I saw the other thread about age to apply, and was wondering if there's like a golden rule of the years of experience you must have before applying. Let me share my thoughts, I'm a banker/investment analyst and if I have to make a judgement call on which year to apply, I'd say the 3rd year would be most appropriate because we associates start to take some project managing responsibilities in year 2, and the 3rd year and 4th year would look like pretty much the same, so why not apply early. I'm curious about what you guys think on this subject?
The most appropriate amount of WE has two folds, it must make sense to yourself, and it must must sense (or at least looks reasonable in your essay) to admission committees. And of course, it might differ among industries. I guess banking and consulting applicants usually have fewer years of experience than others, things like that.
What do you guys think?
5 years
Well, most MBA programs have average working experience of 4 years.
Keep in mind that's at time of matriculation. So if you enroll with four years of work experience, you applied with 3.
Top 20 MBAs have an average of 5 years. That's 5 years at matriculation so I assume you should be okay applying with 4 years.
Looks like you haven't done it But you're not wrong at all Replace two fold's admission committee with employer for a bar and it's reality
Interesting suggestion. So how does admission committee's opinion fit into the decision process? Don't they have a baseline years of WE in their minds when reviewing applications?
They need to admit ppl who can get jobs
There's no right answer. If you want a general rule, than look at the average age/number of years of work experience on a school's published stats to get an idea.
However, there are always exceptions to the rule, so think about why an MBA makes sense at the point in your career that you plan on applying, and write your essays based on that thinking.
Putting aside the admissions considerations, potentially having an employer pay for it, and using the MBA as an opportunity to change career paths, I don't think the benefits of working for a few years then going back to school are worth it.
You come out of school, going from probably being broke to making respectable money. You spend 1-4 years in one job, maybe two. Then, as you hit your stride, you stop making money and go back to school. The downside of having to go from full-time paychecks to no income and forking over money for school doesn't make sense to me.
We don't tell law students go out and work for a few years before law school and we don't tell med students to go out and work a few years before med school. But we tell business schools to go out and work before business school.
Now, if it makes you a more attractive candidate, you use it to change career paths, or your employer will pay for it, I think it makes sense. I just think the, "go work so you'll have relevant experience" bit is very exaggeratted. Especially if you've been working/interning throughout school.
Excuse my tangent, OP. If there's a certain school you want, I'd take a look at admissions data if available. All else being equal, I think it's generally better to go sooner rather than later.
Hi LeChiffre, I can't agree with you more. IMO, business school trains your business analytical skills and the required mind set of making business decisions. That's not something needs several years of WE to get started to LEARN. Let's not kid ourselves, business schools ask for a minimum 3 years of WE to demonstrate leadership management potentials but most people out of business school won't start taking leadership roles until in another 4, 5 years maybe. My point is, what we gained from business school is the business analytical skills and industry resources, neither of which requires 5 years of WE to learn. I agree that in most cases going sooner is better.
I’ve always been curious about this question as well..... I went to a great SEC school for undergrad then went straight into my MBA program afterward at more prestigious school...it seems like that’s not the usual approach as I was a younger student in my business school classes
I generally thought 4 years was the sweet spot.
I personally know two Harvard MBAs: one is a friend I went to college with who's starting at age 24 with two years of work experience. The other is my former employer who graduated at age 37 after 13 years of work experience.
I really think it depends and there's no right answer. You just have to figure out when the best time is for you and why you want/need an MBA.
What's the "ideal" number of work experience years for a non-high finance person (non-IB/Consulting) for top MBA admissions? (Originally Posted: 03/16/2015)
Hey guys,
With all the business decision posts going around I was wondering for a non-high finance person like myself, what would be the "sweet spot" in terms of work experience be. I understand other factors are as or even more important (i.e: GMAT) but just examining the work experience portion of it, what would be a good number?
I'm currently at a Top 10 undergrad business school graduating in a few months and will be starting in Internal Audit at Bank of America Merrill Lynch through a associate rotational development program (Corporate Audit Analyst Program) after graduation, so apart of me says that (assuming I'd stay in the same job) that I would need 6-7 years of WE to have some sort of chance, but I am not sure if that's the case. If anyone can give any feedback, guidance, or suggestions on this matter it would be greatly appreciated!
3-6 years, depends on your goals and where you are. If your program is 3 years long, that would be enough if you have a good enough story.
Yeah I would say typically 4-5 years is a good sweet spot for a person
I'd aim for 3-6 years, with 4-5 being the sweet spots IMO.
For those that are recommended years, is that 4-5 years at the time you apply or when matriculating into a program?
The years we recommended are for matriculating. So you'll apply after 3-4 years of work experience roughly for any application round.
Majority of people at Kellogg this year graduated undergrad between 2008 and 2010. Old people more common than younger people( 2007 and 2006 graduates more common than 2011). .
6 years of work experience unideal? IBD --> HF --> MBA (Originally Posted: 05/27/2013)
Hey all,
I am currently interviewing at a HF with a 4 year commitment, so after doing 2 years of IBD I would have to spend 4 at this fund if I am given the opportunity to join. I was wondering what implications this may have on business school admissions and recruiting for HFs post-business school (ie: most funds recruiting post-MBA candidiates probably expect those with 4 years of exp rather than 6?).
Thanks!
I don't know much about HF recruiting but I know that for MBA admissions having 6 years of experience instead of 4 won't put you at a disadvantage. As long as there is career progression you're not going to be penalized. I also doubt any HF would refuse to hire you simply because of an extra two years of experience. The quality of your experience is way more important than the quantity.
Just dont do an MBA nobody cares on the HF side.
Haha is this true even for a concentrated, long-only, value type HF? I know you're more on the global macro side of things. I'm just interested in having the option of taking a two year break and getting to travel and meet people.
Thanks for the advice.
Just leave after 3 years if you want to.
How Much Econ Consulting Work Experience before top MBA (Originally Posted: 12/10/2012)
I am a senior and have accepted an offer at one of the large econ consulting firms. What's unique about my situation is that I am graduating in Fall 2012, and not summer 2013 and have the option of an early start date (maybe in Feb 2013/Mar 2013?)
I am wondering: If i start in Feb/Mar 2013, do you guys think that will make me a decent candidate for applying to top MBA programs for admittance in 2015? I know there's several other factors to consider besides duration of work experience, but I guess I'm wondering if I'd be put at a significant disadvantage?
From what I understand ppl in econ consulting typically apply to MBAs with about 3 years of experience (about 2-2.5 years at the time of application)
Appreciate your help!
Average age of an applicant to a top MBA program is 26. YMMV
edit: applicant that is accepted to the program
Thanks! I understand that's the average age. Just wondering if there's anyone in econ consulting specifically who might know how possible this is..
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