Trending Content - Business School and GMAT Forum
Career Resources
WSO Free Modeling Series - Now Open Through
June 30, 2026
9 Free Financial Modeling Lessons
Get instant access to lessons taught by experienced private equity pros and bulge bracket investment bankers including financial statement modeling, DCF, M&A, LBO, Comps and Excel Modeling.
+Bonus: Get 27 financial modeling templates in swipe file
+Bonus: Get 27 financial modeling templates in swipe file
High Finance Applications
Guaranteed
Get at least one offer GUARANTEED
- 1:1 support
- 92% success rate
- 2,000+ mentor network
- Unlimited Live bootcamps
- AI for resume + LinkedIn
- Networking automation tools
- HireVue simulation tool
- Full course library
- Private Slack community
- 20hrs of mocks
- + much more...
I did both mba and mfin but will only report mba results here since that's what this thread is about.
Round 2 at hbs, wharton, booth, and regular decision at columbia.
HBS: ding after interview Wharton: accepted Columbia: accepted Booth: find out tomorrow
Since I got dinged at princeton mfin, it looks like I'll most likely be attending Wharton this fall.
I have 4 years trading at an exotic derivatives desk at a BB in NYC. I applied to mfin because of my interest in the coursework and placements at buyside firms in quant research/trading. I applied to mba as sort of a hedge against career volatility in case I decide to make a career transition, for the network, and for the social experience. I feel that I could get something very good from either program, albeit in a very different manner. I was sort of torn between mba and mfin so took the gmat and gre and applied to both to see what my options are.
Applied to Harvard, Stanford, Wharton Dinged at Stanford after interview In at HBS and Wharton
Headed to HBS this fall
Wow. Congratulations. Can you give us a short analysis of what you think got you into HBS?
And short: Fuck yeah. You deserved it buddy. Very happy for you.
Last, how can a guy who can get into Wharton MBA not get into Priceton MFin. Aren't they all about your numbers?
The short answer is that I think I had a strong profile relative to peers in my admissions "bucket".
I think HBS starts with the end in mind of what they want their class to look like. One of the easiest ways to look at this is the breakdown by pre-MBA industry. Take a look at any of the recent class profiles to get an idea.
That's your competition.
Then, we can look at undergrad institution. HBS has its bluechip feeder schools (http://poetsandquants.com/2011/08/15/top-feeder-colleges-to-harvard-bus…). It's not impossible to get in from a no-name school, but you'd be the exception, not the norm.
Next, we can look GPA and GMAT. High for each. Necessary conditions for admission, but not sufficient.
It's imperative to compare yourself to your peers and find some way to differentiate yourself from the rest through having higher/better scores and grades, unusual/foreign work experience, extraordinary extracurriculars, and bonuses like being a URM, female, or from a foreign country (that isn't India).
Applied to Duke, Haas, CBS, Tuck, Booth, Kellogg, Sloan, HBS In at Duke, Haas, Tuck, Sloan Heading to Sloan!
Round 2 Applied to: UT Austin and Rice Accepted to: Rice w/$ Matriculating to: Rice
Congrats everyone and best wishes. Those are some impressive schools. You all have very bright futures. I hope to be in your shoes one day.
Any chance we can get brief backgrounds/GMAT/stats?
Applied: HBS, Wharton, Booth, CBS
Accepted: Booth, CBS
Attending: CBS
Applied to Wharton, HBS, Columbia, Booth, and Sloan Dinged at HBS and waitlisted at Sloan In at Columbia and Wharton, waiting on Booth
Most likely headed to Wharton this fall
Round 2: Booth, Wharton and Columbia
Booth - In, with $$$ Wharton - Waitlist Columbia - In, with $
[edited] Decision: Booth!
Can you guys post work experience + GMAT stats as well? Thanks!
Booth with scholly. trading+startup, 2.7, 700 GMAT
and URM??? LOL.
Regards
that too. booya DNA tests lol
Not trying to call you out or anything, but I thought you had enrolled at Duke last year. Or maybe I am mixing you up with someone else...Either way, good luck at Booth!
Matriculating at Duke
definitely reworked my story better and wrote much better essays as well this year.. startup experience abroad helped too
For those who got into HBS, want to share some of your stats, prior work experience? Also considering applying there in the next year or so.
Applied round 1, 3.9 / 750 GMAT
Stanford GSB - admitted HBS - waitlisted, no interview, then dinged Wharton - waitlisted after interview (I elected to be released after accepting at Stanford)
Dinged at: Stanford & CBS In at: Tuck, Wharton, and HBS
What do you get dinged for at the interviews?
surferbarney, I think it's highly variable what could happen during the interview that would get you a ding. I also think that often times, it's the case that nothing went wrong in the interview at all, but the inn was full and the innkeeper couldn't make room for one more X, Y, or Z person.
In my experience, here's where things could have gone wrong in my interviews:
Stanford - alumni interview with an alum that you just didn't click with, got unusual/strange questions from, an otherwise okay interview with a weak writeup
HBS - not being congruent with what you wrote in your essays or resume (since the interviewers know your file), coming off as arrogant, not having command of English and being able to express yourself clearly
Wharton - hogging airtime during the team-based discussion, being disagreeable/not a team player with the other participants, not playing any real role during the discussion (steering discussion, generating ideas, keeping track of time w/respect to presentables, a kind devil's advocate, etc)
Applied: In at: Hog-whart-s Attending:
Congrats to those that got in somewhere, I feel left out I can't put in a brag :(
If only this were like a decade ago and College Confidential...
By the way, y'all hear that Wharton is splitting off from the rest of Ju-penn? Should be interesting. Gets rid of all those pesky outsiders that don't belong.
http://www.thedp.com/article/2013/03/wharton-penn-officially-split-stir…
In at Columbia w/$(not much but something is better than nothing).
interested in h/s/w stats if you worked in ibd/pe before. Thanks :)
Applied HBS & Wharton, in at Wharton. 5 years military 2 years PE 2.9 GPA 720 GMAT
@Military guys:
Is there a bias for:
USMC > USA & USMC > USN & USMC > USAF ?
Doubt that.
What I meant was Special Forces in any branch would be the best candidates for B School. But all things being equal, serving in the Marines might look better than the Army > Navy > Air Force. I'm saying this because all Marine Officers have to go through the Basic School, so even a Finance Officer is a trained rifleman/infantry, whereas if you are a non-combat/support officer in the Air Force, there is nothing like TBS.
...
....edit
MTNGHOST pretty much covered it already but this couldn't be further from the truth. The Army has the most representation at most top business schools, followed by the Navy. Marines and Air Force are pretty comparable. As was already mentioned nobody cares about boot camp, nobody cares about Lieutenant vs Captain. Most people outside the military really don't know and don't care, what matters is the story you can put together. Sure as a support role in the Air Force I couldn't talk about Basic School since I didn't go through it. But I could talk about managing a $120M program with a team of 25+ defense contractors working for me. Which has more applicability for Business School, infantry training or managing cost/schedule/performance of a large business contract?
Oh ok. I was not aware of this. Thanks mongoose
Board of trustees subcommittee, multiple mentorship initiatives both at alma mater and in inner city, life story which you can read on here, and yes was in a bunch o schools last year and year prior but had opportunity to angel invest and work at startup in São Paulo so I took or for the past year
How much $ from Booth?
Wow. Congratulations to everyone ... looks like us jr monkeys have a damn high standard to live up to.
Hi there guys, Do you think i would stand a chance getting into any of listed schools with the following profile, :international student from Afghanistan GMAT 770 GPA 2.78 Work Experience 2 Years in finance at Fortune 100
Applied to Wharton and HBS. In at both and attending HBS.
7 years in the Navy, support (Supply Officer), and OCS.
750 GMAT and undergrad at small liberal arts school.
Applied R1 Harvard, Stanford and Yale Accepted at Harvard and Yale Attending Harvard
Nice seeing another old bro succeed in the MBA game.
seems like WSO kicked ass this year :)
Yeah, the people here seem far happier than GMATClub's crop of applicants.
EDIT: I hope Brady got in somewhere.
because of your "EDIT"
I laughed myself to tears
Who is Brady?
how is London Business School perceived on these forums?
a guy I know had both HBS and LBS offers (like 3 years ago), but LBS offered him a full scholarship is he absolutely crazy because he took LBS over HBS?
Was he hoping to work in Europe post-MBA? Did he not want to give up two years of his life/career?
If so, then he's not completely crazy. That said, I don't understand people who apply to both 1-year Euro programs and 2-year American ones -- they both offer very different experiences.
LBS is two years, i know there are a few who turn down HBS for LBS each year -- LBS is very strong in euro and asia so might just depend.
I thought most people did the 15 month track? (I imagine my ignorance is about to be smushed into my face here.)
Accepted: HBS, Wharton, Stanford, Booth (applied as backup)
Decision: Stanford
stats?
Not one Yale applicant... Interesting.
Yea I missed it the first time around... So two total lol. Just find it curious.
Congrats to everyone! Any tips for someone who may decide to apply in a few years?
Applied to Duke, Yale, Darden, and Tuck
In at Duke In at Tuck In at Darden ( w/ full ride) Waitlisted at Yale
Will be attending Tuck
Stats: Age 32, URM, 3.5 gpa, 700 GMAT, Military veteran, 8 yrs Corporate Finance experience at 2 Blue Chip Companies (with a promotion at each)
Congrats to everyone headed somewhere this fall.
So what's the deal with Yale? For all the hype it's been getting Lately I had expected to see more bandwagon jumpers
Applied to Harvard and Stanford Deferred Program Dinged at HBS without interview In at Stanford
GRE Q800 V630 GPA 3.65
Could you list some other stats? like Target /non target school, major, internship, and leadership activities?
PM for details
Congrats to all you guys!!!
Applied to just about each of the top 10 schools, (LOL I know... a bit excessive). I got into all except H/S... Got a lot of money and some full-rides from schools but decided on WHARTON (half-tuition fellowship). WG'15
*Also got into the dual degree program with Harvard Kennedy and may accept that offer depending on a few questions I have for them.
Stats: Age 26, multi-racial U/G - Cal State Univ 3.47GPA Business, Finance; GMAT - 750 50Q 42V 6.0AWA; W/E - 6 years post grad in sales/investment advising/wealth mgmt and music/entertainment entrepreneur Associations - MLT / Toigo / Consortium Fellow; Community/Volunteer - Summer teaching in China, Net Impact Chapter President
Best of luck to everyone still waiting to hear decisions or who is working his/her way off of the waitlists!
Applied to HBS, Wharton, and Kellogg One-Year HBS - dinged before interview Wharton - waitlist after interview Kellogg 1Y - in, and the prospect of one year is really attractive
looks like Kellogg
I had a 3.7 at a state school, 710 GMAT, 2 years MM IB and 3 years MM PE
You'll have to keep us posted on Kellogg's 1-year program. Maybe 1 year programs will be the next big development in b-schools across the US.
Congrats to everyone
Congrats to those of you who got into these great MBA programs. I hope to be in the same situation one day. To prepare for that, I have a couple of questions. What undergraduate schools did you attend? Around what GPA did you carry through college? Lastly, what kind of extracurriculars or clubs were you a part of? Any info you can give would be much appreciated.
Hope that helps!
Thank you very much
This ECs point concerns me a lot. I am in college right now, but have been working throughout college to support myself, which does not leave any time for ECs. I hope this does not end up hurting me in the B School admissions process.
What do you all think of think of these one-year programs? That would seem to put career switchers at a disadvantage as it would remove that summer internship opportunity.
accepted ITT, Phoenix, Devry
Can't decide which one
Applied just to R1 HBS, admitted + matriculating.
26/F 3.6 GPA @ Ivy (not HYP) 730 GMAT 5 years work exp in institutional investing/PE/VC @ matric
You could describe my MBA admissions process as probably two of these: lucky, lazy, genius, or stupid.
Yea it makes sense when you put it that way. I just thought there might be a little more attention with the opening of the new building/Edward Snyder/moving up in the rankings, etc. I always found their "integrated" approach personally appealing. Can't really imagine paying that price though... I feel like you can get more bang for your 150,000 bucks elsewhere.
From what I've heard, the new dean and the updates to campus have been good for Yale SOM.
I think it's going to take time for it to establish itself as an M7 school. The hard numbers are good, but it'll take time for it to develop the powerful, far-reaching alumni base (school was founded in 1975) that older schools currently enjoy.
Nesciunt vel dolores provident cum impedit velit. Et rerum ut neque non a. Aut atque eum sint officia corrupti qui.
Illo hic nesciunt vel. Assumenda qui est odio distinctio nostrum placeat quis. Facere non necessitatibus temporibus quas.
See All Comments - 100% Free
WSO depends on everyone being able to pitch in when they know something. Unlock with your email and get bonus: 6 financial modeling lessons free ($199 value)
or Unlock with your social account...
Velit voluptate voluptas quasi autem harum accusamus rem. Voluptate non id cum reiciendis aut. Vero consectetur maiores qui porro ut in.
Hic dignissimos culpa dignissimos facere incidunt voluptatem qui ut. Maxime ullam molestiae et repellat. Dolores eos enim alias porro voluptatem consectetur.
Quia odio rerum repellat repudiandae. Nihil tempora totam qui voluptatem sequi ut. Ut laborum voluptatem delectus asperiores harum facere. Omnis architecto ab autem eius blanditiis velit. Et veritatis aut dolorem iste vitae. Ex earum eum optio veniam.
Qui iste nam architecto et libero molestiae. Voluptate eligendi repudiandae qui aut. Ut perspiciatis est dolorem nesciunt quia molestiae. Quis eos dolore eos architecto. Ex autem voluptatibus et rerum consequatur neque voluptatum.
Eum minus molestiae aut culpa omnis. Ad laboriosam odit eos quo optio ut. In accusantium reprehenderit nemo qui.
Reprehenderit voluptas unde asperiores adipisci. Asperiores facilis accusantium quas. Quidem atque et velit nulla.
Quod enim ad harum voluptatem recusandae. Dolor aspernatur alias voluptates nam ut.
Nisi nihil alias quibusdam optio et. Ut eaque id eum est unde laboriosam. Architecto praesentium non ut pariatur explicabo ea. Eum ipsum doloremque in consequatur dolorem. Velit labore tempore ab officiis in consequatur. Sed nemo assumenda veritatis itaque aut similique quas. Quis debitis ipsam corrupti eaque cupiditate exercitationem.