| Topic Name: |
PHD to MBA |
| Message Name: |
excellent reply |
| Date Posted: |
06/30/2007 |
| In Reply To: |
Biophd_to_mba,
Different schools have different expectations about work experience required to get into their MBA programs. But I personally like Harvard's answer to your question (taken from their MBA Program Admissions FAQ web site):
I am still an undergraduate student. How long do I need to work before applying?
Traditionally, we have admitted a small number of applicants directly from university each year. We strive to find outstanding leaders at different points in their professional lives. Some applicants may meet this criteria while still in or immediately following undergraduate school, while others may need several years of full-time work experience before they apply. We want outstanding applicants to consider Harvard Business School as an option when they feel that the time is right for them and they can demonstrate the criteria we are looking for.
What is the average length of work experience?
The average number of years of full-time work experience for the class entering in fall 2004 was approximately four years. Please bear in mind that HBS does NOT require a minimum number of years' work experience prior to entering the MBA program, and it is important for you to assess your own readiness when deciding to apply. Successful candidates are able to demonstrate strength in our criteria regardless of the number of years of their work experience.
I like Harvard's response to the experience question because it makes getting into a B-school about what you can do for the MBA program, not about how long it takes you to prove you can do those things for the MBA program.
So, the question is, what kind of work experience do you think you need to be successful at a top-ten B-school? Look at the criteria for successful admission to each of the top ten B-schools and ask yourself: Where would I need to work, what would I need to do there, and how long would I need to do it in order to create a track record of experience that proves I meet this school's admissions criteria? Do I already have such a track record, just based on my PhD work and extracurricular activities, or do I need to find a new job in which to create such a track record instead? For ideas on answering these questions, just think about what kind of experience you will need to write great answers to the school's admissions essay questions...
Note: I am kind of concerned that you are so busy worrying about getting the right experience for B-school that you are not even thinking about getting the right experience for YOU. Ask yourself: What do you want to do with your MBA when you have earned it? What job title and responsibilities do you want? Or do you want to start your own business? Given the above three answers, what kind of work experience do you think you'll need to make the best use of your MBA after you earn it? I guarantee you that your work experience will mean much more to your potential employers (and to you) post-MBA than it will mean to your potential B-school pre-MBA.
In short, as Harvard says so eloquently, you need to plan your career path for YOU, and then figure out where B-school fits into that career path. After all, you will have to be satisfied with your career path enough to want to be part of it for the rest of your life. Your B-school only has to be satisfied with your career path enough to want to be a part of it for two years.
Just my long-winded two cents.
choosebutchoosewisely |
| Message: |
I'm surprised that choosebutchoosewisely's message has been recommended only twice, excellent information.
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