Volunteer vs. Part-time Job now?
Wondering if there is a significant benefit to having volunteer work on resume for b-school. I have sometime before I start so I could either make enough money to travel or volunteer at a non-profit (unpaid). Is the marginal benefit of volunteering now worth it before starting as an analyst? I am concerned I will seem too greedy on my resume with just ibd.
other stats: very good gpa, target school, double major... but no de mining 3rd world countries stuff
Thanks.
I think you will be fine. Enjoy yourself considering your pending lack of a life.
if i was in consulting i would have time to do all that non-profit microfinance demining cambodia stuff... do adcoms understand u really have zilch time to volunteer? I'm thinking by not doing volunteer stuff I will need to do more than just a 2-year stint... probably go somewhere else like corp M&A first?
Honestly, I really don't think grad schools give a crap about helping anyone but their bottom line. I mean common, they want to admit people who will increase their brand value, go out and make a lot of money and hopefully give some back to the school.
2 years in IBD and a 750+ GMAT and you could kick a baby and get admitted.
As someone who is in M&A now (and really hates it) - enjoy the shit out of life in college. You won't find someone at your bank who wishes they could go back to where you are (assume you have a semester left or something), except for the clown show banker lovers.
Just enjoy it now, and make sure you take a trip post college. I went across europe with 3 of my best buds - best memories and experience. You will not have have time to do that during banking (you might have the money...) so take advantage now, when you don't have 4 layers of assholes above you.
Yo PJC, I'm in your position as well. Was considering doing some volunteer work but honestly- fuck it. Better spend your time traveling and enjoying yourself, and perhaps studying for GMAT. Though I haven't started doing that yet lol.
Follow-up question, does it matter what kind of volunteer opportunity it is? I imagine some are more legit than others, but what about volunteering at a hospital like emergency ward? Or do I need to do some hardcore microfinance kiva lending to refugees in Haiti?
Community Service / Volunteer Experience for Business School (HBS) (Originally Posted: 03/16/2015)
Hi All,
Tried to find a recent discussion on this, but cannot seem to find one.
How important is community service / volunteer experience for a business school (HBS) application?
On some websites I see that business schools want a "well-rounded" applicant. On other websites I see that business schools want the next Jack Welch and someone who is going to a be an industry titan because at the end of the day it is the alumni base that makes the business school prestigious.
Which viewpoint is correct? If you have stellar stats and work experience do you need to have community service and volunteer experience?
Thanks!
It is pretty important.
volunteering - useful to get in? (Originally Posted: 01/05/2011)
Guys,
I have two months of unallocated time remaining between end of uni and beginning of analyst stint, I was conssidering doing some volunteering somewhere to improve b-school application. Is this a good idea? and if so what type of volunteering(both in form of work and geographically) is preferred by bschools?
Travel.
If you want to do volunteer work, two months are not really that long to prove a point to b school admission. Go out there and have fun before its over.
How much (or how many hours/months or years) is enough to "prove a point" to b-school admins?
How about travelling and volunteering? For example, volunteering at a remote village NGO in India or China.
Man go party and get laid.
By exotic women in an exotic location WHILE volunteering? That's what I call doing well while doing good.
Nah, it won't make a difference. Too long before your application. Volunteering only counts if it's done consistently for a long time preceding your application.
Most people applying to MBA programs fabricate their volunteer and extra-curricular activities to impress the admissions people. Even the essays are to a large extent either written by consultants or taken from a MBA admissions essays books. The only things which can't be fabricated are the University brand name, GPA, GMAT score, and work experience dates. Even work experience is largely fabricated and they tend to describe unreal achievements even if they were doing Powerpoint or Excel work. They suddenly portray themselves as leaders who achieved huge benefits for their company. So focus your efforts on the stuff which cannot be fabricated. the admissions consultants will take care of the rest of the stuff and projecting you as some kind of superhero.
Most volly work looks contrived, if there is something that you are actually passionate about, you should have been doing it for years, rather than just six months before you applied to b-school.
If you have the time, a lot of Community Colleges look for mentors for students grooming applications for transfer to full time universities. This is the sort of thing you can do from your desk, it actually makes a difference in peoples' lives, and you might actually meet some cool people.
I did alot of work for the same ngo during high school, would you say returning to work a while for them would be helpful as it would send a more congruent message to b-schools or would that still all be to far away from the b-school application?
While were at it, tradejoe1976 you said to focus on gpa/gmat, how helpful is very high gmat(790) in getting in?
When they are selecting MBA students, they look at four things: (1) Academic achievements - undergraduate school brand name, GPA, GMAT score (2) Work Experience - career progression, promotions, etc. You cannot fabricate dates, but many people fabricate achievements and promotions (3) Leadership potential - the admissions consultants will help you write your MBA essays, achievements at work will be fabricated, etc. (4) Extra-curricular activities - for a well-rounded inividual, also fabricated to a very large extent (5) Social activities - volunteer work, also fabricated to a very large extent You see, MBA is ll about selling the brand, not the product.
What about being a part of big brother big sister for 2 years, you can't fabricate that. You have to mentor a kid 3 times a month for a few ours each time for a minimum of a year. Would this look good on applications? Please don't comment if you have no clue (ie. first year analyst like myself or some college kid)
HFFBALLfan123,
While it certainly doesn't hurt, it really doesn't show leadership. Anyone can hand soup out at a soup kitchen -- it just takes a few hours of your time and the "template" is already laid out for you. Same goes for big brother big sister -- you're assigned children, they show up, you teach them some things, and you move on. This doesn't take an extraordinary effort, just a willingness to put in the hours.
The types of community service activities that make a REAL impact are the ones where you create the structure and the opportunity. I'll give you an example: I know someone that, in light of the financial crisis, pulled together materials from the internet to craft a presentation on effective financial budgeting/management, reached out to local organizations (non profit, schools, etc.) and presented the materials to children and adults. The program did not exist, he made it up. This sort of community outreach initiative will benefit you much, much more than BBBS.
What if i were able to incorporate your suggestion into BBBS (ie. the parents of these children, who are mostly single and/or minorities). And yes anyone can do it, but how many people who are 22 dedicate 2 years of there time to helping someone else out while working solid hours?
The point I am trying to make is very simple. Why spend your time on activities and achievements which you can list anyway, and which they cannot and will not try to verify. Focus your time and energy on the components which they can and will verify. Youth goes in a flash. Spend your free time clubbing, partying, etc. Just avoid the DUI. The MBAs spend all their time in networking, socializing, and drinking. If you think that they are idealistic people who served in the Peace Corps, you are sadly mistaken. That is just something which they write down in their application.
Not doing BBBS for the application, trying to give back a little because 99% of my life is spent trying to make more money and climb the ladder higher....I go out and have fun fri and sat nights, leaves plenty of time to help out on Sunday.
on a final note, does being european white help with getting in?
Or do I need to find a black ancestor?
Continuity of Volunteering for BSchool (Originally Posted: 01/19/2012)
SItuation: I have been volunteering with the same organization for the last 3 and a half years. In that time I have completed somewhere around 3700 hours of 'service' for said organization and held a board position. However, the new board members are making life excessively difficult (running off respected and long tenured members due to disagreements about strategy, etc.). Its getting to the point that its a real headache on an almost daily basis.
Question: Do I have enough 'continuity of volunteering' as it stands now or do does it only matter if I am still a member of said organization at the time I apply to BSchool? I'd like to quit and tell them exactly what I think of them but I don't want to do that if I will, for all intents and purposes, lose the EC 'points' I've gotten from being there.
If you've been there for 3 years and served on the board, that is more than enough for b-schools. Not sure if quitting would be optimal since you definitely want to discuss your experience there on your application essays. And it will be hard to spin quitting into an inspiring story of leadership and teamwork that adcom drools over.
That's my concern. I have time to pick up another volunteering type thing for the next 2ish years before I apply but the board membership, volume of hours, etc. makes it hard to justify leaving in my mind.
B-schools love depth of involvement, so since you've put so much time into this, I highly recommend staying unless you absolutely can't due to time constraints. If you can overcome this obstacle and turn things around, that will be a great story to tell adcom.
Perhaps start working with another charity and see how it goes? If you get actively involved and do well, jettison the current situation and cut your losses, then justify leaving to bschool because "the vision and focus of the last charity changed and I no longer wanted to be a part of it", OR go on the charm offensive before leaving and spin it as "the last charity led me to my current one and I decided to amicably terminate my board position in favor of full committment to the next endeavor", or some such story. Honestly, you've been through some tough situations in life, so dealing with a bunch of whiny board members will be unpleasant but worth it.
DISCLAIMER: I'm just adding some ideas, not making suggestions.
dont leave. fight to the deathhhhhhhhhhhhh and then if they try to unseat you in the end so be it.
I unseated myself when they refused to have their books audited by an actual accounting firm.
Hmm. This could make a good story for the "how did you deal with an ethical dilemma" essay question.
dont leave... use your cojones...
... be a real boss and just show up less often lol
... in all honesty though just stick it out and keep it on your resume
I'd definitely stick it out if you can. Besides, how are you going to explain why you left? It doesn't sound too good that you had a personality clash and weren't able to resolve it, but instead quit. While obviously you wouldn't position it that way, it could lead to some questions.
Calling me at work to bitch about minutia is really starting to push me over the edge though.
I thought this was for sure a Brady thread. Maybe try to lateral over to a equally good sounding position if possible, and explain it as a "progression". I like how you put "service" in quotes, bschool-volunteering style.
Progression? Like the second volunteer organization was a step up and I got a promotion? What?
So you have already "unseated" yourself/left? If so, I suppose it's just a matter of spinning the story in a positive manner.
Just out of curiosity... Do you suspect wrong doing? Do you think it's worth fighting this legally / PR wise from the outside? Or is that idea too extreme?
I resigned from the Board but I am still working with the organization.
I don't know if I suspect wrong doing but out and out refusing an audit is fishy at best.
As far as the legal stuff goes, I have talked to my lawyer and ensured that even if it blows up, I'm covered.
Tough situation. I would say do what feels right for you and worry about spinning the story for B-School apps afterwards. B-School apps shouldn't be a factor in your moral and social choices or when it comes to managing your reputation.
I think you've clearly demonstrated the ability to remain committed to a cause for the long-term- you're definitely not one of those candidates who picks up a few volunteering activities a few months before apps are due. You're clearly frustrated with this organization, so maybe it's time to find something new. People change and their interests change as well- I think you'd be totally fine in finding another volunteering activity that you're passionate about and leaving your current organization. I highly doubt adcoms would fault you in any way and if you had to explain it, you could spin it as a desire to take yourself out of your comfort zone and pursue new passions.
Hi happypantsmcgee,
Demonstrating your involvement in social welfare and volunteer work is also of special interest to the admission committees. Volunteering experience is a great way to establish a candidate as a responsible, aware individual who is up to taking challenges and helping others. But since a lot of people now volunteer, you need to make sure what you do sets you apart from other candidates.3 years is a good time so don’t worry if you want to focus your time on other activities to build your profile for a good B school. It’s the quality that matters not quantity.
community service (Originally Posted: 05/18/2007)
how important is community service to the top MBA programs? and what options are there to make yourself look good on paper for this requirement, if you really don't care about community service and just want an easy way out?
set up a nonprofit
Est iusto tenetur et pariatur eum. Pariatur reprehenderit perferendis vel molestiae. Reiciendis nostrum veritatis rerum doloribus cupiditate.
See All Comments - 100% Free
WSO depends on everyone being able to pitch in when they know something. Unlock with your email and get bonus: 6 financial modeling lessons free ($199 value)
or Unlock with your social account...
Quo beatae molestias aliquam quos omnis. Quis nihil rerum voluptatem eius officia.
Et sit repellat eligendi rem. Aspernatur sit quod suscipit sit.
Aut similique doloribus odio similique ut non et. Laborum qui qui culpa ipsa. Id ex et quis tempore reprehenderit. Qui quo maxime ipsam error aut. Ullam eius doloremque iusto. In error voluptatem dolore et est.
Qui eum eum impedit incidunt. Mollitia et hic a at ex dolores. Rerum dignissimos doloremque ratione consequuntur sint qui. Laudantium sit amet placeat aut quidem.
Incidunt tempora vero eum eaque. Autem ex consectetur quidem nemo totam. Dolorum reprehenderit facilis tempore ut aut et. Qui voluptatum dolores sed.
Commodi eos ratione error quam. Laudantium et ut ea eos. Eum deleniti aut incidunt dolores deleniti modi. Tenetur quia enim rerum. Harum quos voluptatem quaerat qui ea animi.
Eum molestiae delectus iusto impedit numquam. Aut omnis dolorem quam. Officia molestiae quod voluptatibus atque tenetur. Ut et assumenda explicabo est a consequatur aut. Illum tenetur totam deleniti suscipit nihil. Et dolores fuga facilis fugit quae alias.