Mr. FANG Software Engineer

Hi, it’s Nisha at mbaMission. It’s great that you’ve already started reflecting on your career path and whether your original plan of engineering is right for you. With your outstanding academics, prestigious internships, and extracurricular leadership (assuming you’ve made a meaningful impact as part of the Engineering Student Board), you’d certainly be an attractive candidate for 2+2/deferred programs, particularly because they target STEM majors.

MBA admissions committees are BIG on leadership, so you’ll want to highlight your leadership experiences (extracurricular, within your internships, or even personal). Moreover, you’ll also want to be able to make a strong case for why MBA in your applications – what are the reasons that you are drawn to a strategy or product management role, based on your professional, academic, or personal experiences to date? If you’re able to do so effectively, then you’ll be in contention for these schools.

However, even if the deferred programs don’t work out, it won’t in any way hurt your chances at applying for MBA programs the “regular” way down the road. Hope that helps a bit – best of luck!

Hi Mr. FANG Software Engineer, this is Donna Bauman with Stratus Admissions Counseling and there is a lot to like about your profile! You have a STEM background, which is definitely helpful in deferred admit MBA admissions. You have an awesome academic profile complete with a tip top shiny GMAT score! Well done! For HBS you will have to show you have that habit of leadership so be sure to include some of your results and impact from being on the Engineering Student board and Investment club. Don’t overlook informal leadership either—are you the one who plans trips for your friends or connects people together? Share what drives your interest in software and the roles you are considering and how an MBA can give you more options. I think you have a shot at HBS but I also really like Sloan for you. You should also consider some of the other deferred admit programs—maybe Haas since your FANG interest might take you to west coast? Or GSB? Booth, Kellogg? I’d give all these deferred admit programs a great look. I think you could be one of the few who get one of these Willy Wonka tickets for deferred admit MBA!