Hello,

After reading quite a bit about the approaches one takes to impress the ad coms, it seems that stating crystal clear career goals is a must. As someone who is just getting ready to start applying, I'm beginning to formulate my approach, however, I'm not quite sure what angle I should take.

Given that the best thing about b-schools is the career options it affords, how can one be dead set on a single career? How did some of you explain this?

In my current position, I work on the business side of fashion for a very well known company. The possible career options that interest me are as follows:

1) stay in industry, shoot for upper level exec. positions (CEO, CFO, etc...)

2) transition into equity research for the retail sector at a bank by using my experience in the retail industry.

3) asset management, mutual fund, hedge fund, etc...

To me, option 1 seems like it would be the most compelling story. My experience in the industry has afforded me a lot of responsibility and leadership at a young age (25). I'm applying to only elite cluster schools, so this would be a good opportunity for me to stand out w/unique career goals. Advice greatly appreciated.

I agree that option 1 makes the best "story." And that's what you have to do is go with the best story.

Ad-coms realize people may change their minds, but they don't really want to read thousands of applications where people speculate on the various industries they might be interested in. Think of these essays NOT as a true blueprint for you future, but rather as a TEST QUESTION where the ad-coms are saying to you, "Are you capable of outlining a possible career path? Show us that you have done your research and are savvy enough, and self-aware enough, to assemble a good career path that leverages your strengths and makes sense for someone coming out of our school."

Perfect. I can have my employeer recs. tie in nicely with that story.

In addition, how much benefit would reaching out to Luxury Goods Retailing clubs at my target schools be? I know they are very active at Columbia and HBS.

http://pages.stern.nyu.edu/~luxret/LuxRet_Press_WSJ_6.13.06.pdf

It seems as a conversation could be mutually beneficial: I could give tips on breaking into luxury good industry while they could offer advice on admissions.

Have any of you leveraged student relationships?

Absolutely reach out. Don't ask so much about admissions but ask about the club - then when you write about it in your essays you can sound serious and passionate. Take note of the person's name you talk to.

For instance:

"I recently had the opportunity to speak with Mr. AmazonSucks from the Stern Luxury BrandWhore Club, who informed me about X and Y, which I found incredibly interesting given my interest in Z. Moreover, I rock."

ROFL

GSB 2007-09 are lucky to have such a member in the class...

Yes,
I once again gave away the fact that I was not doing math homework by laughing at one one of Rhyme's essay examples. My immediate thought was about: http://nymag.com/fashion/lookbook/32096/ On second thought, Rhyme please read my essays... pleease.