No, this shouldn't be a disadvantage at all. It's a unique experience, and you should definitely emphasize it in your app.

Three thoughts immediately came to mind: First, hopefully your GPA was good in college. That way, your full-time experience comes across as a true asset, rather than an "excuse" for your low grades. But if your grades were good, then this won't be an issue.

Second, if you're applying to full-time programs, you may want to make clear that you realize that an MBA will require your full attention over two years. Some people envision themselves working through a full-time MBA program, but schools completely frown on this. Don't spend more than a sentence or two in an essay on this, but you will probably want to at least make that point somewhere in your app.

Finally, while your background should only help you get in (and not hinder you), make sure to give a lot of thought to how you answer the "Why an MBA now?" question. For lots of applicants the answer includes something along the lines of "I want to gain certain hard skills, like finance," but yours may be a bit different, since you learned and lived a lot of this stuff at the same time. Just food for thought.

Good luck,
Scott
_________________

Scott

Veritas Prep | GMAT Prep | MBA Admissions Consulting | Co-author, Your MBA Game Plan

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