MBB Chances?
I was interested in gaining some insight on what I should do to eventually get a job working as a marketing consultant at a MBB firm. I'm a junior at Texas Tech University studying Marketing. (3.0 cumulative GPA) My aspirations are to get an internship this summer, likely in advertising or cpg, receive a full time offer and work for 4-5 years before applying to a top MBA program. (likely McCombs since I'd have the best chance of raising my GPA between now and graduation to be competitive there.) My passion is marketing research, and I currently work as a part-time undergraduate research assistant within the business college. Comparatively speaking, I also have pretty deep knowledge about the consumer behavior industry for a student of my age. These are my questions:
1.) How badly will a sub-par undergraduate MBA affect me if/when I apply to work at a top consulting firm. (I graduate May 2015, and if I continue my perfect grades like now, I will graduate with a 3.4)
2.) What kind of work experience is more preferable? I like the idea of working for an ad/marketing organization due to the opportunity to expand my network, but is CPG experience better?
3.) How reputable is a school like McCombs for marketing consultants at MBB? McCombs is my most realistic target, though I may take a shot at a Kellogg/Fuqua as well.
4.) Will graduating with a bachelors from Texas Tech hurt me? It's reputation is solid, but not top 50.
Any information you might have would be highly appreciated. Thank you all very much!
Are you thinking MBB before or after MBA? If after MBA, what are you going to do before your MBA? Trying to understand your situation and give you the best response.
After MBA. I doubt I'd have much of a shot with the scores and school I am at to get into an MBB as of next year. I plan on getting 5 years of work experience at either a marketing/advertising agency or a cpg firm.
Think your GPA will be tough to overcome, but if you can get into mccombs for mba you will have access to recruiting for regional offices.
best bet is to crush the GMAT and get into a decent mba program. Saw that you liked McCombs. As mentioned earlier, McCombs is a semi-target. You'll have access to regional offices (Dallas, Houston), but I doubt you'll be able to go to like NY or Chicago or SF.
Wherever you go, focus on your MBA GPA and extracurricular activities. Join the consulting teams/case comp groups, and show some leadership abilities and skills. If you want to see if you have a shot, I suggest you go on LinkedIn and look up people who joined MBB as MBAs and see their resumes. You want to model yours off that.
If you want to be a marketing consultant, here is your first big case to solve: How do you develop and market yourself to be an MBB consultant?
Here are a few profiles off the top of my head of people I know at my firm in my start class - Ivy undergrad and varsity athlete, Stanford GSB, worked for the federal government - Fulbright scholar, masters in public health - MIT Sloan MBA, MIT undergrad, accomplished musician - Semi target undergrad, Top 5 law school, started own company - West Point + Army officer, HBS
Yes, prestige isn't everything. But the fact is that each of the MBB firms does resume screens and who you are "on paper" does matter at first. If these are the types of profiles you're up against, what is compelling about you that they would select you for an interview instead of someone like those guys? What's interesting about your experience and goals for the future? What's unique about you? What's your story?
Instead of focusing on individual components one by one (eg grades, GMAT, etc.) I'd suggest writing down who it is you aspire to be and what will make you stand out, then go after those things.
Good luck.
This, times a hundred. MBB resume drops are all about checking off boxes - undergrad institution, GPA, calibre of work pre-MBA, GMAT, extra-curriculars. The more HYPS/3.8+/HBS-esque your resume is, the better chance you have at MBB. That's pretty much a fact. Given that, odds are really stacked against you. I'd concentrate on a.) raising your grades b.) killing the GMAT and c.) molding your profile to 'stand out,' however that may be. Like music? Do something with it. Have you been a tutor before? Start some sort of volunteering program. At the end of the day, the odds are pretty long for MBB for most people - focus on your strength and bolster your resume with the above steps. And good luck! Hope everything works out for you.
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