Manager
Joined: 12 Aug 2011
Posts: 95
Given Kudos: 1
Location: United States (SC)
Concentration: Operations, General Management
Schools: Cornell (Johnson) - Class of 2014
Re: Young Applicants
[#permalink]
19 Jan 2012, 09:09
I will be only 23 when I start next fall (hopefully) with only around a year and a half of work experience. I think the advice is much the same as it is for everyone. Make sure you know your story and can answer all of "Why MBA?"/"Why X school?"/"Why now?" questions.
One thing I've focused on is showing that I have the maturity to handle business school and will be able to collaborate with my potentially older peers. Another thing I think has benefited me in this process is selling my potential to schools. Older applicants can sell their experiences to the adcoms, and while you obviously cannot completely discount your own experiences, I have emphasised my drive and potential as a younger applicant. As is true with a lot of investments, the sooner you can get on the train of a successful investment, the more you will get out of it. That is kind of what I am pushing in my applications.
I'd love to hear what others in similar situations have to offer though.