What should I do before b-school starts? How much time off is too much? Should I retake IR?
So I have 4 months before b-school starts and I want to make the most of it. Thinking of quitting my job as soon as possible so I can travel and figure out what I want out of my life. Considering management consulting (no prior experience).
1) What books should I read? Doesn't have to be business books, any books that stretches minds or changes views are welcome. 2) How much time off is too much time? Will consulting firms notice if I took 4 months off to essentially dick around? 3) I have a shit IR score (5/8; 52% percentile) because I didn't care about the section and wanted to move to the real stuff. I've been reading that consulting firms are starting to care about this. Should I retake the GMAT for this?
Warning: strong takes ahead.
I find it fascinating how many people go to business school with the idea that they are going to figure out what to do later. I cannot imagine deciding to go to school without knowing precisely why it was I should give up two years of experience and lost earnings, and pay a shitload of money in tuition. The recruiting process in business school comes at you fast and hard, and the people without a plan drowned.
I can't possibly imagine what you could do in 4 months that would tell you what to make of your life. The events in my life that have helped to guide me, to create some hierarchy of goals, have been incredibly difficult circumstances (the military calls them "crucible moments"). Those are what shape you, not sitting on a goddamn beach.
If you really want to get something out of the next 4 months, do something hard, that will force you to make tough choices, and is scary because there's a legitimate probability of failure. Become personally invested in something.
Or, y'know, read a book. Same thing. I suggest "Starting Strength," by Mark Rippetoe.
As for your other questions:
I don't think they will notice or care. There's a guy at school who is going to MBB this summer that quit his job in January of last year and took 8 months to do jack shit. Worked out fine.
I...doubt it? I'd be shocked if that was the one thing that kept you out of an interview, but I don't really know for sure. The only people who can really answer that are hiring managers, so if one of them drops by, they can add their thoughts.
Your honesty is appreciated. I know what I want out of b-school, but I'm not 100% sure what I want to do afterwards. Your statement about how recruiting comes fast and hard has been echoed among other friends. I'm defaulting to management consulting since it's what I've been interested in for a while.
Awesome, I might just quit tomorrow.
Ah ok, I was a bit concerned from the Bloomberg article on Bain starting to use IR, but wasn't sure if it was still the case: or if other firms are copying the trend (can't post the link since I'm new)
Bloomberg is a tabloid
The above is pretty good advice. If I were you, I would take time off and figure out what you want to do. You need to come up with a plan before starting the program. If you're not 100% sold on consulting, you should probably have a backup plan. You absolutely will not have time to "figure it out" during the program or make it up as you go. FYI, consulting recruiting starts from day 1 or even earlier of the program. You cannot afford to be indecisive or unprepared.
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