I read that many of the schools are now targeting younger applicants here (like Harvard and Stanford) so I was just wondering which schools have an older student body. Right now, Im planning to get an MBA when Im 31 - 33.
I heard that Booth and Wharton have an older student body but it would be great if someone can confirm this.
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Not 100% sure about Wharton/Booth but I can confirm with you the Harvard/Stanford phenomenon:
One of my best friend (30 yr) got told by the dean of HBS that he is too old for Harvard MBA, in a very polite way of course. He is a stellar candidate, EECS from top school in the world, 4.0 GPA and PHD from MIT in similar subject.
Truth no joking.
Damn, does that mean unless you have a military background or special circumstances, H/S won't accept candidates who are over 30?
What about the ones in the east coast/midwest?
Where did your friend end up going?
Berkeley seems more accepting of older candidates.
Here are some special circumstances for you: http://www.thecrimson.com/article/2006/5/22/bushs-personal-aide-to-enro…
Granted, CMK is a good school. But the bottom line is that it pays to be the bitch for the right person.
Considering that article says he was only 26, that hardly qualifies as a special exception. And you are seriously insane if you think you'd learn more spending four years getting drunk at frat parties than you would spending that time glued to the side of the leader of the free world.
Age is irrelevant. He would have been admitted at the age of 34 with the same role as W's errand boy.
CMC* I think is what Claremont is generally abbreviated as (not to be a douche, I just didn't understand what school you were talking about before I read through the article).
On topic though, do you not think the example mentioned above was dinged for having a Ph.D. and being on the older side? Like maybe that the person had too much education and wouldn't really benefit much from an MBA, regardless of their age? Or are Ph.D.'s not that rare at top MBA. Have not and will not ever be a Ph.D. candidate, but just curious.
Schools like HBS and Stanford are trending younger in an attempt to poach would-be doctors and lawyers. Let's face it, the average bschool student's raw intelligence just doesn't hold up to that of the MD or JD. HBS and Stanford know these programs don't require as much work experience (if any), and they would love to snatch the bright minds who are entertaining med school or law school and pimp them out as their poster children.
This is a terrifying thought, because this is exactly what has gone wrong with the US economy and its society: people who should be inventing new technologies, curing diseases and changing lives... were putting together pitchbooks, PPT decks containing 2x2 matrices/"synergies"/SWOT analyses, calculating VaR, schmoozing hedge fund clients on the bank's bill, or doing waterfalls for some two-year financial engnineering + IPO plan. Not to say that there's anything wrong with these activities per se, but it's a terrible allocation of resources (human capital) to have the best talent around doing this.
It's the height of hypocrisy for the deans at HBs and Stanford to wax poetic about the social egregiousness in this misallocation of talent, when that is precisely their mission statement. To me, that's a red flag surrounding these two business schools. I just became that much more a fan of Wharton, Booth, Haas, Tuck and co.
I've got to disagree. The raw intelligence of a top MBA puts that of the average doctor or lawyer to shame. Med students at the top schools probably have more raw intelligence, but definitely not JDs; the reason you go to do a JD is because you have no idea what to do with your life. Sure, there are a few who will go on to professorships or clerk at SCOTUS who are clearly brilliant, but there are outliers at business school as well. I don't really think that's at all what it's about. MDs are on a clear cut course from the time they start undergrad, it's not something you simply "entertain." JDs are there because they are risk averse and lack creativity. The reason HBS and Stanford are trending younger is because, for top talent, the value proposition of business school becomes less and less compelling as they get older.
Haas
PhDs, MDs and Military People can get into Harvard and Stanford in early 30s. The key is to have exactly 2 years post-graduation experience (except military service). For Booth, Wharton, etc., there are many people who get into MBA program in early 30s.
Ross, Kellogg, and Wharton. With schools like those owning the top rankings, why would anyone worry about Harvard or Stanford not taking 28-year-olds?
I am a Wharton MBA and can tell you that here we have lots of 30+ MBAs. Would not say that it is a significant %, but it actually is a large number. Besides, the core of the class is 27-28 yo, instead of 25 yo.
PM me if you want more info
MBA is 5% academic experience and 95% social experience. The older people just cannot drink and party like the younger people. Specially, if you have to go back home to your spouse and kids. Also, the opportunity cost of lost salary is much higher for the older people.
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