Hey IEsailor:
thanks for reaching out to me. This is how I would think about your situation. Let us take a step back here. Why would an applicant even
need to have "corporate" work experience?
It is basically because the admissions committee wants to know that you can get a job coming out of school.
So the question that you really want to ask is -- can I convince an admissions committee that by going to their specific program that I will be able to get a job that builds logically off of my current work experience? So the equation here really has two parts -- the first being is your school be appropriate choice for the goals you lay out -- the second being is your work experience related to your future goals -- a third component is really implied -- is a job for going for even related to an MBA degree? From what you have stated as your goals, it is related.
I think what you are going to have a bigger issue with why you are picking the schools that have targeted -- given that you want to go into energy consulting. By "brokerage" I am assuming that you mean energy trading. To be honest with you the schools that you want to be targeting are all pretty much located in Texas -- with McCombs being your top choice. Of course or other programs like SMU that would also have strong representation and focus in the energy sector. So I am a little mystified by INSEAD and LBS for example.....
Given your nontraditional background, I think you may be able to get away with a score in the high 600s. I think that your desire to get a higher GMAT score, when combined with a high GPA, will get you grant money at some of the schools -- meaning Texas.
My advice to you is to make sure you absolutely nail your school choice and absolutely nail to a cross your short and long-term goals -- that is how they logically build off of your current experiences. If you drop the ball on that one, you are really going to be set adrift.
it is my belief that you are exactly the type of candidate that I can help and to be honest, would enjoy working with given your nontraditional background. I suggest we set up a consultation to discuss. Please let me know if this would be something you would be interested in. Please e-mail me at
MBA@amerasiaconsulting.com.
Respectfully,
Paul Lanzillotti