Non-Traditional Student

Question

Hi. New to this, and am hoping I can get some honest input.

I'm 22, and spent a year and a half after high school working full time. I've been working since age 14, and at the time of graduation, was fortunate enough to run a successful small business (still operates today).

Though it's a great business, I realized i needed an education and began to attend community college. After a year and a half of taking classes (while working full time), I was admitted as a transfer student to NYU. NYU has a program for non-traditional (someone who took a year or more out of school) students who are re-entering education to pursue a degree.

The degree, classes, ect are the same.

Simply put, I'm wondering if my non-traditional (Taking time off school after H.S., working since I was young, etc) background makes me less eligible to attend some great MBA programs (specifically HBS, Stanford, Columbia, Wharton, NYU)? I was invited to the HBS College Students Day last weekend, and found the majority of current students had pretty traditional educational backgrounds, and work experience usually came in the form of large fortune 500 companies or finance firms.

Work experience (7 years total, 2 in low position, 2 in somewhat senior position and 3 as CEO)

It's important to note that I have yet to take the GMAT and so for me to assume that the above schools are even possible as of now is a big leap in the future. However, I do enjoy hypotheticals

Would love your honest input thanks guys!

deechi · Answer

There's only one way to find out.

I'd like to think that people would be receptive to someone who hasn't taken the well traveled route and has still been successful. The question is still going to be, why an MBA and what do you hope to get out of it. All said, I don't think you need to worry about going to a community college. You still graduated from a good university and as long as you did well at NYU I don't see why they would hold it against you. Especially, considering that one could easily make an economic argument that community college is a much better investment than going straight into an expensive private university.

dalillama · Answer

I'll echo Deechi's comments and add my two cents: I'm also a non-traditional candidate, and not too far from your story either (probably the only difference is that instead of taking time after HS to work, I actually decided to "speed up" my college and graduate at 20 so I could  then  work). R1 is working out for me so far. I think the path you take isn't as important as your ability to show that by taking this path you were able to get "ahead of the pack" so to speak. And you're coming from a great undergrad school. I'd recommend you talk to some admissions consultants to get a feel for your chances, but be mindful that when it comes to people like you and me, it's  really  hard to have an objective assessment because there's very little basis for comparison. Feel free to PM me if you'd like to talk more about it.

applesauce123 · Answer

Thank you both for this reply. I suppose then my next question would be, should I be doing all sorts of extra curricular activities while I'm in school, like clubs and what not? What other than good grades, and a good gmat, are helpful in ones application portfolio?

Thanks again guys

Thanks again guys

uprightcitizen · Answer

I think I can add something to this conversation.

I did the same thing as you - I took a couple years off after high school and worked fulltime. I eventually went back to community college then transferred to a state school and graduated this summer (at 26 years old). I have sketchy undergraduate transcripts in general (GPA is ok, but lots of withdrawals, etc. because I was so focused on work). I solely went to school at night while working fulltime.

I was invited to interview at HBS this fall. Definitely a surprise, but I hope you take that as a sign that your nontraditional route does not rule out top MBA programs. I like to think that HBS was intrigued by my differences, rather than using them as a way to rule me out. Obviously, the interview is far from a guarantee that I will be accepted, but it's a good sign nonetheless. Hopefully I can give better news this winter that I am matriculating, but, regardless, I would use your different route as a reason for admission, rather than something to apologize for.

IllustratorBlu · Answer

applesauce123

good luck, i can't offer you any advice.
but i would say this, I'm cheering you on, since i to am in the "almost" in the same boat has you.

Non-Traditional Student

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