<p>Hi everyone,I'm new here and have a couple of questions.</p>
<p>What kind of work experience and volunteer work are top MBA programs looking for?
Are they looking for any type of work just so they can see that your a competitor or do they want the volunteer and work experience to be something like an internship in a company where you got a first hand experience at corporate America.</p>
<p>Also,if anyone is now currently doing some volunteer work,can you please fill me in on what kind of work it is your doing.</p>
<p>Any help/info/resources would be dearly appreciated.</p>
<p>I think any volunteer work is good. The more, the better probably. </p>
<p>As for work, it has been my experience that the more off the wall the better. IE, if you were heading up the manual masterbation of goats in Venuzuela, you would probably be a much better candidate than someone who has been an IT auditor.</p>
<p>BTW, they like leadership experience, so any way that you can show that you have experience leading/mentoring etc that would be good. Also, if your recommenders talk about how you have good leadership potential that would help.</p>
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As for work, it has been my experience that the more off the wall the better. IE, if you were heading up the manual masterbation of goats in Venuzuela, you would probably be a much better candidate than someone who has been an IT auditor.
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this might be the dumbest piece of advice I have ever read.</p>
<p>Actually VectorWega's piece makes sense. I mean MBA Programs are always looking for diversity and something as "Common" as an IT auditor will probably be looked down compared a not-so-traditional field.</p>
<p>While diversity of experience is important, MBA programs are not looking for students with such outlandish past experiences and future goals that the MBA degree won't serve that student's needs or increase the knowledge base of the student body. An IT auditor, for example, who has achieved successes in his or her professional life, and who has the raises and promotions to prove it, might make an excellent candidate.</p>
<p>Just to be clear, too, that MBA programs are not typically looking for internships and volunteer experiences. Instead, they are looking for real world professional experience, whether that experience is entrepreneurial or involves working for a corporation (or someone else).</p>
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An IT auditor, for example, who has achieved successes in his or her professional life, and who has the raises and promotions to prove it, might make an excellent candidate.
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<p>Sure. However, if there are 10 IT Auditors applying to a program, you better hope that you are the best and can differentiate yourself from the rest. If you are a biologist or a geologist or even a member of an non-profit organization dedicated to the breeding of goats in Venezuela then you don't have to worry about that. You just have to show how an MBA can help you achieve your goals.</p>
<p>I assure you that if there are 10 IT Auditors, all with higher GMATs/GPAs etc than the goat masturbator, they will not all be accepted prior to the goat masturbator. The gm will have a much better chance than most of them.</p>
<p>So should the hundred of investment bankers applying to top MBA programs worry too? What about the consultants and accountants?</p>
<p>In fact, in my MBA program, there were dozens and dozens of former IT professionals, investment bankers, consultants and accountant, and no goat herders (at least I never met one).</p>
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In fact, in my MBA program, there were dozens and dozens of former IT professionals, investment bankers, consultants and accountant, and no goat herders (at least I never met one).
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<p>You must not have gotten into a top business school then [/sarcasm] But seriously, I don't know about investment bankers, but I do know about IT professionals, consultants, and accountants, as I am in the same situation as them. Can we get into a top business school? Sure, however, it's a lot easier for our imaginary "goat herder." </p>
<p>Every year there are kids with subpar GMAT scores getting into top business schools. Some of them are someone's kid. Other's have non-traditional backgrounds. If you are an average white male consultant, you better nail your GMAT/GPA/Essays out of the park.</p>
<p>You need not attack me, nor the business school I attended (which, I assure you, was quite a recognizable program). </p>
<p>Nevertheless, my point stands that the goat herder would have a lot to prove when applying, in fact, much more so than someone coming from a much more traditional line of work, such as accounting or investment banking. If the goat herder can indeed articulate a persuasive case for why the MBA would help him or her achieve his or her goals, then perhaps the goat herder has a chance. Diversity is a wonderful thing, but business schools would likely not admit someone who has little to add in the classroom in terms of relevant experiences and no focused career goal post-MBA.</p>
<p>Oh, and even the goat herder had better have some fantastic GMAT scores and letters of recommendations to get into a top MBA program.</p>