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Thinking about PE/VC? Most consultants are. Few actually make it. Learn how to position your profile, build the right skills, and break into Private Equity & Venture Capital.
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Get the inside scoop on what makes Emory’s Goizueta Business School great, learn how you can present a strong MBA application, and connect with an Admissions Director to get your questions answered.- May 01
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Get the inside scoop on what makes Emory’s Goizueta Business School great and how you can present a strong MBA application. Explore the difference between our One-Year MBA and Two-Year MBA programs, talk to our admissions team, and meet students. 
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Applying to business school from a finance background? Personal MBA Coach is here to help with this quick tips video on how to set yourself apart during the MBA application process!
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Sia Admissions Founder Susan Berishaj will walk through why reach/target/safety produces the wrong list for many specific profiles, how admissions committees at different programs read the same background differently, and more...
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Starting at $975 and offering up to $545 of savings, our new Amplify Hourly Packages offer structure and support in certain high-value areas (story development, resume, essays, interviewing) to help get your applications across the finish line.
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May 0507:00 PM EDT
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In this live 60-minute masterclass, How to Get Ahead of MBA Recruiting Now, we’ll walk through the four biggest mistakes incoming MBAs make and how to avoid them so you’re not scrambling to catch up once recruiting begins.
27 Feb 2009, 16:25
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Long time lurker, first time poster
Background:
3.4 GPA from Indiana University Class of 2004: Finance
JD - Vanderbilt University Class of 2007 (A good school, but not great. On par with schools like Georgetown and UCLA)
Experience:
Corporate Attorney Second year at a mid-sized firm (400-500 attorneys; somewhere between 100-200 amongst the country's largest firms)
A lot of grunt work, and literally no leadership experience.
The ONLY leadership experience I have is in the form of local civic engagements. Nothing too interesting.
GMAT: 670
Target Schools: Top 12
Ethnicity: African American, Male
Am I kidding myself thinking that I can get into a top 12 with such poor work/leadership experience?
I am currently 28.
Would spending four years in the military and enrolling at 32 be a wise decision to make up for my lack of leadership? In other words, would my chances of getting into a top 12 school rise significantly? I have been giving the military a lot of consideration, and think I would be comfortable walking away from my career as an attorney if that is what it takes.. Document review is killing me, and who knows if my firm will be the next to lay employees off. I understand I would have to retake the GMAT if I did the military thing, but I am confident in my chances of at least matching the 670.
THANKS A LOT!!
Background:
3.4 GPA from Indiana University Class of 2004: Finance
JD - Vanderbilt University Class of 2007 (A good school, but not great. On par with schools like Georgetown and UCLA)
Experience:
Corporate Attorney Second year at a mid-sized firm (400-500 attorneys; somewhere between 100-200 amongst the country's largest firms)
A lot of grunt work, and literally no leadership experience.
The ONLY leadership experience I have is in the form of local civic engagements. Nothing too interesting.
GMAT: 670
Target Schools: Top 12
Ethnicity: African American, Male
Am I kidding myself thinking that I can get into a top 12 with such poor work/leadership experience?
I am currently 28.
Would spending four years in the military and enrolling at 32 be a wise decision to make up for my lack of leadership? In other words, would my chances of getting into a top 12 school rise significantly? I have been giving the military a lot of consideration, and think I would be comfortable walking away from my career as an attorney if that is what it takes.. Document review is killing me, and who knows if my firm will be the next to lay employees off. I understand I would have to retake the GMAT if I did the military thing, but I am confident in my chances of at least matching the 670.
THANKS A LOT!!
28 Feb 2009, 05:06
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sucram, I wouldn't worry too much about the lack of leadership experience. Joining the military at this stage in your life is certainly not your only option. I would say as long as you have significant extra-carricular leadership roles you'll be fine.
Certainly with your work experience you are a good candidate, I think in your why MBA/why now? essay questions you explain that you have had all this exposure to the business world, but really want to focus on your leadership skills. While all schools will talk about leadership development, some mean it more than others (you can start to tell which ones). Focus on those programs.
Think long and hard about the military. I just got done with six years myself. If the only reason you want to join is to get "leadership experience" there are a ton of other things you can do with your time to get that. The other thing you have to consider is that you will be 32 when you get out (which will make you an "older" applicant at any school you apply to). For more reason why not to join the military please PM me.
Certainly with your work experience you are a good candidate, I think in your why MBA/why now? essay questions you explain that you have had all this exposure to the business world, but really want to focus on your leadership skills. While all schools will talk about leadership development, some mean it more than others (you can start to tell which ones). Focus on those programs.
Think long and hard about the military. I just got done with six years myself. If the only reason you want to join is to get "leadership experience" there are a ton of other things you can do with your time to get that. The other thing you have to consider is that you will be 32 when you get out (which will make you an "older" applicant at any school you apply to). For more reason why not to join the military please PM me.
28 Feb 2009, 12:27
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Bookmarks
I think you may be underestimating your experience. Most applicants don't have "formal" leadership experience in their jobs.
A lot of your success getting into a top MBA program comes down to how well you execute the applications - how well you are able to articulate why you want a business career in light of your experience to date (i.e. your reasons for wanting to get INTO business have to be much clearer than your reasons for wanting OUT of the law). If you can do that and choose a range of programs that you feel you'll be a great fit for given your career goals (you never mentioned what they are), you may just find yourself with an admit (or two) from a top school.
As for the military, having worked with quite a number of military officers in the past, I would seriously caution you about joining the military as a means to an end (the end being something like getting into b-school). And given the experiences they've shared to some degree about their tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, it's not something you just go into like any other job. In other words, you don't do it because you want leadership experience -- you do it because you believe in serving. That you're willing to put "serving others" ahead of your own self-interest.
A lot of your success getting into a top MBA program comes down to how well you execute the applications - how well you are able to articulate why you want a business career in light of your experience to date (i.e. your reasons for wanting to get INTO business have to be much clearer than your reasons for wanting OUT of the law). If you can do that and choose a range of programs that you feel you'll be a great fit for given your career goals (you never mentioned what they are), you may just find yourself with an admit (or two) from a top school.
As for the military, having worked with quite a number of military officers in the past, I would seriously caution you about joining the military as a means to an end (the end being something like getting into b-school). And given the experiences they've shared to some degree about their tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, it's not something you just go into like any other job. In other words, you don't do it because you want leadership experience -- you do it because you believe in serving. That you're willing to put "serving others" ahead of your own self-interest.
