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Paul ur input needed... [#permalink]
 10 Jan 2007, 07:35
Paul,
I am currently doing my masters in econ. I am applyin for MBA in fall 2007. Fall 2007 is also my last semester at my current program. I always wanted to do my MBA. Because of some circumstances I had to apply for masters of econ. After my undergrad program, I was plannin to get a job and take a year off before I apply for my MBA. Unfortunately, I could not find a job. I had to pick: Either go back home ( I was on J1 visa at the time) or apply to a new program. Is it a good idea to mention this in my interview and my essays? What would be a good answer to a question: Why did you change your mind and Why did you apply in the first place?
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Re: Paul ur input needed... [#permalink]
10 Jan 2007, 13:41
Tajik4GMAT wrote: Paul,
I am currently doing my masters in econ. I am applyin for MBA in fall 2007. Fall 2007 is also my last semester at my current program. I always wanted to do my MBA. Because of some circumstances I had to apply for masters of econ. After my undergrad program, I was plannin to get a job and take a year off before I apply for my MBA. Unfortunately, I could not find a job. I had to pick: Either go back home ( I was on J1 visa at the time) or apply to a new program. Is it a good idea to mention this in my interview and my essays? What would be a good answer to a question: Why did you change your mind and Why did you apply in the first place?
Tajik4GMAT,
If you are ever asked in an interview whether visa issues played a role in your master's, don't deny it (they'll understand), but I don't think you need to volunteer it in your essays. Much better to identify some reasons why a master's in econ is/was (a) relevant to your interests, experiences at the time you began it and (b) relevant to your career goals. You then need to identify some more recent experience that shows how you realized that a master's in econ was insufficient--some work experience changed your goals, for example. If you will be applying to B-school without work experiences---with only the undergrad degree and econ degree--then you are in a difficult spot and need more than just a good explanation for why the econ degree. B-schools really want to see some work experience.
Hope this helps,
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Re: Paul ur input needed... [#permalink]
10 Jan 2007, 14:48
pbodine wrote: Tajik4GMAT wrote:
Tajik4GMAT,
If you are ever asked in an interview whether visa issues played a role in your master's, don't deny it (they'll understand), but I don't think you need to volunteer it in your essays. Much better to identify some reasons why a master's in econ is/was (a) relevant to your interests, experiences at the time you began it and (b) relevant to your career goals. You then need to identify some more recent experience that shows how you realized that a master's in econ was insufficient--some work experience changed your goals, for example. If you will be applying to B-school without work experiences---with only the undergrad degree and econ degree--then you are in a difficult spot and need more than just a good explanation for why the econ degree. B-schools really want to see some work experience.
Hope this helps,
Paul,
Thanks for your prompt response. Initially, I thought that econ was enough to get a job in financial industry. I took a Corporate Finance class last semester that turned everything upside down. That's when I realized that finance is not economics.
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Re: Paul ur input needed... [#permalink]
14 Jan 2007, 19:50
Tajik4GMAT wrote: pbodine wrote: Tajik4GMAT wrote:
Tajik4GMAT,
If you are ever asked in an interview whether visa issues played a role in your master's, don't deny it (they'll understand), but I don't think you need to volunteer it in your essays. Much better to identify some reasons why a master's in econ is/was (a) relevant to your interests, experiences at the time you began it and (b) relevant to your career goals. You then need to identify some more recent experience that shows how you realized that a master's in econ was insufficient--some work experience changed your goals, for example. If you will be applying to B-school without work experiences---with only the undergrad degree and econ degree--then you are in a difficult spot and need more than just a good explanation for why the econ degree. B-schools really want to see some work experience.
Hope this helps,
Paul, Thanks for your prompt response. Initially, I thought that econ was enough to get a job in financial industry. I took a Corporate Finance class last semester that turned everything upside down. That's when I realized that finance is not economics. Tajik4GMAT,
I frankly don't think that you want to admit to them that you didn't understand the difference between econ and finance and which degrees are most suitable for would-be finance careers. That shows a lack of "savvy" or due diligence that may hurt you.
Good luck,
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Paul,
Tnx for ur input again. Any idea on how to better explain my situation? I do not know what else I can say 
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Tajik4GMAT wrote: Paul, Tnx for ur input again. Any idea on how to better explain my situation? I do not know what else I can say All I can suggest is to try to work out some kind of long-term career goal that could conceivable require some intensive economics exposure, to make that part of your education make sense and seem relevant to your long-term goals. Do some digging to see what kinds of careers or positions might specially value the educational profile you're accumulating.
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pbodine wrote: Tajik4GMAT wrote: Paul, Tnx for ur input again. Any idea on how to better explain my situation? I do not know what else I can say All I can suggest is to try to work out some kind of long-term career goal that could conceivable require some intensive economics exposure, to make that part of your education make sense and seem relevant to your long-term goals. Do some digging to see what kinds of careers or positions might specially value the educational profile you're accumulating. Paul,
Thanks for ur input. I will definetely work on those areas you suggested. Tnx for the book tooo 
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Tajik4GMAT wrote: pbodine wrote: Tajik4GMAT wrote: Paul, Tnx for ur input again. Any idea on how to better explain my situation? I do not know what else I can say All I can suggest is to try to work out some kind of long-term career goal that could conceivable require some intensive economics exposure, to make that part of your education make sense and seem relevant to your long-term goals. Do some digging to see what kinds of careers or positions might specially value the educational profile you're accumulating. Paul, Thanks for ur input. I will definetely work on those areas you suggested. Tnx for the book tooo You're welcome.
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