help your case much. However, Leadership and Impact are the #1 drivers of b-schools admissions, so you’ll want to think through whether you’re likely to rise to a more impactful leadership role if you stay at your current company, or whether you will gain from building more professional experience in a financial institution. There is no easy answer here; you’ve got some research ahead of you. Use your time well: make PLANNED, strategic moves.

For your top-choice schools, leadership at work and in major community involvements are both important. So you’ll also want to be sure that you’re adding value outside the workplace, ideally in community leadership roles where you can have a consistent impact. Better to engage in one community involvement deeply and long-term rather than to participate in lots of one-off events.

One last thought: your list of schools is fairly predictable. If you do some in-person campus visits, you might change some of your preferences. Check out Forbes’ newly released “Most Satisfied MBAs” list: https://www.stacyblackman.com/2015/12/04 ... sfied-mbas. You might be see some programs you haven’t previously considered.
Good luck!
Margaret Strother