Mr. Healthcare Family Business

Hi Mr. Healthcare Family Business,
This is Debbie Choy, Senior Consultant at mbaMission. Having worked in healthcare myself, I always enjoy seeing strong candidates in the industry. I think you have a lot going for you in your profile – from leading a transformation at your family business to your solid academic track record and community engagement. Your international background and work experience will be very attractive to business schools. In your apps, be sure to describe how an MBA can help fill in the gaps for you so that you can lead the long-term growth of your family business. For example, be specific about what you envision the new business branch to be, and what skillset you might need to gain at business school to develop the business. If you can execute that compellingly in your application, I think you’d have a strong chance at CBS. Wishing you the best in your MBA journey!

Hi Mr. Healthcare Family Business, Melisa here from Stratus Admissions. I have to start with acknowledging that you want to go from Columbia to Columbia! And I think you have a solid shot. To start your stats are in the right place – while Columbia doesn’t publish their GRE averages, we can assume that it is close to similarly ranked schools, so your 325 is in the right range. It sounds like you’ve had some impactful experiences within your family business and across your local community. You’ve identified a strong list of school with other healthcare resources across medical schools or MPH programs. These might be beneficial to learn more about the tie between the business school and med school or healthcare program. You short term goal is well articulated – and while you are thinking about what you need to reach your long term career, also think about what you need to achieve your short term goal at a healthcare provider. What type of role would you want – strategy? Business development? Business management? What skills to do you hope learn in the shorter term in this role that will help you long term within your family business? Do you have an ideal provider in mind? A research hospital? A larger conglomerate? All of these details can show that you have taken the time to self-assess how an MBA can help you. I like the suite of schools on your list – would suggest also looking at Cornell Johnson and UNC for healthcare and family business, where I think your odds would be even higher. Best of luck!