Do I have a shot at top 10 after this mistake?
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16 Nov 2011, 14:39
Hi Stacy,
Thanks for taking your time to read this. I may or may not have a bit of a unique situation. After taking my GMAT, I went into a business PhD program (one of the very top programs in my PhD area, and extremely competitive to get into the PhD program there, but does not really have as great of an MBA program). A year into the program, I'm starting to realize that it is not for me. Prior to starting the program, I had actually spent a year or so prepping for PhD admissions (taking GMATs, working on my applications, interviewing, taking coursework, etc), and I quit my job during this time to fully devote myself to this to enhance my chances of getting into a top PHD program.
In any case, now I am thinking of returning to work, as well as pursing the MBA instead. I think I *might* have had a shot at the top 10 MBA programs if I had just gone straight in originally, but now I feel like my chances have kind of been shot, due to being out of work for a year prior to the PhD program, as well as the failure of the PhD program itself. I was hoping for your very frank opinion on this as well, just to get a realistic idea of what my chances might be, as well as how forgiving top business schools are to these types of situations.
Here is my profile:
Age: 30
GMAT: 750 (45V, 49Q)
Education: undergrad (3.75 GPA) and masters (3.9 GPA) in accounting from a good state school
Designations: CPA, CMA, and CIA (all accounting-related)
Work history: 2 years of big four external audit, and 3 years in internal audit at big software company, playing an important role immediately upon the company's IPO and allowing me to be an agent of change within the company. 1 year gap preparing for PhD admissions, 1 year in PhD program.
Volunteering: Various small volunteering activities, including tutoring regularly at the local library, and other ad hoc volunteering, etc
Other: board member of local alumni association