So I'm looking at the class profile for UCLA, one of my top choices, and I see that less than half of the class comes from a Finance/Consulting/High-Tech background. But it seems like those three industries get a lot of airtime around here. So, any nontraditional applicants around here? Coming from health care? Nonprofit? Arts? Education? What's your story and why are you looking for an MBA? What schools do you think are best for nontraditional people? Since I'm asking, I guess I'll start - I have an extensive background in music (actually was accepted to grad school in composition last year, but rethought it) and spent a year running a business as a private piano teacher. Now I work as a university admin for the creative writing department, coordinating admissions for the graduate program, working out scheduling for undergraduates, maintaining the website, and planning events. I'm hoping to go into arts management, probably in music - I want to do general management for a symphony, jazz festival, arts prep school, etc. Eventually, I'd like to start my own school or non-profit arts organization. Alternately, depending on the direction of the music industry, I'd consider working for or starting a record label. My top choices are probably Stanford and UCLA for their location, appropriate programs and curricula, and opportunities for entrepreneurship.

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osbornecox

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05 Dec 2009, 07:12

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I come from an industry that swears me to confidentiality. I suppose that's true whether you're a spook, a regulator or you clean toilets for rich people.

AspiringSloanie

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I do healthcare research at a top medical center. Only have a BA so far.

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During the day, I work on lease contracts for federal agencies. At night, I research and think about spaces repurposed for leisure.

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06 Jan 2010, 05:44

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06 Jan 2010, 07:49

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06 Jan 2010, 08:08

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Not sure if this falls under the non-trad. category.

International retail buyer in Asia (from Canada)

Aenigma

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06 Jan 2010, 08:35

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To echo Ntang's questions from last year: do people view their non-trad backgrounds as an asset or a liability? Schools are paying a lot of lip service to people like us, but I wonder if they aren't just doing what they always do: highlighting outliers in order to seem different / better than their competitors.

I'm thinking it goes like this: if you take a banker and a non-trad side-by-side and otherwise their stats are very, very similar -- that's where the non-trad gets the edge. But I doubt coming from an atypical background automatically qualifies you as an URM or a "wow" or whatever.

Thoughts?

triple5soul

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06 Jan 2010, 08:58

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Aenigma, some thoughts:
I've had the opportunity to work with individuals from IB/MC (top 3). These same remarkable people were actually more "impressed" by my work experience/accomplishments, something I truly came to appreciate. While these folks may have the title/brand name employer, they don't necessarily have REAL impactful positions...

I think when adcom members go over applications, they seek diversity in the classroom. In fact, my visit to HBS confirmed this. While I did see your typical McKinsey/GS student, I met a lot from "no-name" companies (Pharma, Family Business, etc.). Ironically enough, one guy had a very similar background to me (Westerner who worked extensively in China, spoke Mandarin...)

Just my opinion...

Aenigma

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06 Jan 2010, 09:08

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That's a helpful insight, triple5soul, thanks.

I too I have had experiences where friends or acquaintances in more traditional lines of work have been like, "Oh, you work at [Foundation]? COOL! I would love to do that!" But of course even in interesting jobs it's rare to feel really gung-ho about the unglamorous day-to-day tasks, so I'm usually thinking that what THEY do seems much more impressive. (Probably 'cause they ballin'.)

triple5soul

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06 Jan 2010, 09:51

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I definitely share some of the same thoughts. I do admit that I often worry that adcom will automatically discard an application on such premises. It speaks immensely of a school's culture when it is open to interview/admit non-traditional applicants. I know S is extremely open to individuals who are diverse in background and have led meaningful life experiences (hence "What matters to you most"), whereas typical applications are solely about goals/accomplishments.

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06 Jan 2010, 10:03

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Ah, Stanford. If only there were more seats in that class...

Your comment reminds me, actually, that my recommenders (all non-trad) have totally hated on the business school admission process. They think most of the applications, as you note, focus too much on goals and accomplishments -- especially quantifiable accomplishments concerning money and management, which are almost impossible to ascertain in the work I do -- and not enough on potential and richness of experience. In this respect, they think law school recommendations are much more representative of a person's potential contribution to the field (not to mention they're much less onerous). This is, of course, debatable, but I think they make an interesting point.

I wonder how thoughtful AdComs are about perspectives like this.

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06 Jan 2010, 12:00

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I may be completely off here, but I would hypothesize that most non-traditional applicants don't need an MBA in the same way than traditional applicants do. For example, your typical IB/MC requires the degree to move up the ranks (if he/she so chose to stay in the same industry) whereas many non-traditional applicants either require it for career swtiching (just an example). This is highly debatable - however, in industries such as retail, CPG, etc. the MBA won't make much of a difference (as opposed to experience).

Ultimately, the MBA won't guarantee anything (for a traditional or non-traditional applicant). I honestly believe that most of the applicants on this board would do just fine without the degree...

omen

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06 Mar 2010, 12:34

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I kind of worry about how my "non-tradional" background will affect me, because i don't come from the usual industries but also don't do anything that exotic. I work in property management and lease luxury apartments. I would like to make a move into brand management and even though I have 5 years experience in real estate, 3 years working for myself and another 2 working for a national re development and management company, i don't see a future in real estate for me.

Tghis is very much a high pressured sales position -- I make as much in commissions as I do in salary, and i'm good at what I do. I work with a really diverse and very international group of clients.

I also work in the fitness industry on the side, teaching group exercise.

I guess i'll find out soon enough...

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