Before applying to business school
Sorry for this fairly large post, but I hope some of you can help me!
I am in my last year of a master in Real Estate Management and Development and most certainly I will finish the master with a 9.0 out of 10 GPA, with 10 being the best possible grade (compared to the US system, an 8.5 is A+ and an 8,1 GPA will result in an 4.0 GPA in the US system). When graduating with this GPA, I could be the first student ever who will graduate summa cum laude from the master programme. Simultaneously I am doing a premaster International Business Administration (Tilburg University), after which I will be admitted to a master Finance.
Questions that I have, just regarding this short background, are:
1) When applying, do business schools take into account that I have done 2 programs simultaneously? Right now I really focus on the real estate master, but the grades for the premaster are not that good (GPA 3.7). This is because I have 4 courses per semester for one programme and 4 for the other, so 8 courses in total, which take an enourmus amount of time.
2) During my bachelor I got medicine that influenced my concentration/learning capabilities (proven by doctors). It is, ofcourse, unknown to quantitatively define to what extent. GPA in US terms was about 3.2 (I know, very bad). I always think about mentioning that I was on medicine or not. I do not want that it is seen as an excuse for my bad GPA. Do you think I should mention it ? Also, does this GPA kill my changes of getting into a great business school?
3) Eindhoven University and Tilburg University are ranked the best in the Netherlands (Elsevier, 2011). In an international perspective they are ranked 146th (61st globally for engineering) and 51st respectively. How important are these ranks with respect to getting into a great business school?
4) This year I will graduate for the real estate master and next year for the finance master. Thereafter, what would you consider to be the proper amount of work experience before applying to business schools? Right now I am 22 years old (almost 23) and after completing both masters I will be 24.
5) What type of business schools do you think I should be aiming at? Ivy league or the one below in rank?
I would very much appreciate if you could give me some advise regarding one or more of these questions!
Why are you worrying about business school now? It's at the very least, 3-4 years down the road. Focus on getting a job first.
^ what reddog said.
Red dog is a terrible beer btw
You don't wanna become a professional student
OK, I get it. I will focuss on getting a job first and doing some business courses and/or internships. However, question 1,2 and 3 remain (focused on organizations instead of bschools). Could you give me some advice on them?
No, you don't get it. Don't take business courses. Don't look for internships.
Get a full time job in a field you're interested in. Business school, business courses, masters programs or anything lse should not even be in your mind right now. You have way too much education already compared to your work experience. Taking multiple programs at once is a terrible idea. Taking part time classes for you is a terrible idea. Finish whatever you've started as soon as possible and enter the job market.
Thought I should add this: Don't get me wrong, I completely understand the desire to stay in school and would probably do the same thing as you if our education system was the same. I may be wrong here, but my impression however is that if you're trying to work in the U.S., it may not make sense to take advantage of this. At a certain point, more education may not provide you an advantage.
So you're telling me internships have no bearing on a b-school app? Agree with the other point about enough education especially as you're doing two programs simultaneously but definitely intern, if the right opportunity comes along. Its all experience.
Question#2
Don't mention the medicine and the doctors proof and all that. Whether it is true or not, it will come off as a negative. Besides, once you graduate from 2 masters programs, the last thing on anyone's mind will be your undergrad gpa.
I think after your 2 masters, you shouldnt need an MBA at all. Just work for ~4 years and revisit this question then.
Thanks Reddog and yhp2009.
@ Reddog: in The Netherlands, bachelor and master programs are heavily subidized by the government for natives (so heavily in my case that I get money after paying all the college costs). Therefore many students considering doing 2 masters or event 3 or 4. The culture here is more like: do a lot of education, you can always start working when you are somewhat older. In a few years (2 to 4) the government plans to stop subsidizing as a result of the financial crisis. Knowing this, very much students just do other master programs simultaneously because in a few years, all students can only do 1 such a program because of the high costs. I do think, however, that you are right. I need a full time job as soon as possible. But as soon as possible does mean as of june 2013 I think. Then, I am only just at the age of 24, so lots of time to build up some quality job experience I guess.
For children: school > experience
For adults: experience > school
You're an adult now. Whether you get an MBA is not relevant at this point. Get a full-time job and make your career your #1 priority for the next few years. And then decide then whether it's worth it to go back -- by then, you may or may not want to go back to school, but that is not something for you to judge at this point.
Trust me on this -- once you have a few years of experience under your belt, you will realize how irrelevant your questions are re: academics. It's understandable how you may feel these questions to be of utmost importance because you've been in school all your life and that is all you know.
Which is why you need to get out there and work full-time.
Deserunt ab sunt nesciunt est. Neque dignissimos minus eveniet fugiat qui ut quis. Impedit tempora excepturi et est et qui.
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...