What are my chances - MBA Admissions

Hey everyone,

Graduating undergraduate senior here who would like to apply to top MBA programs in the near future and would like to get a sense of how competitive my profile would be for these top MBA programs and what I can potentially do to strengthen my application.

Profile:

- Country: U.S.

- Education: Lower-tier Ivy League University (Brown, Cornell, Dartmouth)

- Undergraduate GPA: ~3.6 in a niche business major

- GMAT: ~700 (haven't taken yet but have scored around 700 on practice tests).

- Work Experience:

  • First job out of college will be at a Bulge Bracket Bank within their Commercial Banking Division. Probably planning to stay there for 1-2 years before trying to pursue something else.

- Other Information:

  • ORM for MBA Admissions
  • Planning to apply for MBA after about 4 years of work experience (will probably be around the associate level in my job)
  • Post MBA goals: Investment Banking, Management Consulting, Big Tech Finance Leadership Programs

Target Schools:

  • Columbia Business School (want to apply for Early Decision here as this is my primary target school)
  • Harvard Business School
  • Wharton
  • UChicago Booth
  • Stanford GSB
  • NYU Stern

Would greatly appreciate hearing your guys' perspectives on my competitiveness/chances for these specific target schools (mainly for Columbia MBA).

Thanks so much in advance!

2 Comments
 
  1. Good for you for thinking about this early, but most people in these programs have 4-6 years work experience. I think GMAT scores are good for 5 years, so taking it now (assuming you get a good score) will be easier when you are in study mode and don't have to do your practice sets and exams after working for 10+ hours on a Tuesday.
  2. 700 would be low for most of these schools 720+ before you start to feel comfortable. Maybe need higher if you don't have diversity points. 
  3. Gotta have some community service/volunteer/mentorship involvement, and it has to be over a sustained period of time, not just the year you are applying. Ideally would show taking on a leadership role in whatever it is you are doing. 
 

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