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consultingkid
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Experience at a top VC-backed startup 29 Jun 2010, 16:55
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Hello,

I am a top 5 mba school hopeful looking to jump ship over to a top vc-backed growth stage startup with a ton of momentum. They are backed by the likes of Accel, Benchmark, Sequoia, you get the idea.

Quick profile:
Graduated from a top 40 universities w/3.5+ GPA, 3 years of experience so far (1 in strategy consulting, 2 in bluechip entertainment as strategy / biz dev manager. Haven't taken the gmats yet but aiming for 700+

How do you think they'll value the experience? Since I already moved around 2 companies since graduation, will they look down upon how much i transferred? I was promoted x2 at my last company so hopefully that'll show enough vertical movement?

Is going to a top vc-backed company in the valley help strengthen my profile for a chance at a top 5 school? What if the venture goes south? Will this significantly taint my resume in terms of b-school admission?
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Praetorian
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Experience at a top VC-backed startup 29 Jun 2010, 22:19
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First, consider asking the admission consultants for different opinions -
admission-consultants-124/

I can only help you think about some questions.
1. Short and long term goals. What are they?
2. Do your career choices display some hint of a grand plan executed well over a period of time?
3. What kind of experience will you have at the start up? biz dev? technology?

Can you tie 1,2 and 3?

So,
a) give them a background
b) discuss how part a) led to what you are doing now
c) discuss how b) will lead to your short and long term career goals [which you hopefully talked about in part a)]

As long as put in thought on why you were signing on to the start up in the first place, success or failure will not matter much. How many startups make it?
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consultingkid
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Experience at a top VC-backed startup 30 Jun 2010, 19:44
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I can only help you think about some questions.
1. Short and long term goals. What are they?

short - gain as much experience as possible, take on highest risk / reward profile positions

long - create my own startup in entertainment / social media

2. Do your career choices display some hint of a grand plan executed well over a period of time?

went from high level consulting to something i was passionate about -> entertainment focused on social media, with this startup move i am hoping it'll get me one step closer to achieving my long term goal. also business school will fit into the picture by helping me mitigate my risks, i feel the education will be a long term payoff regardless of which route i decide to take (corporate vs. startup) in the long run.

3. What kind of experience will you have at the start up? biz dev? technology?

biz dev

Can you tie 1,2 and 3?

i hope so :) i personally feel like even if this startup thing falls apart, i feel like the experience alone will serve me in the long run.

So,
a) give them a background
b) discuss how part a) led to what you are doing now
c) discuss how b) will lead to your short and long term career goals [which you hopefully talked about in part a)]
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Experience at a top VC-backed startup 03 Jul 2010, 09:42
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Taking on risk is a good thing for both business school applications and (in my personal opinion) life in general

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Praetorian
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Experience at a top VC-backed startup 03 Jul 2010, 10:05
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YourDreamTheater
Taking on risk is a good thing for both business school applications and (in my personal opinion) life in general

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Life, in general, yes. Be cautious that business schools are perceived to be for people wanting to escape (transition, change careers etc.)

If you were working on your best idea right now, you wouldn't be going to business school. You would be hustling with all you have.