B school essay..career break?

Question

Hi, 
I have got sufficient score to get into the B school of my choice. Now i have to write my first essay about my short term and long term goal and my second essay should be about a leadership role i took( my past) . The problem is that i took a break from my career to take care of my child and i don't know whether i should mention that in my essays(justifying what i did) or should i just stay away from the topic( i dont want to come of as if i regret my decision...'cause i dont). No matter how i plan to write my essay, i always reach a point where i have to mention my decision.

Redtailedhawk · Answer

Happy,

1) I'd be wary of saying that your GMAT allows you to get into the school of your choice, unless its a perfect 800. Even those with 770s can easily get rejected, given a bad match in academics, interviews, essays, etc.

2) Schools generally ask you to explain long gaps in your resume/career. Several schools ask you to use your optional to explain that, and you will probably be asked the same thing during the interview.

3) Are you working now?

Happy123 · Answer

When i said that i have sufficient score to get in the b school of my choice ...i didnt mean the top 10 schools or so but the one i plan to go near where i live. I know you are right but i do hope i get in 'cause couple of senior from the school had scored less in GMAT then my score.
Anyway, no iam not working now.. i am a full time mom.

CarolFishmanCohen · Answer

Regarding your career break - put it out there. Emphasize how the career break allowed you to reflect on your career priorities and made you even more focused and ambitious about your ultimate goals which are x, y and z (spell them out). Talk about your "pre career break self" which was on career path x. If you want to return to the same career you left then talk about how you left goals on the table that you have yet to achieve and how the mba is going to help you get there. If you want to move in a new direction now then talk about how the career break was a gift in that it allowed you to step back and analyze whether you were on the right career path to begin with. You decided you were not and now your goal is career path y and your ultimate goal is a c-suite position at an xyz company or owning your own company that does xyz. Emphasize leadership in terms of actual roles you have had in whatever context- school/work/volunteer AND also thought-leadership. Talk about how you have studied during your career break and started to become an expert in your field or have developed your knowledge that you started before your career break and its now about to rise to a new level and B school will be a big step in getting you to that next level. Talk about your most ambitious goals. B schools want leaders. They want people who are going to become prominent in their fields. Dream big and go big with your essay in your application. They won't dwell on the career break if you don't and if you can show it is a tool in developing yourself as a leader then all the better.

highwyre237 · Answer

If you do not explain why you are out of work, adcom will assume the worst FYI.

I had a gap in my resume, and I explained why I was out of work, and what I did during that time. Simply saying, "I left my job to take care of my child" isnt good enough. What have you been doing with your free time (Dont kill me, I know, free time is limited with a new born). But you need to prove to this program that you are driven, will succeed in the classroom, and that you will be employable post MBA.

MBAbot · Answer

Automated notice from GMAT Club MBAbot: 

A member just gave Kudos to this thread, showing it’s still useful. I’ve bumped it to the top so more people can benefit. Feel free to add your own questions or solutions.

 This post was generated automatically.

B school essay..career break?

Prep Toolkit

Top 5 GMAT Debrief Videos

615 to 715 in 15 Days (Ria's Strategies)

More than Quant/Verbal Abilities: Speed vs. Accuracy

745 with Only Self-Prep and GMAT Club

From 555 to 765: 210-point Improvement

Perfect 805 Score Debrief by Julia

My Rewards