http://www.mbaprograms.org/mbaadmission/7criteria2.asp
Moving on, it also suggests that you stay within your industry before you apply so that you can bring an in-depth experience of it to composition of your class. This suggests that I should stick with IT, even though I might otherwise be disinclined to. Right now my job is almost entirely programming, but next year since I really crave change I could make a switch but stay within IT to get a broader set of experience within the industry.
The last concern for me is when to apply. By the time I graduate, I'll have 3 years of full-time programming experience. I was also enrolled full-time for 2 of those years. Every app I look at specifies 2 years of post-grad work experience. Is that just a reflection of the fact that most applicants don't work "real" jobs until they graduate and that this assumption is built in to the wording on the app? If so, I shouldn't have to worry, but if they are anal about it, I should. My concern is, obviously, that I will apply and be rejected on the basis of insufficient experience, despite a high gmat and achieving a good gpa (in my last 2.5 years) while working full-time. If that were the case, the above guide presents a fairly convincing argument that I would not be in the most enviable position to re-apply the following year, in which case I should just wait and apply later.
Lastly, would you guys advise taking a prep course? I'm a very good test-taker, but it's been ages since I'd done the type of math that's on the gmat. I could easily re-learn it myself, but maybe there are other things to gain from prep courses that would help with my score. I'm really looking to be in the ballpark fo 700 so that I can apply to the top programs.
Is there much truth in this article with regards to how admissions boards select their class? If so, it's encouraging to me since I won't have the IB/consulting experience but will have significant experience in software development which directly relates to streamlining business processes. I could write some really good essays based on the role i've taken and the work i've done on a couple big projects. All things being equal (a high GMAT score), I always assumed I'd be going head to head with the finance/consulting guys at significant disadvantage, but this presents a different picture.
Moving on, it also suggests that you stay within your industry before you apply so that you can bring an in-depth experience of it to composition of your class. This suggests that I should stick with IT, even though I might otherwise be disinclined to. Right now my job is almost entirely programming, but next year since I really crave change I could make a switch but stay within IT to get a broader set of experience within the industry.
The last concern for me is when to apply. By the time I graduate, I'll have 3 years of full-time programming experience. I was also enrolled full-time for 2 of those years. Every app I look at specifies 2 years of post-grad work experience. Is that just a reflection of the fact that most applicants don't work "real" jobs until they graduate and that this assumption is built in to the wording on the app? If so, I shouldn't have to worry, but if they are anal about it, I should. My concern is, obviously, that I will apply and be rejected on the basis of insufficient experience, despite a high gmat and achieving a good gpa (in my last 2.5 years) while working full-time. If that were the case, the above guide presents a fairly convincing argument that I would not be in the most enviable position to re-apply the following year, in which case I should just wait and apply later.
Lastly, would you guys advise taking a prep course? I'm a very good test-taker, but it's been ages since I'd done the type of math that's on the gmat. I could easily re-learn it myself, but maybe there are other things to gain from prep courses that would help with my score. I'm really looking to be in the ballpark fo 700 so that I can apply to the top programs.
