Advice

[Krazie85]

Hello

I am a 21 year old who will be a senior accounting major at the university of south carolina.

I took the GMAT this summer and got a 750. I have extensive leadership experience in undergrad and my gpa is a 3.98. I want to attend a top 5 MBA program but realize I need some work experience... any ideas what I should do in the next three years to further improve and bolster my application? Learn a language? Work abroad? Any advice will help!

[Amy]

Hi Krazie85,

Your achievements so far are very impressive. You actually do not need to wait to apply for an MBA. Several top 5 schools including HBS are actively recruiting students straight from undergrad programs.

The key for undergrad applicants is to demonstrate leadership and management experience. This could be through extracurricular activities or internships/summer jobs.

I would also suggest really soul searching about why you want an MBA. I knew some incredibly smart and motivated classmates in my MBA program who came straight from undergrad, and it may have been the right choice for them. For me, it was incredibly helpful to have several years of work experience before my MBA. There are some lessons you only learn at work, and it's great to know "what you need to know" before attending an MBA program.

Ultimately, it's a personal decision, and the adcomm is certainly willing to look at you as a viable candidate without work experience.

Good luck!

Amy