I’m in the process of writing my b-school applications. Most of the schools have the same set of questions over and over again but a couple will throw you some different ones.
I’m wrestling with whether my answer to the following question-what I would do as an alternative career path if I weren’t pursuing the goals I outlined in Essay 1 (those would be to pursue a career in risk management) and how it would help in solving a multidisciplinary problem.
I’m not concerned about the second part of the question, just a little worried that my answer won’t count-I answered honestly about pursuing something I’ve long considered doing-which is moving to India in order to open a legal aid/charitable division for my great-uncle’s very successful law practice (he advocates in front of the Supreme Court there), specifically to help women (female entrepreneurs, widows etc.) My family on that side already owns a charitable hospital so I have a good support base in which to develop this idea (as in, this is not outside the realm of possibility as my loans will be paid off within 4 years).
The problem is that I’m already a lawyer-just an American one. My work is also related to helping underserved communities in the United States-I work for a federal agency-but my day-to-day practice is financial transactions.
I find the question a little difficult to answer because I already have a “real” career and the reason I’m going to b-school is to make a career switch. I’m very nervous about giving an off-the-wall answer like, “oh, well if I weren’t going to business school I’d open a surf school in Costa Rica.” I feel as though most Admissions Committees would expect me to be more focused than someone who is 25 or 26 years old.
Do you think that answer counts or is would you assume that I’m just saying that I’m going to go be a do-gooding lawyer in another country even though I am already a quasi-dogooder in the United States and that it’s not really a job-switch?
The fact that it’s related to your previous job makes me think you’re not just pulling this out of your ass. So it’s not totally contrived and off-the-wall. And I would assume that working for the federal government is fundamentally different than working for a private firm. (In India.) So I’d say your hypothetical plan also counts as a career switch.
Although from what you’ve said it doesn’t sound like a non-switch would be a bad answer, so long the answer makes you look like a smart and creative MBA candidate. These types of “How will you use your degree?” type questions are often, IMHO, just a way to see how much you actually understand about the degree you’re applying to.
I don’t see anything wrong with your proposed alternative career. Make sure you have a couple of sentences exploring the difficulties/cultural changes you would have to deal with, mention your family ties but emphasize that this would not be makework for the “rich American do-gooder” but don’t stress about it too much.
Would you be able to open the legal aid/charitable division in India with the law degree and connections you currently have? How would the MBA help you accomplish this goal?
I think it sounds like a career change, especially if your role would be managing a charitable organization rather than practicing law per se.
Hey Sidney, the essay is inquiring about what I would do if I weren’t pursuing a MBA, not how the MBA would help me. Essay 1 is always “why are you pursuing an MBA and what would you do with it.” The essay problem in question actually gives examples like “Would you be an artist, musician, athlete…” etc.
Anyway, thanks everyone! I appreciate the feedback. I just decided to be honest and run with it. As I said, I already have a really nice job and am in the process of making a career switch. Giving some crazy answer about pursuing my hobbies as a career would not mesh well with the branding in the remainder of my essays.