Columbia - 06-19-2024 | Clear Admit ApplyWire

June 19, 2024 9:50am ET

Applying: Columbia, NYU Stern

Intake Year: 2025

Pre-MBA Career: Tech

Post-MBA Target Industry: Consulting, Technology, Entrepreneurship Companies: Bain , BCG , Deloitte , Ernst & Young , McKinsey , Amazon , Facebook , Google , LinkedIn , Microsoft

GMAT: 675

GPA: 3.36

Years of Work Experience: 12

Location: New York City

Post MBA Location: New York City

Notes:

I have some employment gaps due to chronic illness. My last WE has been a software engineer for 4 years at a Fortune 500 company with a promotion. I was laid off in March 2024.

My EC involves being on a Junior Board of a nonprofit involving therapy for kids and volunteering as a basketball and soccer coach for kids.

I graduated with a degree in chemistry.

I'm a 34 yo Vietnamese American male. I'm a first-generation college student.

My short-term goals are to pivot into consulting and then exit into product management after a few years. In the long-term, I would like to become an entrepreneur.

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Show Comments (4) Last: July 1, 2024

alexbr4 Verified User. Likes Earned: 1610 What are you currently doing?

Being an older candidate, justifying “why now” is the right time to pursue the full-time MBA will be your challenge, as well as showing fit; showing that you will fully engage with the MBA experience.

While understanding that health issues have harmed your career, showing impact and growth at work will still be important. EC involvement will help.

Sorry to hear about your chronic illness.

(1)

dcprovby Likes Earned: 0 Thanks for the feedback. I now have a better idea of what to focus on. Currently: Job search, working on essays for R1 applications, preparing for one last GMAT attempt. I hit a better score (705) in a practice exam. Why now? I have enjoyed the interpersonal part of my job more and have been promoted in my 4 years. I mentored an intern, and he got offered an extension. I spoke to stakeholders about projects. Those experiences make me want to pivot into roles using more soft skills. I achieved my personal goal of getting solid work experience at one company after learning to manage my chronic illness better. I have learned being healthy also involves building strong relationships and being part of a community, so engaging with the MBA experience is part of being healthy. Being single also gives me more free time so I have some hobbies, which is asked about in my application. Alright, I'm going to give it my best shot. I'll try so I won't regret not applying. I doubt being a reapplicant is an option for me. I'm only going to get older. It looks like the MBA can help me reach my goals faster though. (0)

alexbr4 Verified User. Likes Earned: 1610 Another “challenge” you may face is starting a new job, and then leaving shortly thereafter to pursue the MBA. Justifying this in the applications, etc. But having a long gap will also present challenges. Another option might be to pursue additional volunteer work that allows you to further develop your skills, etc? (0)

alexbr4 Verified User. Likes Earned: 1610 More details on this candidacy in this episode of Wire Taps: https://www.clearadmit.com/2024/07/mba-wire-taps-362/ (0)