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12 Apr 2018, 14:47
Kudos
Bookmarks
Stats: 30yo/White/M
Work experience: 7 years working in the finance departments for Broadway theater companies - 5 years as "Finance Associate" for the general managers of several Broadway Shows and 2+ as "Junior Accountant" for a company which owns a plurality of Broadway theaters.
Extra curriculars: Most of my hobbies revolve around personal fitness & rec sports leagues. Last year, I performed in a friend's show for a play writing festival and received an acting award, though I'm not sure that's relevant. I am currently taking improv classes to improve my "soft skills" and will soon start independently studying data science. For personal reasons, I am researching volunteer opportunities, but I don't want to make it look like I'm doing it just for lines on my application.
Undergrad school/major: Top 30 US US News & World Report - Economics and Dramatic Art
Undergrad GPA: 3.803
GMAT Score : 700 (Q44/V41). I know it's a relatively weak Q, but I do have A's on my transcript in my econ courses (micro/macro/advanced macro/public finance) as well as quantitative electives including stats, accounting, corp finance.
Goal of MBA: I initially began looking into MBA programs to get the formal accounting training necessary to move into management positions at my current job, however, my interest in accounting and fervor for theater has waned in recent years. In doing more research, I now think my best approach would be to enter a full time program and explore other interests like economics (particularly behavioral economics if possible), business analytics, organizational behavior, and operations. I think industries like entertainment, education, NPOs or the startup world would be a good fit.
I am worried about my age as I would be 31 by the time I would start a program (years of anxiety/depression have held me back). Also, I do not have much savings, and would also need to borrow for living expenses. On the plus side, the opportunity costs my of lost salary are very low
Targets: I'd love to stay close to NY, but am open to East Coast and Midwest. Current schools of interest include:
Reaches: Duke Fuqua, UVA Darden, NYU Stern, Cornell Johnson, Yale
Targets: Georgetown McDonough, Carnegie Mellon Tepper, Emory Goizueta
Considerations (ie I hope to be eligible for scholarship): CUNY Baruch Zicklin (to stay in NY), Notre Dame
Mendoza, Indiana Kelley, Washington at St. Louis Olin, Penn State Smeal
tl:dr - 30 y/o male with unclear future seeks MBA for better direction. Any input greatly appreciated.
Work experience: 7 years working in the finance departments for Broadway theater companies - 5 years as "Finance Associate" for the general managers of several Broadway Shows and 2+ as "Junior Accountant" for a company which owns a plurality of Broadway theaters.
Extra curriculars: Most of my hobbies revolve around personal fitness & rec sports leagues. Last year, I performed in a friend's show for a play writing festival and received an acting award, though I'm not sure that's relevant. I am currently taking improv classes to improve my "soft skills" and will soon start independently studying data science. For personal reasons, I am researching volunteer opportunities, but I don't want to make it look like I'm doing it just for lines on my application.
Undergrad school/major: Top 30 US US News & World Report - Economics and Dramatic Art
Undergrad GPA: 3.803
GMAT Score : 700 (Q44/V41). I know it's a relatively weak Q, but I do have A's on my transcript in my econ courses (micro/macro/advanced macro/public finance) as well as quantitative electives including stats, accounting, corp finance.
Goal of MBA: I initially began looking into MBA programs to get the formal accounting training necessary to move into management positions at my current job, however, my interest in accounting and fervor for theater has waned in recent years. In doing more research, I now think my best approach would be to enter a full time program and explore other interests like economics (particularly behavioral economics if possible), business analytics, organizational behavior, and operations. I think industries like entertainment, education, NPOs or the startup world would be a good fit.
I am worried about my age as I would be 31 by the time I would start a program (years of anxiety/depression have held me back). Also, I do not have much savings, and would also need to borrow for living expenses. On the plus side, the opportunity costs my of lost salary are very low
Targets: I'd love to stay close to NY, but am open to East Coast and Midwest. Current schools of interest include:
Reaches: Duke Fuqua, UVA Darden, NYU Stern, Cornell Johnson, Yale
Targets: Georgetown McDonough, Carnegie Mellon Tepper, Emory Goizueta
Considerations (ie I hope to be eligible for scholarship): CUNY Baruch Zicklin (to stay in NY), Notre Dame
Mendoza, Indiana Kelley, Washington at St. Louis Olin, Penn State Smeal
tl:dr - 30 y/o male with unclear future seeks MBA for better direction. Any input greatly appreciated.
16 Apr 2018, 16:12
Kudos
Bookmarks
Hi ajowen21,
Thank you for your post! Here are a few thoughts:
1. Story and Career Goals
Your professional background sounds like an interesting hybrid of the arts and "business" (given you worked in finance and accounting roles). That gives you a unique foundation from which to build, and it connects quite organically to *certain* of the industries you mentioned for possible careers. As you continue to develop your career goals for future essays and applications, I encourage you to consider how *who you are and what you've done to this point plus an MBA equals your goals.* On its face, business roles in entertainment-type organizations seems to make the most narrative sense from an application perspective, and it would likewise make sense that you need an MBA to make that jump. (On the contrary, I think you'd have a tougher sell articulating a vision in entirely new or unrelated industries. You can do and pursue whatever you want once you're in the program, but consider the cohesiveness and forward, cumulative, one-thing-leads-to-the-next dynamics you'll need in your applications.)
2. Why MBA and Why Now
You are correct that your age and work experience will generally place you north of many schools' middle 80% age range, or in some cases right at the tippy top of it. Your story helps mitigate that some, but you'll definitely want to be super proactive and specific about explaining WHY MBA and WHY NOW. All applicants need to do this, but I'd argue it's of heightened importance when applying from your current juncture. If there are certain private or personal dynamics at play, feel free to use the optional essay or additional information sections of the applications to explain how those circumstances might have influenced timing and related career decisions. (You don't need to write a full-on essay in those cases... just a few authentic and explanatory sentences, or a couple of paragraphs.)
3. Schools
I really like the range of schools that you're open to, especially given that your unique professional background and amount of work experience can make outcomes a little tougher to gauge. Some schools might fall in love with your story and others might not see the fit. As long as you're truly interested in all of the schools to which you apply (i.e., would attend if a given school was the only one to which you were admitted), then I like the wide range in which you're operating. As far as *which schools*... I'd encourage you to genuinely refine your career goals a little further before trying to nail that down. I hesitate to definitively throw names at you when in truth, your career goals (and other program preferences) should help determine where you apply. I'd likewise encourage you to take your list of "possible targets" and begin to research and engage with those programs. Conduct online research, check out online events, and keep your eyes open for single- or multi-school events in New York. That's how you really get to know programs and whether they're a good fit for you personally and professionally. And that's how you work a list of "maybes" into a final, diversified list.
[Also, if you end up falling in love with a program, apply early -- or in Round 1 if there's no early option -- and take advantage of Open Interview periods where available.]
4. GMAT
How many times have you taken it? If you've only taken it once and feel like you left points on the table, then you might consider a re-take. Another 20-30 points would be very very meaningful. With your current score, differentiation is going to be tough at the reaches you've listed.
I would be happy to chat if you're ever interested in a Free Consultation. The sign-up link is below!
Best Regards,
Greg
Thank you for your post! Here are a few thoughts:
1. Story and Career Goals
Your professional background sounds like an interesting hybrid of the arts and "business" (given you worked in finance and accounting roles). That gives you a unique foundation from which to build, and it connects quite organically to *certain* of the industries you mentioned for possible careers. As you continue to develop your career goals for future essays and applications, I encourage you to consider how *who you are and what you've done to this point plus an MBA equals your goals.* On its face, business roles in entertainment-type organizations seems to make the most narrative sense from an application perspective, and it would likewise make sense that you need an MBA to make that jump. (On the contrary, I think you'd have a tougher sell articulating a vision in entirely new or unrelated industries. You can do and pursue whatever you want once you're in the program, but consider the cohesiveness and forward, cumulative, one-thing-leads-to-the-next dynamics you'll need in your applications.)
2. Why MBA and Why Now
You are correct that your age and work experience will generally place you north of many schools' middle 80% age range, or in some cases right at the tippy top of it. Your story helps mitigate that some, but you'll definitely want to be super proactive and specific about explaining WHY MBA and WHY NOW. All applicants need to do this, but I'd argue it's of heightened importance when applying from your current juncture. If there are certain private or personal dynamics at play, feel free to use the optional essay or additional information sections of the applications to explain how those circumstances might have influenced timing and related career decisions. (You don't need to write a full-on essay in those cases... just a few authentic and explanatory sentences, or a couple of paragraphs.)
3. Schools
I really like the range of schools that you're open to, especially given that your unique professional background and amount of work experience can make outcomes a little tougher to gauge. Some schools might fall in love with your story and others might not see the fit. As long as you're truly interested in all of the schools to which you apply (i.e., would attend if a given school was the only one to which you were admitted), then I like the wide range in which you're operating. As far as *which schools*... I'd encourage you to genuinely refine your career goals a little further before trying to nail that down. I hesitate to definitively throw names at you when in truth, your career goals (and other program preferences) should help determine where you apply. I'd likewise encourage you to take your list of "possible targets" and begin to research and engage with those programs. Conduct online research, check out online events, and keep your eyes open for single- or multi-school events in New York. That's how you really get to know programs and whether they're a good fit for you personally and professionally. And that's how you work a list of "maybes" into a final, diversified list.
[Also, if you end up falling in love with a program, apply early -- or in Round 1 if there's no early option -- and take advantage of Open Interview periods where available.]
4. GMAT
How many times have you taken it? If you've only taken it once and feel like you left points on the table, then you might consider a re-take. Another 20-30 points would be very very meaningful. With your current score, differentiation is going to be tough at the reaches you've listed.
I would be happy to chat if you're ever interested in a Free Consultation. The sign-up link is below!
Best Regards,
Greg
