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Harley1980
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Dear Jon.

I intend to apply in this year in some top 15 US schools with entrepreneurial specialization but have an unusual situation and want to ask you about it.

I am from Ukraine, 35 years old caucasian male, have 15 years experience, pre last work is 3 years on Danone Ukraine with promotion and shift from IT to sales.
Last 6 years I run my own IT company (software product for FMCG companies such as Danone Ukraine, SanofiAventis Ukraine and Loreal Luxe Ukraine)
In the company work 20 employees and company has near $500,000 annual turnover.
My GMAT is 740 (Q50, V40) 97%

So as I see that I fulfil every formal criteria but one. I do not have bachelor degree. I start work in 15 years old and the more I worked the less I see reasons to obtain undergraduate education (In Ukraine we have debatable quality of education).

I do not ask you about my chances because I realized that this is really difficult question and this question is higly depends on my essays but I want to know whether admission committee will be read my essays after they see in my resume that I do not have bachelor degree?

I will be really appreciate for any information about this question.

Hey,
Good question. But I can't answer it, the school needs to. I can say this though - most of the time there is a requirement that you have a BA degree. However, there are schools which will waive that obligation and consider your application if you have 10+ years experience (and some EMBA programs too). But that's why I can't answer this - because it's a sort of "internal policy" thing which changes from school to school. My suggestion is to look on the application requirements of each school you are interested individually. And then, even if doesn't say "Work experience of 10 years is good enough for a bachelors", email them with exactly what you wrote above (But correct the English! :) ) and see what they have to say,

I hope this helps,
Jon

Thank you, Jon.

No problem! And do let know what the responses of the various schools are if you don't mind. I'm curious to see who is open, and who not.
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No problem! And do let know what the responses of the various schools are if you don't mind. I'm curious to see who is open, and who not.

Sure thing. Thanks again and have a good day :)
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No problem! And do let know what the responses of the various schools are if you don't mind. I'm curious to see who is open, and who not.

Hello Jon. I have collect all answers from schools and as I promise here are the answers:
Stanford, Wharton, Chicago Booth, Haas, Tuck, MIT, Columbia, UCLA, Ross, Darden, Kellogg, Yale, Marshall, Babson

Undergraduate education is mandatory and these schools can not waive it

Cornell: "undergraduate education is mandatory but you have a high GMAT so you can try if you think that it worth it"

I was surprised by these answers because a lot of these schools declare that they have entrepreneurial specialization. I am ready entrepreneur with experience of creating my own software product and all this schools reject me because of this education that actually just a formality in Ukraine. Even Babson with average 650 GMAT and its position as entrepreneurial school #1 does not make exclusion: I realized that it is my mistake that I did not find out about this before my preparation to GMAT but still this is a little weird situation.
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No problem! And do let know what the responses of the various schools are if you don't mind. I'm curious to see who is open, and who not.

Hello Jon. I have collect all answers from schools and as I promise here are the answers:
Stanford, Wharton, Chicago Booth, Haas, Tuck, MIT, Columbia, UCLA, Ross, Darden, Kellogg, Yale, Marshall, Babson

Undergraduate education is mandatory and these schools can not waive it

Cornell: "undergraduate education is mandatory but you have a high GMAT so you can try if you think that it worth it"

I was surprised by these answers because a lot of these schools declare that they have entrepreneurial specialization. I am ready entrepreneur with experience of creating my own software product and all this schools reject me because of this education that actually just a formality in Ukraine. Even Babson with average 650 GMAT and its position as entrepreneurial school #1 does not make exclusion: I realized that it is my mistake that I did not find out about this before my preparation to GMAT but still this is a little weird situation.

I know, it's a tough thing...

But they got their rules.
I do know that EMBA programs will sometimes accept candidates without a BA. Another option for you would be to wait it out a bit, do a pro forma BA (maybe by distance learning, or in a school which would give you two years of equivalence for your experience and apply for an MBA later).


What are your thoughts? plans? ideas?
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What are your thoughts? plans? ideas?

Hello Jon.

You know I confused a little because I was sure that these schools are really interested in development of their entrepreneurial specialization. When I received all this rejections I think a lot about it and realized strange thing.

First moment
If we want to create some cool entrepreneurs and we should take 100 people in educational group when what people should we take in this group? People from college with work experience in some big corporations or entrepreneurs who already create some business? I think answer is quite obvious because entrepreneurship is like form of art: one should have some talent in this area to make success.

Second moment
I spoke with one of the consultant who has a prestigious MBA and this person said that I need to convince school that I will be employable after MBA. But I did not want to be employable I want to be entrepreneur after school because that is my main point why I going to MBA. I realized that all schools have a ranking that partially based on employability of mint students so it looks like entrepreneurial schools have two tasks that contradict to each other. MBA person that became entrepreneur will worsen ranking of school.

Maybe I wrong but now the biggest question for me is "Do schools really interested in creating entrepreneurs?". Sure thing this question slightly inhibit my desire to fight for MBA.
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JonAdmissionado

What are your thoughts? plans? ideas?

Hello Jon.

You know I confused a little because I was sure that these schools are really interested in development of their entrepreneurial specialization. When I received all this rejections I think a lot about it and realized strange thing.

First moment
If we want to create some cool entrepreneurs and we should take 100 people in educational group when what people should we take in this group? People from college with work experience in some big corporations or entrepreneurs who already create some business? I think answer is quite obvious because entrepreneurship is like form of art: one should have some talent in this area to make success.

Second moment
I spoke with one of the consultant who has a prestigious MBA and this person said that I need to convince school that I will be employable after MBA. But I did not want to be employable I want to be entrepreneur after school because that is my main point why I going to MBA. I realized that all schools have a ranking that partially based on employability of mint students so it looks like entrepreneurial schools have two tasks that contradict to each other. MBA person that became entrepreneur will worsen ranking of school.

Maybe I wrong but now the biggest question for me is "Do schools really interested in creating entrepreneurs?". Sure thing this question slightly inhibit my desire to fight for MBA.

Hey there,
Well although I understand and even agree with your thoughts, then maybe you should be asking yourself "Do I need an MBA?" and "Is this the right path for me?" I mean it's first of all true that many of the world's most famous entrepreneurs never studied business, and some come straight off from the streets. So is it necessary for you to have an MBA to succeed in your path? Probably not.

But an MBA is for sure a conservative and traditional path towards business, and it has its part of agendas and bureaucracy (which is why you need a degree).

So maybe then you might want to consider other paths that would pay off more than an MBA? Some way of putting yourself in contact with the right people through conferences/entrepreneurial groups/ your own projects...

You seem to me like a very a very ambitious intelligent and motivated guy, and I'm sure that even if you decide to not pursue an MBA, you will be able to apply your energies to your visions,
Best,
Jon
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Harley1980
JonAdmissionado

What are your thoughts? plans? ideas?

Hello Jon.

You know I confused a little because I was sure that these schools are really interested in development of their entrepreneurial specialization. When I received all this rejections I think a lot about it and realized strange thing.

First moment
If we want to create some cool entrepreneurs and we should take 100 people in educational group when what people should we take in this group? People from college with work experience in some big corporations or entrepreneurs who already create some business? I think answer is quite obvious because entrepreneurship is like form of art: one should have some talent in this area to make success.

Second moment
I spoke with one of the consultant who has a prestigious MBA and this person said that I need to convince school that I will be employable after MBA. But I did not want to be employable I want to be entrepreneur after school because that is my main point why I going to MBA. I realized that all schools have a ranking that partially based on employability of mint students so it looks like entrepreneurial schools have two tasks that contradict to each other. MBA person that became entrepreneur will worsen ranking of school.

Maybe I wrong but now the biggest question for me is "Do schools really interested in creating entrepreneurs?". Sure thing this question slightly inhibit my desire to fight for MBA.

Hey there,
Well although I understand and even agree with your thoughts, then maybe you should be asking yourself "Do I need an MBA?" and "Is this the right path for me?" I mean it's first of all true that many of the world's most famous entrepreneurs never studied business, and some come straight off from the streets. So is it necessary for you to have an MBA to succeed in your path? Probably not.

But an MBA is for sure a conservative and traditional path towards business, and tit has its part of agendas and bureaucracy (which is why you need a degree).

So maybe then you might want to consider other paths that would pay off more than an MBA? Some way of putting yourself in contact with the right people through conferences/entrepreneurial groups/ your own projects...

You seem to me like a very a very ambitious intelligent and motivated guy, and I'm sure that even if you decide to not pursue an MBA, you will be able to apply your energies to your visions,
Best,
Jon

Thank you for the kind words, Jon. I am really appreciate it and I will think it through.