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Joined: 22 Apr 2004
Posts: 1117
Given Kudos: 59
Location: Southern California
Schools:Kellogg MBA 2004
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10 Aug 2004, 10:12
It's definitely a liability, but you may be able to overcome it. My two main pieces of advice to you are:
1) Make clear in your applications that you REALLY want to go to b-school, and convincingly explain why now is the right time for you to do it. I say this because you really need to be careful to make sure that it doesn't just look like you're applying to b-school because you can't find a job and have no other options. BTW, when trying to make your case, I'd be careful about bring up the fact that you got into Temple and then decided not to go. No school is crazy about applicants who appear to just be gunning for the highest-ranked school that they can get into.
2) Use this time to truly make a difference through community involvement, in a way that demonstrates your passion about something (what that "something" is depends on you). Don't think of it as "covering up" your lack of work experience. You're facing a steep obstacle -- you can't get a job right now -- but use it as an opportunity to get involved. Don't just volunteer at the YMCA two days a week or something like that to keep busy. Make a real difference somewhere. Hopefully, you're doing it because it's important to you, not because you're trying to cover up a lack of a job. Adcomms can usually tell the difference.
Good luck,
Scott
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