no work exp, but unique exp

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no work exp, but unique exp

by cwtreloar » Wed Apr 28, 2010 7:48 pm
Hi!

I'm graduating this Spring with a Bachelors in Biology. I am thinking about applying to b-school for Fall 2011.
GPA: 3.55 from Case Western Reserve University
GMAT: not taken yet
Work exp: part time jobs including photography, research assistant, customer service
XC: various positions in fraternity including treasurer and alumni relations. spent two years on executive board; various community service including H4H and tutoring.
I speak Russian, not fluently, but conversationally-decent (3 years in college)
Lastly, I spent the summer of 2009 and will spend this upcoming summer in Russia working as an international counselor in summer camps for kids.

My top choice is Katz business school at the University of Pittsburgh because they have a dual degree MBA/Masters in International Business. The only additional requirement is having taken two college years of a language and you must intern abroad during the summer.

In regards to the program (MBA/MIB), do you think having been abroad two summers (the counselor job) is enough to substitute for the lack of actual professional work experience? Additionally, I guess what are my chances assuming a decent GMAT?

Thanks!
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by Anurag@Gurome » Wed Apr 28, 2010 11:02 pm
I think you meet the requirement of this dual degree program quite well, with one exception: your work experience. Katz does have a number of students in the 22-24 age group, but very few that are fresh from an undergraduate program. This is what the program officially states:

"Although work experience is not an absolute requirement for admission to the two year MBA and dual degree programs, it helps us distinguish one applicant from another."

"We will consider significant internship experience in addition to full-time and part-time work experience. However, we ask that you clearly identify your work experience as one of these three categories on your résumé."

"Prior work experience in addition to the transformation process (including both academic and experiential components) undertaken at the Katz School make an MBA student more desirable in a highly competitive job market. Recruiters look for you to connect your past work experience and MBA skill set to the job for which you are applying."


If you can do a good job of demonstrating your professional maturity through the richness of your experience in those two summers, you have a shot.

Hope that helps.
Anurag Mairal, Ph.D., MBA
GMAT Expert, Admissions and Career Guidance
Gurome, Inc.
1-800-566-4043 (USA)

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