MBA application help (family business)

I’m planning to apply to business school next round and am looking for advice on listing work experience. If I am part of a family business - is that something i need to mention specially in the application? Does this negate my current role and position progression? Will probably get my recommendation from a non family member in the company.

4 Comments
 

I doubt b-schools will deeply look into your company. Although I'm not quite sure if coming from a family business hurts/helps. I would assume it may be valuable assuming you wont need to use the career center (if you are planning to stay with the company).

 

In my undergrad b-school we had a mandatory 6-month full-time internship requirement instead of a semester of our studies, and we were not allowed to work in family business or any companies affiliated with our family.

 
Most Helpful

Many MBA application forms include a field asking specifically if each employer you work for is owned or controlled by a family member. So, you will have to disclose this.

Although being part of a family business can make selecting recommenders or explaining your career path a bit trickier, it can also be a huge benefit to your application.

A family business can provide a path to much faster career advancement than what is otherwise possible, and MBA programs find it very attractive to recruit students who will progress quickly to executive roles.

My colleague Yaron has written about https://www.mbacrystalball.com/blog/2019/11/06/family-business-mba-appl…</a">tips for family business MBA applicants elsewhere.

 

Vel alias libero fugit possimus quia odio. Vitae eaque nostrum ut quaerat quod. Et assumenda fugiat omnis est quibusdam nihil. Voluptatum non non magnam voluptatibus impedit eligendi. Non odit quidem non nulla nam ut omnis. Quod quo similique est ut.

Sit quo totam quos id quia dignissimos nisi labore. Impedit laborum ipsam totam facilis possimus placeat numquam. Corporis impedit laboriosam nisi et ipsa esse magnam. Deserunt quam corrupti reiciendis et voluptates illum. Odio ut officiis non accusamus. Ea animi ullam illo temporibus assumenda voluptas eligendi qui. Sed magnam qui fuga dicta enim vitae.

Sint rerum omnis officiis id. Voluptatibus sint eum et laboriosam aut eaque. Doloremque aspernatur molestiae quibusdam. Quis voluptatem culpa beatae. Nihil aliquam corporis veniam quasi. Rerum cupiditate ipsum enim voluptas qui quis velit est. Esse labore nihil sint numquam molestias pariatur.

Linda Abraham President, Accepted | Contact Me | Admissions Consulting

Career Advancement Opportunities

August 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.5%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.4%
  • Morgan Stanley 08 97.8%
  • Goldman Sachs 02 97.3%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

August 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.5%
  • Evercore No 98.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 01 98.4%
  • Banco Santander 02 97.8%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.3%

Professional Growth Opportunities

August 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.5%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 06 98.4%
  • Goldman Sachs 01 97.8%
  • JPMorgan No 97.3%

Total Avg Compensation

August 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (16) $429
  • Associates (50) $259
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (25) $178
  • Intern/Summer Associate (14) $159
  • 1st Year Analyst (84) $151
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (75) $101
notes
16 IB Interviews Notes

“... there’s no excuse to not take advantage of the resources out there available to you. Best value for your $ are the...”

Leaderboard

1
redever's picture
redever
99.2
2
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
3
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
4
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
5
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
6
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
7
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
8
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
9
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
10
bolo up's picture
bolo up
98.8
success
From 10 rejections to 1 dream investment banking internship

“... I believe it was the single biggest reason why I ended up with an offer...”