今年申or明年

bluesmell

2.5 w/e till now, analyst in an investment bank, past GMAT and will retake Toefl soon, I just wondered whether I should apply this year.

My concern:
why go:
1) hope to change career from corporate finance to other finance field
2) will not be promoted due to the company's policy next year
3) like to take a rest from endless and boring work
4) hope to graduate earlier to begin a new job

why not now:
1) short period of w/e, with fewer stories and wonder if I have prepared well for future career change
2) like to enjoy life for a year, I'm afraid once I come to MBA, I will have no time to enjoy and only have to study and earn money
3) hope to enter top MBA

I am still hesitating now. Do u have any suggestions?

lewis

以下是引用bluesmell在2003-9-19 16:52:00的发言：
2.5 w/e till now, analyst in an investment bank, past GMAT and will retake Toefl soon, I just wondered whether I should apply this year.

My concern:
why go:
1) hope to change career from corporate finance to other finance field
2) will not be promoted due to the company's policy next year
3) like to take a rest from endless and boring work
4) hope to graduate earlier to begin a new job

why not now:
1) short period of w/e, with fewer stories and wonder if I have prepared well for future career change
2) like to enjoy life for a year, I'm afraid once I come to MBA, I will have no time to enjoy and only have to study and earn money
3) hope to enter top MBA

I am still hesitating now. Do u have any suggestions?

First, one thing to remind that till your enrollment, if you are admited this year, it will be nearly 4-year work experience, which is enough for all MBA programs.

Secondly, you don't have to mention your future career change, if you are doubt of the side-effect on your applications.

Also, you have said your current job is "endless and boring"; then, how is it coming that you can "enjoy life for a year"?

More, if you familiarize yousefl the application game this year, your chance to get in a top school will be better. My two cents.

chipmunk

If you feel it's the right time, then do it. Just don't quit your job until you get the offer. Lots of top schools start to in favor of younger students. The challenge for you is to find out some solid story to put in essays.

valentine

I cannot see why not.  I apply when I have 2+ years W/E.

Good luck!

V.

bluesmell

Thank you for all your advices. To Lanlan, I think maybe I haven't expressed well. I mean this year or next year, not whether MBA or not. In financial field, it is very hard to get into a high level with only bachelar degree. (Of course there are a lot of exceptions. ) And what's more important, although my short-term goal is still in financial field, my long-term goal is to be a financial manager in a corporation. My currnet work is dealing with the restructuring of corporations, especially with state-owned companies. What I feel is that it is very important to have one with both finance focus and stratigic management skills. And what I am interested is to do myself, not simply advise others. I like to take part in the development and management of a company. That is one reason why I like to pursue an MBA degree.

But I am not sure whether I am ready for a top-tier one now. So I listed my concerns here. If I was promoted, I think it is a good point in my resume and much better in career path. But if not, I think it is wasting time doing the same level work for another year. You know, the responsibility you hold is 80% connected with the position you held. I mean I have potential and showed potential in work, but cannot get the opportunity for most time.

I do not hate endless work( In fact, I have worked till 2 o'clock and get to meeting at 8:30 the next day for this whole week.) I can accept it. But I hate endless,  boring work without using brains. I believe the MBA study is not the same.   

Maybe I am a person who like to make decision when everything is perfect. (It is also a big weakness.) And we know our goal is not MBA itself, but the career you can take after it. My current work gives me a good opportunity to know more about the management of Chinese corporations and learn a lot about the financial analysis. That is why I hesitated before.

Thank you for all your advice. I think I should start application work now. Just as Lanlan said, it is a useful experience for digging myself. And I do not very much care about the success, for I can earn more than doing nothing no matter what the result is.

funnytiger

well, as analyst of an investment bank, you don't even have to answer the question of "why MBA". In US, most analysts at investment bank start to apply for B-school after 2 years at job. So your timing is good