Hello monkeys,
I've been on this forum for quite awhile now, looking through the MBA section specifically. I realized that a lot of you guys went to a prestigious undergrad program before landing a FT job -> M7/T15 MBA.
However, I went to a state school barely broke the 100's!
I've been promoted twice (4.5 years) and have decent leadership experience in college. Do I have a chance at any of the M7's? If so, do you have any school suggestions for me?
Thank you!
Don't know how much of a help this is for you, but I'm in a >150 ranked undergraduate school (SEC). I'm good friends with a person semi-similar to your situation that got in 2-3 of the M7's last year's cycle (round one iirc).
Thank you! Would love to hear more about your friend's experience. Care to share?
Can't go too much in detail, but helped a little with their application. Strong GPA, strong EC's, strong GMAT, no URM status. Got in Booth, CBS, Wharton.
Yes, a lot of people on this forum have great undergraduate pedigree, but that does not mean that everyone who gets into the M7 has this. There are many people every year who get into M7s and didn't go to the best undergraduate schools in the world. Remember that the undergrad school you go to is only one part of your application.
Maybe there're a lot of high achievers on this forum ;)
To OP - dont look down on your things that look not so great, great pedigree helps but there also tons of applicants from the "best schools" that didn't have an employer as high-fly as yours.
I lucked into my current job- definitely work with a lot of Ivy kids :)
I am going to an M7 this fall. While I must admit that most of the people in the admitted students facebook group are from fairly prestigious UG schools, I have also seen plenty of people from state schools and other lesser known/less prestigious schools. It all depends on the rest of your profile. Based on the info you gave, it sounds like you should be competitive at M7/T15 programs.
It's somewhat disheartening when I think about how others are going in with a certain level of "prestige"
Nobody cares about what kind of "prestige" you are coming in with. Once you are in, you are in. The playing field is (mostly) leveled.
Yes. You have a chance and perhaps a good one. The school you attended is not the only or necessarily a critical factor. What you did with he opportunities it provided you is far more important.
We had a client who thought she didn't have a chance in the top 10 because she went to a no-name undergrad. https://www.accepted.com/aboutus/nataliegrinblattepstein</a">Her consultant encouraged her to aim higher. She got into MIT and Wharton with scholarships.
Don't give up on the top 10 or M7.
What do you want to do post MBA?
Most likely going back to my current firm- alternatively, MBB consulting
Really any of the M7 would do, but don't apply only to those elite programs.. Consider MIT Sloan, Kellogg, Tuck, Wharton, Booth, Darden, Haas, and Ross, Yes I know they are not all M7, but they do support your goals and are excellent schools.
You might find valuable the recording of the webinar I recently presented called https://reports.accepted.com/mba-admissions-get-accepted</a">*7 Steps to MBA Acceptance in 2019. * .
Best, Linda
My UG was barely ranked (sub 400 in US News) and I got in to Booth. It's an app weakness, but one that can be offset. See my AMA if you want to see the details.
Edit: Sub 200. Memory slides when you're getting old.
Thank you PWM. Long time admirer of yours
Your work experience, especially at one of those companies, is great. Plus it'd be more worrisome if you had a low GPA from a school like that but you don't. You'll be fine. Good luck!
Hey MBAHopeful1 Thanks for posting. There's a lot to like in what you've listed here!!! Great GPA, strong GMAT, big tech company, female. You don't mention current community service or extracurriculars so make sure you have something there ("something" can have many interpretations). With strong recs and strong application execution, I think you have a decent chance at cracking the M7. HBS will be hard if you don't have a lot of leadership to show and GSB is hard for anyone (although your career might be compelling for them), but apply to four or five programs and see what happens. Happy to chat more if you'd like! Free consult link in my signature. Krista
I have some leadership. Company also supports community service so I'm involved as well. Would love to hear your advice on how to incorporate them in my application
Great -- these extras will certainly add dimension to your apps. As to the "how" on incorporating them, the answer is "It depends..." Each application is unique and will provide different opportunities to tell your story. Definitely make sure this is all clear on your resume though. Although we'd all like to think that the Admissions Committee spends hours reading each application, the math doesn't work out that way. Everything needs to be clear and obvious so they catch it on the first read so invest the time in making sure your resume really sparkles.
You could definitely get into an M7. I went to a state SEC school as well with a 3.5 GPA and will be attending an M7 next year. Particularly as a twice promoted woman from a tech background I think you could put together a great story that would get you into most of the M7's. Harvard and Stanford may be tough (which I guess is true for just about everyone) but I think you'd have a solid chance at any other school.
Thank you! SB to you. Good luck with your MBA. Would love to hear your experience if you want to share :)
Not to hijack, but why do business schools look down on applicants that attended lower ranked undergrads?
If I were comparing two applicants that had the same work experience, but one went to some random school and another went to Harvard, I would think more highly of the dude from the random school as they probably battled through more barriers to get the job and may have higher potential.
Hi Hockey, I didn't mean "business school looking down" on applicants, but more so "they prefer Ivy kids who got similar grades/GMAT as I did." I've heard stories from both sides.
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