IT to Non-profit

[isa8183]

Hello,

I'm preparing the essays for top schools and I'm having a big trouble writing them. I believe I have a strong profile: female, international (WEurope), very high GMAT/GPA, international experience in several continents, strong extra curricular, etc.

However, I'm having very much trouble explaining my career goals post MBA.

In fact, although I got a Master in Computer Science and I have been working in IT in a big Investment Bank, what really motivates me is the non-profit world, social entrepreneurship, and so on. I also like IT but applied to something different than finances (for example). During college, I spend several years doing community service and I loved it.

- Could be this goal put on the line my application? I'm worried because I don't want Adcoms to ding me because they don't understand why I spent many years of my life studying/working in a field/industry that don't really passionate me.
- How would you make the link in the essays between my highly technical studies/work experience, and the fact of wanting to switch to non profit, social entrepreneurship, etc?.
- Is there a good way to use my IT experience in the non profit world?

Great thanks for your thoughts.

Isa

[mbamission]

Hi Isa,

Thanks for writing in. Many MBA applicants are career-switchers, and moving to the nonprofit sector is definitely a feasible case to make. If anything, it is a point of differentiation for you as someone with an IT background, so I would recommend you do indeed make that your stated goal.

As with any career-switching application, the key is to explain why you want to make the switch, demonstrate what transferable skills you can apply from your prior experience to your future job, and demonstrate a clear path as to what you want to do in this new sector (medium-to-long term).

In your case, you could state your long passion for nonprofit work (including any post-college work you've done), and perhaps discuss how a person with IT skills are in need in this sector. Lastly, make sure to write why an MBA will help you successfully make this transition.

Thanks for writing in and best of luck,

Daniel Richards
http://www.mbamission.com

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