Non-traditional paths to MBA

Graduate School Business School - MBA
1

<p>Here's my situation: I'll be graduating soon (2010) from a pretty good university (HYPSM), and will be entering the bright and shining "real world". Now, eventually, I'm pretty certain I want to go to a top MBA program, but I'm not certain what career options I can pursue that will take me there. I'm hoping some of you wiser folk might be able to share your experiences.</p>

<p>I should also say that most of the traditional paths (finance, big tech company) after my college don't really appeal to me, but that I'm not exactly a hippie. I want tough, challenging work from which I learn, but I also don't buy that you need to sell your 5 years after undergrad to do this. (I actually think I would enjoy consulting, but my GPA isn't what it ought to be. This, combined with what's certain to be a difficult hiring year, leave me hesitant to put all my eggs in that basket.) I figure the way to go about doing this is to do something cool, challenging, and not-traditional right after graduation, then join a reputed MBA program, and then decide if you want to keep going down that path or maybe settle down (if you have family).</p>

<p>So I'm curious how MBA programs look at non finance, consulting careers. I keep hearing about non-profits, but I'm not sure I buy that all B-schools are in love with them. Seems a little cliche, right? Teach for America actually seems interesting (and I think I'd enjoy teaching), but again, I feel like a lot of people leaving TFA would apply to B-school, and there wouldn't be much in the way then of proving your management experience. Am I wrong about this?</p>

<p>What of startups? There are some interesting startups out there, but I'm not sure what life looks like X years down the line (let's say X=5) when you join one. I'm looking to be involved with a startup for a few years, but eventually, if my goal is to get into an MBA program, what happens if the startup fails, or doesn't really do much worthy of notice? Given the bad economic conditions, this seems likely.</p>

<p>What other paths do you know of? What would you recommend to a 21 year old kid who's looking to spend his first post-college years doing something challenging and not traditional?</p>

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<p>If you go the non-traditional path, business schools prefer that you work in a place that has an organizational structure and that you take the initiative for leadership roles in projects.</p>

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<p>How about the military</p>

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<p>CIA? Pentagon? Military? Teach in India or China, and learn the dominant language. American companies will need fluent Chinese and Hindi speakers. Go to Mumbai and get a job, any job at Reliance (the dominan Indian company) and work yourself into some management position, so you can show HBS you can actually lead a company full of people of a different culture. Go to Dharmasala and help the Tibetans develop an organizational structure. Volunteer for the Bill Gates foundation. Volunteer for the American Psych Assoc and help develop the DSM 5. The list of non-traditional paths that would make a HBS recruiter widen his/her eyes is endless. PM me and I will give you more.</p>

5

<p>How about Joining one's Family business as full time sole authority.</p>

<p>Say for 2 years. </p>

<p>In addition if one has a very good profile for bachelor degree in engineering from a gud university.</p>

<p>then after 2 years work experience in family business
gmat 730 toefl 230.what are chances for harvard,kellog wharton.</p>

<p>do they prefer Family business equal to work experience in good companies like GE and Microsoft.
???????</p>

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<p>A start up is great preparation for future consulting and could look very interesting to MBA programs. So could a non profit for both if selected wisely and you have the right job there. B schools are not just looking for bankers and consultants, a well rounded class will include students from all sorts of jobs that were meaningful.</p>

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<p>Family Business
How about Joining one's Family business as full time sole authority.</p>

<p>Say for 2 years.</p>

<p>In addition if one has a very good profile for bachelor degree in engineering from a gud university.</p>

<p>then after 2 years work experience in family business
gmat 730 toefl 230.what are chances for harvard,kellog wharton.</p>

<p>do they prefer Family business equal to work experience in good companies like GE and Microsoft.
???????</p>

8

<p>There is no specific type of job that top MBA programs prefer. As examples, I've had people come out of investment banking get into Harvard Business School MBA, and I've had professional figure skaters get into HBS. I've seen people coming out of top consulting firms, and people coming out of the military get into HBS. I've seen people who are lawyers for top firms, and people who are full time religious clergy get into HBS. There is no one right path. Do not force yourself down a path that does not fit you, just because you want a top MBA program in future. </p>

<p>You need to go the path that's right for you, where you feel you can make an impact, and where you have a genuine interest. Pursue something you like, that ideally will make you happy, and where you therefore will do interesting things. Do well in whatever you do, and you'll be in good shape to apply to a top MBA program. </p>

<p>Honest.</p>

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<p>Do something you succeed at. My sister worked marketing at P&G before B-school. I got into B-school right out of college, but I worked a few years programming computers before college (don't ask).</p>

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<p>To the OP: You're getting good advice above. Do what fits or interests you, gain experience (learn from what you do), show initiative and leadership.</p>

<p>My daughter, who is now in an MBA program, has a BFA in industrial design and 4 years work experience in design -- but also volunteering for a nonprofit that promotes green design business. Now she's preparing for a career in sustainable product development/design strategy. This is not a common path, of course, but it illustrates that B-schools are not looking only for cookie cutter applicants with the most "typical" backgrounds.</p>

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<p>I was thinking about Peace Corps..</p>

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<p>@RoaringMice. I was worried that I had to take a traditional method to get into an MBA program, I have tons of work experience, a couple of family business start ups and my interest is photography. I want to get my BFA in photography, but I was worried that I wouldn’t be able to get into an MBA program. One of my friends from hs graduated in fashion design and got into the MBA program at Haas. I’m still waiting on a phone call from her to ask her how she did it. Anyways I’m glad I came across this.</p>