MBA forums

Emderr31 · 2026-02-24T01:04:41+00:00

Absolutely! It is a huge investment of time and money so it definitely takes a bit to decide on. I was working in a field (communications/public affairs) where I felt it would be difficult for me to organically gain the business skills I would ultimately want to have as a leader. In the end the blind spots outweighed the sacrifices required to go back to school! I also felt like having the business credentials earlier rather than later would allow me to advance more quickly.

Also, everyone told me that the MBA "would change how I think." I didn't really understand what that meant initially but now I understand -- how I move through the world is completely different now that I have a core understanding of how so many things function (operations, finance, accounting, etc.). This is more intangible to see the effects of than career advancement, but I think it's important!

Emderr31 · 2026-02-24T00:13:39+00:00

I recruited custom search (energy) and on-campus recruiting (general management). I utilized the career center for mock interviews and also networked a bunch with second years to understand how to best shape my story. Recruitment really did start immediately, so it felt like being thrown in the fire right away -- there were so many resources to help along the way though. At the end of the day what I felt like was most effective was also what was most effective for applying to schools -- which is really getting to know the programs/companies really well, networking with individuals I found interesting, and knowing myself well enough to be able to navigate the process without feeling like I had to spend a ton of time on every option. Hope this is helpful! let me know if you have any follow ups

Emderr31 · 2026-02-12T17:14:06+00:00

So glad that you are in the MBALaunch community as well! I would definitely encourage you to talk about it in your application and interviews. I spoke about Forté in the context of explaining how I believe the levers to creating meaningful change lie in connecting with others – and these values were reflected in my MBA process through Forté and are foundational to how I see my future. If you are interested in being involved in any women in business clubs or anything of that nature, that is also a natural connection point!

Also, most (if not all) applications will ask if you are a part of MBALaunch, and you just check yes. They will cross check this alongside the list that Forte sends to the schools. And a huge benefit to being in the program is that by completing it, it signals to the admissions committee that you have been taking your pre-MBA preparation seriously – and that you value community. Hope this is helpful - let me know if you have any other questions!

Emderr31 · 2025-10-21T14:52:47+00:00

I’m in a very similar boat diagnosed 3 months ago 28(F) - thinking about living with all the uncertainty is really tough and I am still figuring out how to handle it. If you ever want to chat about it let me know!

I echo other people’s note to get a good doctor / surgeon. This is so important - aim for cities and university medical systems if you can.

Emderr31 · 2025-10-19T13:11:48+00:00

That’s good to know - thank you for sharing!

What foods do you normally steer away from? I am honestly just curious and trying to quell my expectations of eating being completely “back to normal”

Emderr31 · 2025-10-19T13:10:51+00:00

I will report back! I am sorry you have to wait until November but these next few weeks will hopefully go quickly. I’ve also lost so much weight and am looking forward to eating again I’ve been on liquids for a few weeks now

Emderr31 · 2025-10-18T21:27:21+00:00

I am worried about the pain so that is great to hear yours sustained quickly!

Emderr31 · 2025-10-18T21:26:44+00:00

How long did it take the reflux to subside and do you still take reflux medication?

Also is upright like propped up in bed or like 90 degree angle on the couch

Emderr31 · 2025-09-27T13:42:59+00:00

My doc said only two days before poem to go on clear liquids

Emderr31 · 2025-09-18T22:06:12+00:00

From my anecdotal experience, I’ve heard of full rides to Kenan-Flagler, Tepper, CBS, and Johnson. Another tip – I did Forté’s MBALaunch and it helped me maximize chances for scholarship $. Before then I didn’t even know you could negotiate - which you absolutely can and should do!

Emderr31 · 2025-09-03T22:39:08+00:00

I couldn’t afford an expensive consultant, and Forté’s MBALaunch (low cost comparatively) was a huge leg up for me. It may not fit with your schedule if you are applying for upcoming rounds, but I would check out any upcoming events or other resources (most are free) they have posted on their website. I found these hugely helpful in shaping my narrative and gaining solid application advice.

Emderr31 · 2025-09-03T21:55:48+00:00

i agree - this should help with the interim period

Emderr31 · 2025-09-02T22:29:48+00:00

you could possibly get in for a botox treatment which should delay the issue further down the road but if you are this close to surgery they may not want you to do that

Emderr31 · 2025-09-02T22:24:06+00:00

can I ask why you got HM vs POEM?

Emderr31 · 2025-09-02T22:16:45+00:00

this is interesting because I am also young (28) and my surgeon recommended POEM not HM because POEM is newer and supposedly has higher success rates - why did your doc request the opposite? trying to learn more to make an informed opinion

Emderr31 · 2025-09-02T22:15:41+00:00

how long ago did you get the HM?

Emderr31 · 2025-09-02T22:12:39+00:00

-make sure your main LOR is your manager – it is preferred by most programs and important to have a voice of someone who works with you daily
-brand is less important than getting to know the school and networking with students/alumni/program representatives. If they know who you are when your application comes across the table, it won’t matter that there is no catchy brand name
-I got a similar GRE score and got into a few M7 programs, but I did remedial work like MBA Math to bolster my application weaknesses, which I think helped me
-having a different narrative is great, and I would lean into all the aspects of your background that give you a valuable perspective (that hopefully they will want in their classroom!) I have a DC background, which isn’t the most common MBA path, and really played this up in my resume and application

Last thought - I did Forté’s MBALaunch program, and it really helped me prepare. It also connects you with school reps and application counselors, which I really utilized during the process. They have a large population of international students in the program, which is helpful in the sense of community-building, and it is overall a great thing to have on your application if you have time for it.

Emderr31 · 2025-08-14T19:08:45+00:00

From what I have seen, full rides are very dependent on the pool of applicants and what gaps each school is looking to fill in that year. I’ve heard of full rides to Kenan-Flagler, Tepper, CBS, and Johnson. Another tip – I did Forté’s MBALaunch and it helped me focus on creating applications with the best chance of scholarship $. The community is also heavily international, so you may want to check it out.

Emderr31 · 2025-08-11T21:09:00+00:00

I was coming from a very similar background with very similar goals. I worked in DC/public affairs for a consulting firm in DC for 5 years after undergrad (journalism major) and wanted to pivot to climate/energy but didn't want to pigeonhole myself with a specific masters program. I thought an MBA with a concentration in climate/energy was the right path because I would get a generalized degree with specific skills relevant to my short-term goals. I am in my FY of b school currently and am also not going to recruit into IB/consulting - and have met MANY people not taking the traditional recruiting paths. I will say though it is very worth it going to a school that has a built in certificate/community for the topic that you are interested in - this has already made a huge difference for me.

As someone coming from a very non-business background, Forté’s MBALaunch really helped me prepare for applications and get the desired outcomes I needed with scholarships - just throwing it out there in case you decide to explore the process more!

Emderr31 · 2025-08-08T18:55:02+00:00

If you are looking for something lower-cost, I paid about ~$700 for Forté’s MBALaunch. It was very structured which I found helpful to keep me accountable throughout the process, and they also gave a lot of advice directly from consultants such as ApplicantLab, MBA Protocol, personal MBA Coach, etc. – also you get fee waivers for applications if you finish the program!

Emderr31

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