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SE1315
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Important advice needed! 14 Nov 2018, 12:36
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Hello ladies and gentlemen. I would need some advice on what to do next regarding my career. I am anxious to hear from you and would like to thank you in advance for your help.

I graduated in 2017 from a top (British) university (think Oxford/Cambridge/Imperial) with a first class honours degree (I am not quite sure how British grades compare to American ones, but I suppose it is equivalent to a GPA of about 3.7 or 3.8 out of 4) having read a "hard" science (think mathematics/physics/a combination of the two). I was accepted to study for a PhD at another top (British) university (think Oxford/Cambridge/Imperial yet again) in my last year, but decided to postpone my studies shortly thereafter for one academic year. The reason was very unfortunate: my dear brother was diagnosed with a very serious disease. Consequently, I wanted to spend a year with him in our home country (a small European nation- think Baltics/former Czechoslovakia/Balkans) as it was clear that he wasn't going to stay with us for very long. My brother passed away in August 2017. I spent the remainder of my gap year trying my hand at various jobs (including journalism in my home country, working at a major intergovernmental organisation abroad (think UN/EU), working as a personal assistant for a local MP) before deciding that academia wasn't my cup of tea and accepting a job offer at the largest asset management company in my country (working on alternatives) in July 2018.

The thing is, I don't really like my job (or rather my company) and would like to change and move abroad soon. The company I am working at is well known in my country and in some neighbouring ones, but probably unknown beyond that. I do believe that I have quite a lot of responsibilities though (more than my peers at similar jobs in England) and some more free time. I believe I can climb the ranks quickly and get promotions ahead of time. Furthermore, I made a number of significant contacts during my gap year, and I am confident I will be able to work on some interesting side projects in the next couple of years.

I wonder whether to:
1. apply for analyst level jobs in England (or similar) next year,
2. apply for a Master's degree in Finance (or similar) at LSE/LBS/Oxford/Cambridge/UCL and apply for jobs in England the year after (late 2020) or
3. work in my home country, get good letters and apply for a top MBA in late 2021.

I would really like to work in England (or America) as soon as possible, but even at the earliest I will be some 2-3-4 years older than my colleagues, which I don't fancy. On the other hand, I am unsure how my application for an MBA will be assessed by the admission committee since my company is unknown in the United States and Europe at large.

I would add that very few people from my country attend (and apply) to top MBAs, though the CEO of my company went to an M7 school. I haven't taken the GMAT yet, though I am cautiously optimistic.

I would like to know what you think about my situation, and what wisdom you have to share!
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paragmahajan
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Important advice needed! 21 Nov 2018, 20:59
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According to me,
The third option is better for you..After MBA you will get wide career option..think on it and take a move
All the best
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SE1315
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Important advice needed! 26 Nov 2018, 06:30
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paragmahajan
According to me,
The third option is better for you..After MBA you will get wide career option..think on it and take a move
All the best
Show more

Thank you very much. Will think about it some more :)
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shaarang
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Important advice needed! 26 Nov 2018, 06:51
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Hey,

I'm not qualified to give you advice on the questions you've asked, however, if the age gap between you and your MBA peers is a big factor for you then you could consider getting promoted to leadership positions and applying for an Executive MBA. Something to think about.

Side note: You have stellar stats and are part of an underrepresented minority. With a couple of quick promotions, you could be a strong contender for an M7 Full Time MBA, should you opt for it. I'm sure that the age won't weigh against you and that the AdComs would understand your circumstances. Also, and I don't mean to be insensitive here, you can reflect on your year back home and use it to show how it's helped you grow. Such stories tend to be powerful and, if there's solid reasoning behind them, appreciated.
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SE1315
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Important advice needed! 26 Nov 2018, 07:22
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shaarang
Hey,

I'm not qualified to give you advice on the questions you've asked, however, if the age gap between you and your MBA peers is a big factor for you then you could consider getting promoted to leadership positions and applying for an Executive MBA. Something to think about.

Side note: You have stellar stats and are part of an underrepresented minority. With a couple of quick promotions, you could be a strong contender for an M7 Full Time MBA, should you opt for it. I'm sure that the age won't weigh against you and that the AdComs would understand your circumstances. Also, and I don't mean to be insensitive here, you can reflect on your year back home and use it to show how it's helped you grow. Such stories tend to be powerful and, if there's solid reasoning behind them, appreciated.
Show more

Hi and thank you very much for your answer!

I don't think I will be older than my peers when doing an MBA (I think I will be 27 or 28 at my planned enrolment). What I meant is that I would be about 2 or 3 years older contrasted to my peers if I applied for entry level jobs next year (abroad).

My main worry about my MBA application would be the fact that my company is unknown to American adcoms, though I could leverage my internships in famous organisations and leadership roles to a certain degree (I suppose).
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shaarang
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Joined: 06 Sep 2018
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Location: India
Concentration: Finance, Entrepreneurship
Schools: Kellogg '22 (D) Tepper '22 (WA) Duke '22 (WA) Kenan-Flagler '22 (M$) Kelley '22 (A$) McDonough '22 (A$) Anderson '22 (D)
GMAT 1: 740 Q49 V42
GPA: 4
WE:Analyst (Finance: Investment Banking)
Products:
My Reviews
Schools: Kellogg '22 (D) Tepper '22 (WA) Duke '22 (WA) Kenan-Flagler '22 (M$) Kelley '22 (A$) McDonough '22 (A$) Anderson '22 (D)
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Important advice needed! 26 Nov 2018, 07:49
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SE1315
shaarang
Hey,

I'm not qualified to give you advice on the questions you've asked, however, if the age gap between you and your MBA peers is a big factor for you then you could consider getting promoted to leadership positions and applying for an Executive MBA. Something to think about.

Side note: You have stellar stats and are part of an underrepresented minority. With a couple of quick promotions, you could be a strong contender for an M7 Full Time MBA, should you opt for it. I'm sure that the age won't weigh against you and that the AdComs would understand your circumstances. Also, and I don't mean to be insensitive here, you can reflect on your year back home and use it to show how it's helped you grow. Such stories tend to be powerful and, if there's solid reasoning behind them, appreciated.

Hi and thank you very much for your answer!

I don't think I will be older than my peers when doing an MBA (I think I will be 27 or 28 at my planned enrolment). What I meant is that I would be about 2 or 3 years older contrasted to my peers if I applied for entry level jobs next year (abroad).

My main worry about my MBA application would be the fact that my company is unknown to American adcoms, though I could leverage my internships in famous organisations and leadership roles to a certain degree (I suppose).
Show more

Ah, sorry, my mistake. Sure, name value can be a positive factor, but a smaller scale allows you to have a larger impact. If you can demonstrate a strong impact and a quick rise through the ranks, it could put you in a strong position. MBA applications have multiple variables and you can use certain variables to offset others. [Eg. I used my strong GMAT to offset my average GPA, and strong work experience to offset the demographic challenges - this helped me apply to T-15 schools] You'll need to consult a professional regarding the details, but all I'm saying is that you shouldn't rule out an MBA solely based on one factor, especially when you have so many strong positives in your application.