mojoman wrote:
Hopefully, you guys can provide some insight here.
I did my undergrad and grad at a top 10 and top 3 school respectively (in the US), both in CS. I've been working for a few months now, but...I'm not really enjoying it. That said, I've always wanted to do an MBA at a top-notch school (who doesn't?
), so here's my dilemma.
I'm thinking of quitting my job, and start working with non-profits or NGOs in developing regions (most likely in South Asia). I did do research with NGOs while in grad school, and that was something I enjoyed tremendously.
Now...could this move work against me when I start sending in my apps later this year?
A good friend of mine did just this and got into Wharton. If this is what you want to do post-MBA, and if you're sincerely passionate about it (not just doing it because it might look good to adcom), then I'd say go for it. Incidently, my friend didn't end up doing this sort of work post-MBA - he's a finance guy today - but nevertheless, he was passionate about this, and it had a major impact on his life. Also, I think it depends on your age. If you're toward the older end of the spectrum, you may want to be more cautious about this. And to reiterate what an earlier post mentioned, if you want to stay in your current industry post-MBA, this wouldn't be a good move. Another consideration: since you've only been working a few months, I'd be concerned that adcoms might view this as evidence of indecisiveness or lack of commitment. You'd probably have to address that, at least during interviews.