Help! Leave job Pre-MBA before interviews?

Question

Hi There-

As a b-school applicant, I find myself in a very tricky situation. I started a corporate job in mid-summer that has set me up nicely for applying to MBA programs this year.

I have already been admitted to a top 20-25 school with a substantial scholarship I would attend, though not my first choice.

The work situation in my department, however, has deteriorated quickly, and through little fault of my own, it looks like I may have to leave my job right before I get interviewed (hopefully) for the top schools I am looking to attend in round 2 interviews.

How much of an issue would this be in an interview in a top 10-15 MBA program interview? How could I explain this sensibly? I would use the pre-mba gap to work on a long-standing entrepreneurial project, as well as take coursework and travel- would that be understood and accepted? Would I even need to disclose my departure?

Thanks for your help!

bb · Answer

My, perhaps unorthodox, suggestion would be to get on the offensive and position it this way:

Q: How are things going with you?
A: Things are going great. I have finally taken a leap of faith I have been contemplating for a long time and started working on a startup, and I quit the job that was annoying me. Best decision of my life. Now, I did get some help - In part it was due to things deteriorating at work and in part it was due to getting an admit at another highly reputable program. Now, this bschool is still my first choice, of course but I could not pass up such opportunity. I won't have time while at school to work on my startup, so the time is now. (You want to emphasize to the school that you WILL choose them if they give you an admit - that's important to their yield number which translates into rankings; you want to signal that you are already wooed elsewhere but you are staying committed to them)

I don't think that a program would feel weaker about you as an applicant. Of course if you say - "I got fired and my life sucks" then it will be a problem. I suggest that you actually adopt the perspective and not just let it be empty words. You have nothing to lose and the time is now to work on your startup, travel, etc. Hopefully you will get into the program of your choosing and even if not, try to get your startup as far as you can because everything i wrote above is true - the time is now :-)

Help! Leave job Pre-MBA before interviews?

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