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smartbot
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Work Experience Question 26 Jul 2008, 17:21
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I had a question about what Business Schools consider as work experience. I had a job during college and even had a 1 year internship with a research lab (both part-time). Does this count towards my work experience? Or is it only the "professional" work experience after college that they consider?
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Work Experience Question 26 Jul 2008, 17:25
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smartbot
I had a question about what Business Schools consider as work experience. I had a job during college and even had a 1 year internship with a research lab (both part-time). Does this count towards my work experience? Or is it only the "professional" work experience after college that they consider?
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unless you're fresh out of college - or the job during college was of great significance (either professionally/personally, or in terms of impact to society) I would not include it.

Most schools only want full time work experience - but you may want to check with the individual schools you're applying to to confirm.
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Work Experience Question 26 Jul 2008, 19:58
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Typically work experience is fulltime post graduation. If you only have been out for a year or two then an internship might be worth putting on. If you started and ran a business during UG then that also may work.
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Work Experience Question 28 Jul 2008, 05:56
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A friend of mine was in a similar situation as you. He had less than 2 years post-grad work experience so he included his 7 month internship in his experience (after talking with some admissions officers). But he did clearly differentiate between the two.

It would be good if you would write to the universities you are applying to and talk to them about it.
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Work Experience Question 28 Jul 2008, 06:45
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I think that if you have internship experience that's stand-out in some form (unique function, international, etc) or motivated you to pursue a job in a particular industry, there could be value in mentioning it in your essays. Like foofighter said, it is important though to distinguish between internships and full-time work.

cheers,
ac.
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Work Experience Question 28 Jul 2008, 15:51
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Thanks for the replies. I will actually have about 3 years of experience (if I start in Fall 09). I just thought that using my internship experience would help me boost that number up a bit. I had one internship that was paid (full time over the summer) and one that was not paid (part time over 1 year). I guess I could use my second internship as "volunteer" experience...
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Work Experience Question 28 Jul 2008, 23:31
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Thanks for the replies. I will actually have about 3 years of experience (if I start in Fall 09). I just thought that using my internship experience would help me boost that number up a bit. I had one internship that was paid (full time over the summer) and one that was not paid (part time over 1 year). I guess I could use my second internship as "volunteer" experience...
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Oh if its 3 years then you're in the same boat as me. Use your 3 years/young age to your advantage. Any schools are looking to go younger (HBS is one) and that could be a plus if you play it right in your essays.