Will volunteer work help me get in an MBA program?

Question

I just graduated college with an my undergrad in May 06. I plan on doing my MBA in Sept 07. I will be almost 24 when I start my MBA. I plan on doing volunteer work now so when I write the admission essays in a couple months I can talk about it. Is it too late to do volunteer work so that it will play a role in acceptance?

Answer 1

Volunteer work might help you in your essays but it is also important to know what sort of volunteer work will you be doing? Something extraordinary like helping the locals in Ecuador build huts will be a better edge than say working at the local salvation army. With only 1 year of work experience, you will have a hard time getting into a very good business school. Most good b-schools accept people with at least 2 years of work experince (good position, good job desc, good company). Average age for MBA students are 27, so you might be considered too young for b-school, unless you prove above average maturity for your age.