Thanks for your time. I’m pretty new to the MBA admissions world, so I appreciate any advice you can give. Well, any realistic advice, that is.
A brief introduction: The career fields that I’m most passionate about are nonprofit work, social services, and mental health. I applied to UT Austin’s Master of Science in Social Work program, and was accepted for this fall, but I deferred for a year so that I could gain in-state status. I plan to graduate in 2018.
However, I also plan to get an MBA in the near future, since it would open up a lot of administrative positions within the social services and healthcare fields. I think a management degree will let me pursue work that I care deeply about, and also enable me to support a large family. (Which isn’t in the picture -- yet!) My plan is to apply to an MBA program after I have a few years of social work experience, which I would need anyway to get my LCSW (Licensed Clinical Social Worker) certification.
So, here’s my hypothetical profile (as of 2020 or 2021, when I’ll think of applying):
1. GMAT: I took the practice GMAT a week or so ago, and I got a 720 without having really studied for it. I’m going to study for it over the next 3 months, and I figure I can get a 750 or above once I do an extensive math review.
2. Work experience: should be 3-4 years at the time of applying. I plan to have at least 2 years of MSW-level social work experience by the time I apply to an MBA, and 3 years by the time I enter the program. I’ll also have at least 1 year of experience as an AmeriCorps VISTA member (which I’m doing now). The MSW program also includes 1,000 hours of field experience.
3. Undergrad/GPA: 3.63 GPA in psychology at a top-10 liberal arts college. The only math class I took was a statistics course, which I got an A- in.
4. Letters of Recommendation: most of these will probably come from people whom I haven’t met yet -- but I haven’t had trouble finding good LOR sources in the past.
5. Essays: In my essays, I plan to explain how the MSW and my social work experience have prepared me for the MBA and a career in management. I feel pretty confident about this element of my application.
6. 24 years old now, so in 2020 (when I’m applying) I’ll be 29. White male, so no minority status there.
I’m planning on a specialization in nonprofit or healthcare management, if the school offers either one.
What are my chances at these schools (for now I’m most interested in full-time programs):
1. UT Austin - in many ways my top choice. I want to live and work in Texas for as long as I can, and I’ll qualify for in-state status, so I think McCombs makes a lot of sense.
2. UT Dallas
3. Texas A&M
And I may as well ask:
4. Harvard
5. Wharton
6. Stanford
Thanks very much for your help!