Declaring Interest in General Mgmt - Good or Bad on App?

Question

Hey Folks,

So I'm targeting some schools in the 8-20 end of the spectrum, and I plan to pursue a job in General Management. I have an operations consulting background, so I could make a strong case for either general management or management consulting as realistic post-mba job options.

When I look at employments reports for some of my target schools, I see that only about 10% of the class ends up working in general management. These jobs also tend to fall pretty close to the school's median salary, unlike consulting.

Will declaring an interest in general management make me less attractive as an applicant? Schools with a strong general management curriculum seem to pride themselves on the percentage of the class that they place in consulting, and general management jobs certainly don't boost the salary & bonus stats.

What say ye? From the perspective of making myself as desirable an applicant as possible, would it be better to feign interest in strategy consulting, or should I write a compelling story for why I'm passionate about finding a great rotational program?

3underscore · Answer

Possibly the opposite. Schools like people going to sensible career paths that they are interested in, their background fits to, and are less crowded (i.e. less class members per job) - works better for satisfaction, recruiting figures and balance in the class. Plus your essays will be better if it is what you want to do.

cheetarah1980 · Answer

If you go to any admissions event you will here adcoms say the same thing. "The biggest mistake applicants make is telling us what they think we want to hear." If you don't want to do strategy consulting then don't write that you do. 
Plus schools want to make sure that you're employable. Percentage of students employed at graduation matters more than how much that student's starting salary might be.

xerox · Answer

Declaration of any goal does not automatically render you attractive or otherwise. If you package it right, any school would want to take you: application strength depends on your strategy and execution of such. Plus a bunch of luck.

Other than that, your goal is as good as any. In fact, GM is a very common career path, and I am sure thousands of people declare such every year, and get in at their schools of choice.

rhyme · Answer

Others have answered but I'll chime in too: write honestly about what you want to do and it will sound true and passionate. Make something up and it will sound contrived and distant.

LionsSBC12 · Answer

Thanks for the insight, everyone.
Now to put those plans on paper...

Declaring Interest in General Mgmt - Good or Bad on App?

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