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busflanker
Joined: 04 Dec 2016
Last visit: 04 Apr 2017
Posts: 10
Given Kudos: 2
Location: United Kingdom
Schools: ESMT"18 Oxford"18 (A)
GMAT 1: 750 Q49 V42
GPA: 3.7
21 Dec 2016, 10:37
Kudos
Bookmarks
Hi,
My long term aim is to move to Germany (for personal reasons) and work in business there (maybe consulting), but when I previously enquired with companies they dismissed me on the basis that I have a maths degree rather than a business degree, so I am considering doing an mba, preferably in germany but open to other suggestions. Anyway as he title says, Having read other people's profiles, i worry that my work experience may be seen as irrelevant, as it is not really business based. Any advice welcome, thanks.
Profile:
British male, 29 years old
Head of major department in a relatively prestigious secondary school, i directly manage 11 members of staff with responsibility for around 550 pupils. Contribute to whole school strategy and implemented changes etc.etc.I am also a deputy houseparent in a boarding house, so have pastoral responsibility for 60 pupils two days (and nights) a week. I have been doing this for 2 and a half years
Prior to this I was a head of department in an international school in Germany for a year, and before this I was a normal teacher for 3 years (including one year training).
I have a masters degree in maths from Oxford and I got a first (I have no idea how this translates to GPA, as though I got a first overall, the vast majority of my exams werent firsts, i just did very well in a couple which brought the average up). Played a few sports and had some positions of responsibility, including one wuite major one within the student body.
GMAT 750 (IR 8, Q49, V42) - quant embarrassing for a mathematician!
Im also fluent in french and can speak adequate german (though if i do go for this i will take time out before starting to learn intensively to get fluent)
One other area of concern is that i do a lot of extracurricular coaching of sports wothin the school, a lot more than i am contracually obliged to do, but i dont really do anything beyond that (boarding school can be pretty intense!), can i use the things i do in school as examples on the application forms?
So yeah, I am mainly looking at ESMT in Berlin, but am also considering others such as ESCP or INSEAD, would my work experience be too weak for insead given it is not really business based? And thiugh it would be very expensive, if i had a shot i moght try for one of the better american ones, would they be completely out of my league?
Thanks in advance
James
My long term aim is to move to Germany (for personal reasons) and work in business there (maybe consulting), but when I previously enquired with companies they dismissed me on the basis that I have a maths degree rather than a business degree, so I am considering doing an mba, preferably in germany but open to other suggestions. Anyway as he title says, Having read other people's profiles, i worry that my work experience may be seen as irrelevant, as it is not really business based. Any advice welcome, thanks.
Profile:
British male, 29 years old
Head of major department in a relatively prestigious secondary school, i directly manage 11 members of staff with responsibility for around 550 pupils. Contribute to whole school strategy and implemented changes etc.etc.I am also a deputy houseparent in a boarding house, so have pastoral responsibility for 60 pupils two days (and nights) a week. I have been doing this for 2 and a half years
Prior to this I was a head of department in an international school in Germany for a year, and before this I was a normal teacher for 3 years (including one year training).
I have a masters degree in maths from Oxford and I got a first (I have no idea how this translates to GPA, as though I got a first overall, the vast majority of my exams werent firsts, i just did very well in a couple which brought the average up). Played a few sports and had some positions of responsibility, including one wuite major one within the student body.
GMAT 750 (IR 8, Q49, V42) - quant embarrassing for a mathematician!
Im also fluent in french and can speak adequate german (though if i do go for this i will take time out before starting to learn intensively to get fluent)
One other area of concern is that i do a lot of extracurricular coaching of sports wothin the school, a lot more than i am contracually obliged to do, but i dont really do anything beyond that (boarding school can be pretty intense!), can i use the things i do in school as examples on the application forms?
So yeah, I am mainly looking at ESMT in Berlin, but am also considering others such as ESCP or INSEAD, would my work experience be too weak for insead given it is not really business based? And thiugh it would be very expensive, if i had a shot i moght try for one of the better american ones, would they be completely out of my league?
Thanks in advance
James
21 Dec 2016, 20:11
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Bookmarks
Well your work experience is vastly different than what is typical of most MBA applicants, so you will have to focus on the transferable and interpersonal skills that are relevant to a career in business. Your academics and GMAT are fantastic and you really should be in good shape at all of the schools you are targeting. Also, the American schools would probably be more amenable to your background but I would apply to the europeans schools as well given your future location preferences
22 Dec 2016, 11:40
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Bookmarks
buswanker,
Very interesting profile indeed for an MBA! Not to worry if you have a non-traditional background for b-school. Business schools love diversity so in fact I find that your background would be very appealing to ESMT and INSEAD. With an amazing gmat, plus lots of leadership experience and career progression, plus some great extra curriculars, you would definitely have a strong chance so I say go for it! (I used to work at INSEAD in admissions so I honestly know that INSEAD would very much appreciate your profile). And particularly because you have good reason to get an MBA - your short and long term goals would make a lot of sense to these schools.
Since you are 29 already, the sooner you apply the better.
If you'd like any assistance putting your application together (INSEAD is quite competitive compared to Berlin), we'd be happy to speak with you. Reach out at info@fortunaadmissions.com or sign up for a free 30 minute consultation a www.fortunaadmissions.com/free-consultation
In the meantime, you might enjoy listening to a previous webinar of ours titled "How To Get Into a Top MBA Program with a Non-Traditional Background" found at https://fortunaadmissions.com/events-and-webinars/
All the best,
Very interesting profile indeed for an MBA! Not to worry if you have a non-traditional background for b-school. Business schools love diversity so in fact I find that your background would be very appealing to ESMT and INSEAD. With an amazing gmat, plus lots of leadership experience and career progression, plus some great extra curriculars, you would definitely have a strong chance so I say go for it! (I used to work at INSEAD in admissions so I honestly know that INSEAD would very much appreciate your profile). And particularly because you have good reason to get an MBA - your short and long term goals would make a lot of sense to these schools.
Since you are 29 already, the sooner you apply the better.
If you'd like any assistance putting your application together (INSEAD is quite competitive compared to Berlin), we'd be happy to speak with you. Reach out at info@fortunaadmissions.com or sign up for a free 30 minute consultation a www.fortunaadmissions.com/free-consultation
In the meantime, you might enjoy listening to a previous webinar of ours titled "How To Get Into a Top MBA Program with a Non-Traditional Background" found at https://fortunaadmissions.com/events-and-webinars/
All the best,
