T20 Business School a Possibility?

I am currently a litigation paralegal at a white-shoe law firm in New York, but I want to do consulting. I am trying to network my way in and achieving some success in getting interviews, but if it doesn't work out, is this good enough work experience to get into a T20 business school?

I went to a very good liberal arts college and have a high gpa. I test very well and would likely do well on the GMAT.

 
IlliniProgrammer:
Think bankers have it better?

1) Not trying to become a banker. More interested in consulting or asset management.

2) Even if I were, bankers have a more diverse range of options. Lawyers (at least litigators) have almost no transferable skills.

 
Best Response
nerdspeak:
Boothorbust:
I think with a good GMAT you've got a great shot at T20.

Word. Okay wow I seriously thought I was screwed b/c I don't work at McKinsey or Google.

No way man. Once you get out of the M7+Tuck work experience matters far less than you might think (still matters, though). You have a professional job in a big city that you can probably spin into a decent story for why you want to do consulting. Try to carve out some kind of initiative you can lead at work or something. It's all about story, and if you can tell a good one and add a good GMAT you should have a good shot.
 
Connor:
Isn't the WSO consensus that anything outside of M7 is a waste of money?

Ha, many here on WSO will tell you that anything short of H or S is a waste of money.

Anyway, I'd bump the threshold from M7 up to the top 15. The recruitment dropoff after ~15, however, is pretty damn steep.

 
holla_back:
Connor:
Isn't the WSO consensus that anything outside of M7 is a waste of money?

Ha, many here on WSO will tell you that anything short of H or S is a waste of money.

Anyway, I'd bump the threshold from M7 up to the top 15. The recruitment dropoff after ~15, however, is pretty damn steep.

Really?

Would assume that an MBA even from a top 50 school, would be worthwhile just more regional. Example SMU MBA is roughly $50,000 and ranked in the other half of 30+ but seems to have placements in larger and regional companies in Dallas/Texas with average salaries in the 100K+ range.

I mean I agree top 15 is pretty much required for the likes of Google, Facebook, MBB, IB/PE/HF but good business jobs in general? Or at least a step up from litigation paralegal?

"It is better to have a friendship based on business, than a business based on friendship." - Rockefeller. "Live fast, die hard. Leave a good looking body." - Navy SEAL
 

This was one of the most informative threads I've seen here so far re: paralegal background and the value (or non-value) of work experience relative to GMAT when considering top 15 schools.

I'm a corporate paralegal with a 3.0 (history major) and a lot of time to put towards the GMAT in the coming years. Thinking about transitioning into a business analyst or gov compliance role in my company to bolster my resume/app profile if I can swing it. What do you folks think of this, or will it not matter as much as just blowing the GMAT out of the water?

Also, I guess apologies for necro'ing this thread.

 

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