work experience...is it relevent?

[cleetus]

I graduated in 2003 and will be applying this fall. I worked in Investment Banking (Public Finance) for 2.5 years and then quit my job in January to start a non-profit organization dedicated to improving education quality in Africa.

Obviously, the schools will see my CV, but in the SOP, how relevent and how much emphasis should I focus on my work experience, especially given that I would like to study Development?

I was planning on mentioning these items in passing without going at length about either experience, unless of course you think it may be helpful.

Any advice is much appreciated.

Cheers.

[ramlau]

Originally Posted by cleetus

I graduated in 2003 and will be applying this fall. I worked in Investment Banking (Public Finance) for 2.5 years and then quit my job in January to start a non-profit organization dedicated to improving education quality in Africa.

Obviously, the schools will see my CV, but in the SOP, how relevent and how much emphasis should I focus on my work experience, especially given that I would like to study Development?

I was planning on mentioning these items in passing without going at length about either experience, unless of course you think it may be helpful.

Any advice is much appreciated.

Cheers.

The work experience is more relevant than the non-profit. It sure doesn't hurt to mention them in a paragraph that connects the two, with some elaboration on the i-bank experience. I wrote about my work experience in the statement because it was natural to explain why I wasn't taking classes every other semester.

Ram
P.S. I can show you my statement if you may find that helpful.

[PCG]

I don't think it would hurt to mention it at least to discuss what you have been doing for a few years, but I wouldn't spend more than several sentances on it, unless it has something to do with what you are interested in studying.