Brief Work Experience but Heavy Volunteer Experience

[buzzblack]

Hi,

I just finished my 1st year at a reputable banking firm in their Private Banking Division. By the time I would attend B-school I would have two full years of experience. After conducting research on my target schools--UCLA, USC, Cal, and NYU, I have found that the average work experience is roughly four years.

The reason for my low work experience is that I served as a volunteer in Mexico for two years when I was 21-23 years old. I lived in the country, learned the language, and served in many leadership capacities. Do schools take this into consideration when I apply? I have the same target age (27-28 years old), but I am concerned that I will be unjustly shortchanged because instead of banging out my college degree, I sought out a personally substantive life experience. Please advise on what schools would think if I were to apply for Fall 2012. Thanks!

Buzz

[mbamission]

Hi Buzz,

I think you can be competitive with the situation you describe. You just need to acknowledge how your "experience" is a bit different than the typical applicant, but emphasize the leadership and value you gained from your volunteer work. You can also stress why it's important for you to attend B-school now -- if you wait two more years you may start worrying that you're "too old" to apply!

Good luck,

Daniel Richards
http://www.mbamission.com

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