Daniel Bauer Manager Director The MBA Exchange

Most applicants think of their undergraduate grades and GMAT test scores when calculating the likelihood of gaining admission to top MBA programs such as Harvard, Stanford and Wharton. However, their pre-MBA careers can have just as much impact on the final decision of the admissions committees at such elite schools.

Large or small company?

One of the first decisions you face is what size of organization to join. Larger companies offer greater prestige, stability and range of opportunities. Smaller companies offer accelerated growth, more direct exposure to the marketplace and higher accountability. The strongest MBA applicants demonstrate their effectiveness in both kinds of organizations. Taking a first job in a large company tells a b-school that the applicant has the ability to endure a lengthy selection process, the flexibility to survive corporate politics and the aspirations to perhaps run a major company someday. A second job in a smaller organization reveals an applicant who has the confidence, craftiness and creativity to thrive in a setting with fewer rules and requirements. This combination of experiences, over the course of three to four years, sends the right message about the applicant.

Local, national or international scale?

Companies that expose young professionals to a variety of cultures, values and languages provide a key advantage in the competition for MBA admissions. Top schools are becoming more and more global in their learning content and student profile. So, the international applicant who brings experiences from dealing with customers, suppliers or allies in other regions represents a "value added" student who personifies global business. Adding an international dimension to your work will pay off handsomely in your pursuit of a b-school diploma.

Strategic or tactical focus?

This is a dilemma for young professionals who are trying to build their qualifications for future MBA admissions. Most new hires find themselves in a narrowly defined "learning" role that has primarily tactical duties. This can include research, analysis or other tasks that are "buried" deep inside a company's operations. Even those individuals who do find themselves in a more strategic department - such as corporate planning or marketing - may be stuck with a relatively tactical set of duties. Given this reality, a motivated future MBA steps outside of his or her assigned role to develop strategic concepts and initiatives that are then submitted to senior officers for consideration. Whether or not these contributions are approved and implemented, the reality is that the junior executive has developed and demonstrated strategic thinking and potential that can then be summarized in a CV and admissions essays.

Overtime work or community involvement?

Young professionals are often expected to work incredibly long hours with extensive travel and evening or weekend overtime. For those who are public accountants or technical consultants, this may be inevitable. However, there is a price to be paid for taking such a route. The top b-schools place a high premium on those applicants who demonstrate more balance in their lives by taking on community leadership roles outside of work. Such activities are the mark of someone who will use his or her MBA education for the betterment of society rather than just to generate greater corporate profits and personal compensation. So, when interviewing for a job, evaluate carefully what the expectations are regarding your time and energy. You may be paying a price later in terms of your appeal to the MBA admissions committee.

Charting the best possible course for your career is a critical and ongoing process for the future MBA. It is useful to enlist the help of a knowledgeable friend who is enrolled at a leading b-school, a mentor who is an active MBA alumnus, or a qualified MBA admissions consultant. The earlier you start the better will be the results.

The MBA Exchange, a Chicago-based consulting firm, counsels applicants on all aspects of admission to the world's top business schools, including credentials assessment, school targeting, application strategy, essay development and interview planning. Since its establishment in 1996, the company has helped over 80% of its clients to gain admission to top MBA programs. Web site: www.mbaexchange.com

Taken from Career Times 2002/08/09