Where in the T-25 should I apply?

At risk of making a thread that is so long nobody reads it, I'll just list my stats and tell me what you guys think. Between my internship and my non-profit I am extremely interested in the entrepreneurial or actual management side of the MBA as opposed to Finance (although I'm open to leaving my options open).

-BS Econ, Minor Applied Statistics from large state school
-2.84gpa overall (eliminate the premed bullshit from when I was 19 and I have a 3.4)
-Intern at Healthcare IT startup, helped write grant that landed an 8 figure CMS grant
-Started non-profit that works with Medical Schools Student Outreach Clinic that pays for any medications for kids written at their free clinics. (working on other projects with it as well)
-Professional Pharmacy License for 5 years
-Not a Pharmacist, a Technician. Don't know if that counts as work experience as that was the job that put me through undergrad ($18/hour was quite nice).

Career wise I want to stay on the West Coast, however considering I have to move away for any program, I am more than open to applying to East Coast schools.

Many thanks y'all (I'm from Nevada, I reserve the right to use y'all as often as I'd like haha)

 
shorttheworld:
nah his GPA will be fine but id advise just go ahead and take a few 'alternate transcript' classes to be fine. a 3.4 and talking about you switching majors will help -- they like upward trends and all that. what do you want to do exactly careerwise?
Careerwise I want to eventually start a healthcare based tech company with some well qualified people I have grown up with. Obviously that is a far-seeing long term goal, and in the short term I would like to get a position with one of the many Healthcare startups, or maybe a well established Biomedical equipment firm like Stryker. I am just really concerned about my work experience. I'm graduating this semester and would like to think 5 years with a national board recognized pharmacy tech license counts for something. That tied with my current internship and my nonprofit I started......I don't know if it's enough to overcome the traditional post-bacc work experience they normally require.

My other approach was to take graduate level Econometrics and Advanced Microeconomics while I work at expanding my non-profit and keep my position at the pharmacy. Will this STILL not count as work experience? A solid definition of work experience for my situation is....... difficult......to come by.

 
Best Response

Hi Pyropig,

Have you taken a practice GMAT test yet? MBA.com provides 2 free official practice exams. If you are aiming for a top program, I recommend you look to score above a 700.

With regards to your GPA, I recommend you read this case study of how an applicant address his sub 3.0 GPA:

Lastly, if you are set on living on the west coast post-graduation, I recommend you look at schools in that region. That is where the majority of your network will be post-graduation, and where the most opportunities will be for you.

Cheers,

Conrad and the Stacy Blackman Team

www.StacyBlackman.com
 
shorttheworld:
wait why arent you just going to get another job in the healthcare field?
You mean after I graduate to count as work experience before applying for an MBA? I could, ideally I would like that internship to turn into a position for a year or so. As long as I can get the pay to match the pharmacy I can leave there and move on. Obviously best case scenario I can get in the fall 2013 class somewhere, which is what I'm shooting for at the moment.
 
abacab:
A pharmacy tech role won't get you in any top MBA programs. It's what students do before/during pharmacy programs.
My non-profit was created because of my experience. I'm applying for a big ass grant right now to start running programs to increase access to medications for underprivileged kids. I think If I can get that running (already off the ground), that could be my way in. The internship at the health care IT startup will give me a great letter even if it flops, but I doubt it will.

How long should I wait, doing all these other things, until I apply? Should I apply round 2 for Fall 2013 matriculation? Also, considering where I'm from, and my desire to work in the San Francisco area, what do you guys think about my chances at UC Davis? Obviously I would prefer Haas, UCLA, or USC, but Davis is higher ranked than I thought. Im not discounting east coast schools, I'm just comparing California schools for the sake of........comparison.

 
shorttheworld:
Yeah if I had a pharmacy technician in my MBA class id wnt to gun him down more than the enterprise rent a car kid.. I even actually wonder how people feel like working in teams with the Yale silver scholar kids
I have a friend at HBS whose only pre-MBA experience consisted of dental school and he had a great time there. With respect to the Yale Silver Scholars, I have found them to be an extremely impressive group of individuals so far. Not only have I been positively surprised, every year 1/3 of them recruits directly into associate-level consulting and banking positions with MBB or one of the BB banks! Some of these Silver Scholars have been working all their lives in family businesses or have some sort of phenomenal international / life background. Typically there are only six per year but they are some of the most accomplished 22 year olds I have ever met.
 

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