Mr. New Start

Hi Mr. New Start! I think an MBA would open a lot of doors for you to change industries. Even if you haven’t been promoted at work, it sounds like you’ve been given several additional duties and been selected to help with internal initiatives like training/onboarding so those should be good evidence of your leadership potential. For purposes of applying, I would come up with a more specific post-MBA career plan, including a target role, target industry, and some potential target companies. McCombs does have a great reputation for its Texas network. Around that ranking level, I would also consider Emory Goizueta and Indiana Kelley and Rice Jones, which all have great reputations on the career placement front. You’ve got a great GPA, but I do worry slightly about your GRE being below the 317 average at McCombs. That could be an area to improve depending on your timing. Good luck!

Hello Mr. New Start, it’s Lisa Cummings of Stratus Admissions. As far as your stats go, you are right in McCoombs sweet spot for GRE and GPA but fall short of the average of 6 years work experience. Why the rush for you to get the degree? You say you are trying to change industries but haven’t yet had any luck. Why are you looking to change and what is it that you want to do? I would strongly suggest that before you look to get a degree, you do some serious introspection on why you want it. My big questions when reading your info are Why MBA and Why Now? These are fundamental questions that must be answered before a candidate embarks on the MBA journey. Every school will ask you these questions and you will need solid and specific answers. A few more years working may help give you focus to better define your reasons for pursuing an MBA. Many students choose to study for an MBA to pivot their careers but they have an idea going in what it is that they want to do. A strong career office can help focus your search but you need to have some direction as to what doors you are looking to enter, it shouldn’t be random. I suggest you take a few years to focus on the skils you enjoy using in the workplace and to identify companies and industries where you can utilize those skils. You don’t need to know exactly what you want to do post MBA but in order to get the most out of your time in school you should have some target industries and firms that you are aiming for post degree. Best of luck!