UG Schools ranked 50-75

If someone has a 3.5 GPA in Accounting/Finance/Economics from a UG school ranked by the USNews at 50-75 - what are their chances at a Top 10 B-School? Considering that they have solid, name-brand Fortune 500 work experience (albeit not MC/IB), a 700+ GMAT, good execution and writing skills, etc.

Examples of schools in this range:

George Washington University University of Miami University of Maryland University of Connecticut University of Iowa Miami University of Ohio Southern Methodist University

Examples of B-Schools this person would be looking to target:

HBS Wharton

Stanford

Kellogg Chicago MIT Sloan

Columbia

Tuck Haas

What are their chances at these 3 tiers specifically?

Looking at the H/W/S facebook groups, I seem to be hard pressed to find anyone from under a top 30 UG at Wharton who is not an underrepresented minority or a woman. H/S seem to admit a handful, but certainly not a lot.

4 Comments
 

the chances depend on gpa, gmat, exp, but also quite a bit on your individual leadership experience which i really sets you apart from a 3.5 gpa, 700+gmat guy next door. Something you have done over your life or work term that shows them that you have the extra initiative. Also, business schools like NYU Stern focus on community part and how you have experienced NYU community so far (thru friends, relatives, etc), so getting to know someone from your target school could help too.

 

Why are people always assuming 700+ GMATs? A 700 even puts you in the top 7%-8% of test takers. 700+ is hard to come by.

Undergraduate is important in that it gives you better career opportunities. B-Schools aren’t purely taking pedigree for pedigree’s sake – they’re taking pedigree UG people because those people tend to have greater post UG work experience.

Wharton may have a bunch of Ivy Leaguers, but that’s because they want resumes that say BB or major consulting. There aren’t that many non-big time UG people who go on to that type of thing.

So, the implication is that, even if you’re college was no big deal, you will have a shot if you have very impressive work experience.

 

I agree with joemontana. Experience is huge. I don't think where you went for UG is as important as how you preformed at your school, 3.6+, and the type of work experience you have had. One important point to not is that you're more likely to have had an amazing or at least prestigious work experience if you went to an Ivy or top 10 school. However, if you're willing to take some chances, accept some risk, you can find jobs and experiences that will set you apart.

 
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