You should ignore the advice that you a more traditional route will increases your odds of admission. It's not the route that matters so much as the success, impact, and leadership you can demonstrate within the route you chose. Yes, brand matters, but you are already reasonably well branded through NYU and the UN (and when/if you qualify for the CFA, you will be even better branded). If you make a success of your startup and demonstrate fast-track impact in your startup day job, you will have a really unique profile which will differentiate you from all the countless applicants who will take a 'traditional route' (play it safe). Feel free to send me your resume for a closer look:
paulbodine@yahoo.com.
Paul Bodine,
https://www.paulsbodine.com, Great Applications for Business School
anantapoolla wrote:
Hi,
I am sorry if this question is a really old one, but I am kind of lost among all the advises that I get around here. So, I thought I would approach some professionals to get the right kind of advise and change my directions if necessary.
This May, I graduated (undergrad) from NYU with a GPA of 3.78 (at the age of 23) majoring in Information Systems Management. I have given my GMAT in order to try for the 2+2, got 700 in my first try and lost the Harvard seat! There were no surprises there mainly because I was not clear myself why I am applying to MBA except for that it is Harvard.
While in my senior year at NYU, I have started working for the UN as a volunteer, got involved in couple of nice projects in NY and right now I am working as a Project Manager / Business Analyst for a startup while trying to raise funds for my own startup. I have just cleared my CFA level 1 (which was supposed to be my safety net if my business fails). I am planning to apply to MBA schools for Fall of 2014 after seeing how my own startup works out. And now, I have a serious reason to get into big schools like Harvard or Yale. I sincerely believe that after MBA, my business plan(s) will be much more streamlined and my thought process would improve along with getting some wonderful connections who can assist in the business...
Probably, my GMAT score is too less, but if that is the case, I can give it once again and am sure of getting at least 710 if not more.
I have a passion for my startup, but on the side, I am volunteering with the UN and also trying to get my CFA while making meaningful contributions at work place. I think that these are enough professional credentials for a B-School to invite me for an interview. But I am being advised to take the more traditional route. Can you please evaluate my strategy? Thank You.