Non-traditional Applicants

Question

Hi all,

I understand military is considered non-traditional, what about teachers? What (characteristics, experience) makes teacher career non-traditional after all?

I have a full-time job that is normally considered "traditional" job for MBA applicants, but also teaches at university for part-time. To what extent can I play the "non-traditional" card?

Many thanks!

ounce · Answer

UP

lagomez · Answer

Traditional vs. Non-traditional are categories created by admissions committees not applicants. You can write that you are a non-traditional applicant but realistically just because you write it doesn't mean admissions will lump you in the same category.

Jerz · Answer

Having a non-traditional background isn't a "card" to play. Your story is your story, and your application should tell that story in a way that highlights what makes you unique. Even the "traditional" applicants in, say, banking or consulting are going to have aspects of their backgrounds that make them unique - that's what helps them differentiate themselves and get admitted.

Focusing too much on what you think adcom wants to hear, or how to fit into a specific bucket of applicants is an almost guaranteed way to seem uninteresting and lead to a ding.

Focusing too much on what you think adcom wants to hear, or how to fit into a specific bucket of applicants is an almost guaranteed way to seem uninteresting and lead to a ding.

ounce · Answer

Thanks for the thoughts. I agree that I should focus on who I am as an individual and what I have as unique characteristics.

I asked the question to get a feeling as to how important or how much favor this teaching experience will do for me in terms of distinguishing myself from the rest of the applicant pool. Everyone tries to find their niche point and hopefully give it enough emphasis in the essays to add more dimensions to a profile that would otherwise be "normal" and "traditional". :-D

Non-traditional Applicants

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