What are my chances - MBA Admissions

Hey everyone,

Graduating undergraduate senior here who would like to apply to top MBA programs in the near future and would like to get a sense of how competitive my profile would be for these top MBA programs and what I can potentially do to strengthen my application.

Profile:

  • Country: U.S.

  • Education: Lower-tier Ivy League University (Brown, Cornell, Dartmouth)

  • Undergraduate GPA: ~3.6 in a niche business major

  • GMAT: ~700 (haven't taken yet but have scored around 700 on practice tests).

  • Work Experience:

  • First job out of college will be at a Bulge Bracket Bank within their Commercial Banking Division. Probably planning to stay there for 1-2 years before trying to pursue something else.
  • Other Information:
  • ORM for MBA Admissions
  • Planning to apply for MBA after about 4 years of work experience (will probably be around the associate level in my job)
  • Post MBA goals: Investment Banking, Management Consulting, Big Tech Finance Leadership Programs

Target Schools:

  • Columbia Business School (want to apply for Early Decision here as this is my primary target school)
  • Harvard Business School
  • Wharton
  • UChicago Booth
  • Stanford GSB
  • NYU Stern

Would greatly appreciate hearing your guys' perspectives on my competitiveness/chances for these specific target schools (mainly for Columbia MBA).

Thanks so much in advance!

 
  1. Good for you for thinking about this early, but most people in these programs have 4-6 years work experience. I think GMAT scores are good for 5 years, so taking it now (assuming you get a good score) will be easier when you are in study mode and don't have to do your practice sets and exams after working for 10+ hours on a Tuesday.
  2. 700 would be low for most of these schools 720+ before you start to feel comfortable. Maybe need higher if you don't have diversity points. 
  3. Gotta have some community service/volunteer/mentorship involvement, and it has to be over a sustained period of time, not just the year you are applying. Ideally would show taking on a leadership role in whatever it is you are doing. 
 

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