Devil's Advocate

Paige chose to play Devil's Advocate and i'm glad she did. She asked some very probing questions and i had intended to reply only to her first. However i've gotten so caught up in work, and seeing she's having much fun at Darden didnt feel right to mail her this late.

So without much further ado here we go

Before you decide whether or not you defer, you have to figure out what you want. Are there specific reasons why you want to go NOW versus next year? Do you feel you researched all the schools you may possibly want to attend? Was your venture an original consideration or has it simply become a consideration? Would you be willing to repeat this process next year? Unfortunately, I don't think the answer is as easy as it seems.

Are you looking for a brand name? Or an experience? And are they mutually exclusive? I fretted about having to apply again next year and I'm not sure I would have, had it come to that, but I do also believe things happen for a reason and perhaps you have a little more to do before you attend business school. That alone does make sense. I know I haven't given you much of my opinion but more devil's advocate questions to figure out your own.

Good luck!

Hi Paige,

I'm rather glad you decided to play Devil's advocate since nobody else seems to be. But really, would you not have applied next year? You would have waited a while right?

You read my Ross essay so you know my reasons for going now. The venture is the thingy and I have a meeting with a potential angel fund investor lined up. The problem is that there are way too many ifs and buts. I may or may not get funding. I may or may not get into Ross. IF I get funding and Ross, what would I do then? Request for a defer?

As for repeating this process next year, I always said I would do a trial run first and then go all serious next year. Somewhere down the line, reality set in and I took this attempt as my one and only attempt. Now again I'm wondering if I have it in me to do it all over again next year.


I don't know about brand name( we are referring to collegs here right?), but yes I am most definitely looking for an experience. I believe this is my one shot at getting a really good university education ( given I don't want to study anymore than I have to) and i want to make the most of it. If we are referring to work, then i havent really worked for big brand companies and not sure, given my career goals, if i ever want to.

My biggest problem right now is--Do i soldier on and try and make my entrepreneurial ventures work or do i go for an MBA and then make them work? I would love to make them work right now but i also need to be practical and honestly ask if i really see it happening.

Thing is--- I need a miracle :)

Best Wishes,