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Time off to prepare applications?

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lahai1dj
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Joined: 04 Nov 2012
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Location: United States
Concentration: Finance, International Business
Schools: Jones '16 (M) Cox '16 (A$) McCombs '16 (A)
GRE 1: Q740 V640
GPA: 3.7
WE:Science (Pharmaceuticals and Biotech)
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Time off to prepare applications? [#permalink] New post   06 Nov 2012, 23:51
Hello,

I am currently working in a very rigorous career where it is mandatory that I travel constantly and work many hours per week. This schedule has kept me from investing the necessary time to prepare for the GMAT and apply for B-School and so I am considering quitting and taking the time to pursue the MBA application full time. My concern is that this may be unusual and will raise a red flag during application review. Is my plan advisable? Or would it raise too many questions and eye brows.

Thanks!

DL
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Re: Time off to prepare applications? [#permalink] New post   07 Nov 2012, 21:07
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lahai1dj wrote:
Hello,

I am currently working in a very rigorous career where it is mandatory that I travel constantly and work many hours per week. This schedule has kept me from investing the necessary time to prepare for the GMAT and apply for B-School and so I am considering quitting and taking the time to pursue the MBA application full time. My concern is that this may be unusual and will raise a red flag during application review. Is my plan advisable? Or would it raise too many questions and eye brows.

Thanks!

DL


DL,

I share your concern, but it depends how long you plan to take to prepare for the GMAT and complete the applications. I can't recommend that you are not working the entire time it takes to prep for the GMAT and apply if that is more than a month to six weeks. The overwhelming majority of applicants prepare for the GMAT and complete the applications while working, many at very demanding jobs. You may appear less competitive if you take off for more than a few weeks, and you certainly will not be able to show professional advancement during that time.

However is it possible for you to take off for a short time while you prepare for the GMAT and then either return to your company or take a different job that will allow you to complete the application process? Alternatively, can you just take a different job that is somewhat less time-consuming.

Best,
Linda
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lahai1dj
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Manager
Joined: 04 Nov 2012
Posts: 84
Own Kudos [?]: 35 [0]
Given Kudos: 82
Location: United States
Concentration: Finance, International Business
Schools: Jones '16 (M) Cox '16 (A$) McCombs '16 (A)
GRE 1: Q740 V640
GPA: 3.7
WE:Science (Pharmaceuticals and Biotech)
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Re: Time off to prepare applications? [#permalink] New post   09 Nov 2012, 14:05
Quote:
DL,

I share your concern, but it depends how long you plan to take to prepare for the GMAT and complete the applications. I can't recommend that you are not working the entire time it takes to prep for the GMAT and apply if that is more than a month to six weeks. The overwhelming majority of applicants prepare for the GMAT and complete the applications while working, many at very demanding jobs. You may appear less competitive if you take off for more than a few weeks, and you certainly will not be able to show professional advancement during that time.

However is it possible for you to take off for a short time while you prepare for the GMAT and then either return to your company or take a different job that will allow you to complete the application process? Alternatively, can you just take a different job that is somewhat less time-consuming.

Best,
Linda



Linda,

Thank you for your input. If you are familiar with the book, The 4 Hour Work Week I was planning to take a "mini-retirement". For me, this entails moving to China for 6 mo-1 year to teach English, while living off of savings and using my copious spare time to prepare for the GMAT and to write application essays. I believe it would be valuable experience, but I'm not sure if the AdCom would think so.

DL
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lahai1dj
Manager
Manager
Joined: 04 Nov 2012
Posts: 84
Own Kudos [?]: 35 [0]
Given Kudos: 82
Location: United States
Concentration: Finance, International Business
Schools: Jones '16 (M) Cox '16 (A$) McCombs '16 (A)
GRE 1: Q740 V640
GPA: 3.7
WE:Science (Pharmaceuticals and Biotech)
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Re: Time off to prepare applications? [#permalink] New post   09 Nov 2012, 14:11
By the way Linda, I just ordered your book on Amazon. After reading through the table of contents and the first few pages I couldn't resist.

David
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Re: Time off to prepare applications? [#permalink] New post   11 Nov 2012, 16:14
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lahai1dj wrote:
By the way Linda, I just ordered your book on Amazon. After reading through the table of contents and the first few pages I couldn't resist.

David


David,

Thanks for ordering [url]MBA Admission for Smarties[/url]and the kudo on my earlier response. And yes, I did read Ferris' 4-Hour Work Week.

It's a little hard for me to respond definitively. However, depending on your long-term plans , your work experience to date, and your perspective on the experience, teaching English in China for 6 months to a year could be very attractive in the admissions committee's eyes. It's not the same as just "taking off" to study and apply for six months. It could be a real growth experience. Show that it is.

If you would like help with the app, please let em know.

Best,
Linda
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Re: Time off to prepare applications? [#permalink]
11 Nov 2012, 16:14

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