Profile Review: Social Impact Entrepreneur

Question

Hi Admissions Consultants,

I would really appreciate feedback on my unorthodox background and what schools would be viable choices for me. Thanks in advance.

Profile: 
Job: Accenture analyst 
Work experience: 2.5 years at matriculation

Schooling
Undergrad gpa: 3.5 
Degree: history (top 50 uni)
GRE: 164Q/164V/ 5.5

Dropped out of college to make a socially conscious P2P microlening service + recieved VC funding (and entry into a very competitive incubator)..... I eventually returned to school after a year

Worked for 6 months in Technology sales at a prominent org

Now work at Accenture as a management consultant focused on client innovation ( in off time I’m also the content lead for the non profit practice)

Currently helping an asylum seeker non profit redo their donations page and on ground logistics

Bschool reason:
- career goal: build products that help people ( have demonstrated this several times) 
- need business acumen and strategic education to make viable products and recognize solutions to complex issues
- need time to learn and to be exposed to different issues in the world (Many of the schools have great social impact groups)... can’t build helpful things without deep understanding

Please let me know what you think!

Posted from my mobile device

Admissionado · Answer

My advice is to gain some more work experience before you apply & to also work on refining your goals so they are much more specific. Most schools are looking for 3-5 years of work experience upon matriculation, but they also want to see strong career progression (i.e. at least one promotion) & when you haven't been at any job for a full two years minimum that's tough to show. Saying you want to "build products that help people" is a start - but you'll need to be MUCH more specific when it comes to your apps. Your whole argument for why you need the MBA rests on those goals, and the more specific your goals are the more it shows that you've done your homework & the more credible your overall application will be. The adcom wants to see your target position (what function are you going to be in?) and 2-3 target companies. They want to know what type of product you want to build, how it will help people, and what your unique vision is for making a difference in your target job/industry. You'll want to be able to show the trends that will impact that industry & what that translates to in terms of problems you want to solve and opportunities you want to take advantage of -- and you also want to show your unique vision for doing so. I think you've got a good foundation - and Accenture is a great name to have on your resume. But I'd build a bit more experience and, like I said, think through the specifics of your goals, before you apply!

CrackVerbalShree · Answer

Hi Socialimpact1,

You have done a lot of things, however, all this need to go into one direction or say one strong story.

Starting from your P2P microlending service - Did you create a product around this? What would be interesting to know is how many people were on board for this? What was the scale to which this company grew?

You have the right pedigree with the Accenture background and working with the NGO on content is great! The B-school would also want to understand the outcome of your contributions?

What matters to a B-School is what you bring to the table. As long as you are very clear on your post MBA career goals and have the relevant "ammunition" to justify them you are good to go.

I agree with Admissionado that spending some time improving your profile with aspects that map to your career goals will be a good way forward.

rgds,
Shree

Profile Review: Social Impact Entrepreneur

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