My Chances at a top 25 MBA

Hello,

I am new to WSO, as I understand this is mainly a finance blog, but I was wondering if any of you could help me in determining my chances for MBA admissions. Below are the programs that I am interested in.

Emory University
Georgetown
University of Southern California
Carnegie Mellon University
University of North Carolina
University of Virginia
Notre Dame University
Washington University St. Louis
Duke University

Undergrad Background:
My background includes a 3.65 GPA in finance/econ at a non-prestigious undergrad (think Marist/Fairfied/ Bryant/). Fair amount of extracurriculars. Held numerous leadership roles and volunteer experience. Officer at my honors society.

Work Experience:
1 year in corp finance at a media firm (think Oglivy Mather/ Omnicom Group/ Edelman)
1 year in financial services as a controller on a fixed income derivatives desk (think Goldman Sachs/JP Morgan/Morgan Stanley)
Will have two years work experience as a pnl analyst at a large commodities firm (think ADM/Bungie/ Louis Dreyfus) on a trading desk.

Exams:
Planning on taking the GRE I'm not really compatible with the GMAT. So based on what i think i can get my score would be a Quant 166 and Verbal would be 160, which is roughly a 700 gmat score (I think). Also, would MBA programs prefer a GMAT applicant over a GRE applicant?

So what do you think are my chances for these program? Any safety/target/reach schools?

Also to note, my goal with the MBA is work in corp finance for a tech/ biotech company or work in commercial banking/ corporate banking.

Thank you in advance

 
Best Response

I also think you have a good shot at a top 15-20 ranked school. I had a slightly lower GPA from a top 50 undergrad school and 700-720 GMAT, and I got into multiple schools in this range. I'm not sure why you would take the GRE though. Coming from a finance/econ major and applying to b-schools, I would guess that adcoms would prefer the GMAT. I have met many prospective/current MBA students, and I have yet to meet anyone who took the GRE.

Also, as I tell people starting out on the MBA application process, make sure that you have a cohesive story that ties your background/work experience/extracurriculars into your post-MBA goals. If you are able to craft a good story, then I think you will be fine. Best of luck!

 

Went to one of the schools you mentioned and am going to one of the higher ranked schools on your list (got into multiple). I had a lower GPA, but good GMAT. It's 100% in your wheelhouse. I'd honestly say that a place like Emory/Georgetown can be a back up for you and aim for the 8-16 schools (Yale, Duke, UVA, Stern, etc ). Be sure to take a shot at a top school as well (Columbia/Tuck/Wharton/etc), you'll regret not doing it. A good list is around 5-6 schools so you can focus on quality apps, not quantity. Take the GMAT again though and aim for 700+., ideally 720ish. GRE is fine, but you work in Finance now and it just seems odd to not take the GMAT.

You'll have the stats/work experience/extras, the thing to do (as mentioned) is to focus on your story line. Figure out how everything connects and start to develop your ST/LT goals. Begin to think about fit because that is HUGE with most of these schools. For the Duke/UVA/Ross/Tuck, school visits matter - so you will want to try and connect during the summer/early fall. If you can create a strong story line from your undergrad through now, why an MBA, and how it fits with your goals for right after/10 years after, you will be in a good spot. Also worth noting - with your extras, make sure they matter to you and you can talk about why. A lot of people do Big Brothers, Habitat, etc, to get the volunteer work on their resume, but Adcoms/employers want to see that you do something you care about (really doesn't matter what it is).

If you want, feel free to PM me. Happy to answer an specific questions you have.

 

Take the GMAT, while more and more schools are open to the GRE, the GMAT is still the standard. It is a fairly easy exam to at least score a 680+ (which you'll need at least for the bottom end of the top 25). For a T14 school or T10, you need to get a 700+, if you are a white or Indian male this should be 720+ (for T10).

@mbassocate22" is spot on regarding spread on applications and for the importance of visiting Tuck/Kellogg/UVa/Fuqua.

If you can indeed hit the 700+ range, and depending on the strength of your LoRs, I'd recommend applying to a safety school (UNC, Georgetown, Owen), two fits (Fuqua/UVa-Darden/Ross), and two stretch (Sloan/Kellogg/Tuck).

I'm happy to discuss via PM if you'd like, I applied to 3 top tens, 1 10-14, and one safety program and was accepted to all five. I graduated from one of the top tens.

 

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