Which MBA programs am I competitive for?

Here are my stats:

-non-target accounting and finance double major, 3.75 GPA -two years MM IB (just a hair below the likes of Lazard and Evercore) -two years MM PE -720 GMAT

My ideal schools to apply to would be Wharton, Booth, and Columbia. Any advice would be appreciarws

26 Comments
 

You basically have all of the boxes checked so you'll be competitive for any school if you can write decent essays and interview well. Good luck.

Regards

"The trouble with our liberal friends is not that they're ignorant, it's just that they know so much that isn't so." - Ronald Reagan
 

Everything looks good, solid work exp, good gpa and majors, solid GMAT. Any volunteer work? Are you a urm? Also curious, a MM a hair below evercore and Lazard?

Always be improving
 

apply early-round at Columbia and sing praises for Columbia and how you've always wanted to go there. Just realize that if your admitted you'll have to plunk down some cash and "request" that you not be considerd for admittance at the other schools you applied to; admitance will occur before you hear back from the other schools. I know someone with similar stats - lower gpa, but higher GMAT, and lower-tier PE firm - that got in.

 
restructure-thisapply early-round at Columbia and sing praises for Columbia and how you've always wanted to go there. Just realize that if your admitted you'll have to plunk down some cash and "request" that you not be considerd for admittance at the other schools you applied to; admitance will occur before you hear back from the other schools. I know someone with similar stats - lower gpa, but higher GMAT, and lower-tier PE firm - that got in.

The OP is actually over-qualified for columbia ED. I know a lot of subpar people who got in because they knew they couldn't get in regular decision or the other M7 schools. IMO, the OP is competitive at wharton and booth and should not preclude his options by binding himself to columbia, unless of course he visits and absolutely falls in love with the school.

 
Best Response
Brady4MVP
restructure-thisapply early-round at Columbia and sing praises for Columbia and how you've always wanted to go there. Just realize that if your admitted you'll have to plunk down some cash and "request" that you not be considerd for admittance at the other schools you applied to; admitance will occur before you hear back from the other schools. I know someone with similar stats - lower gpa, but higher GMAT, and lower-tier PE firm - that got in.

The OP is actually over-qualified for columbia ED. I know a lot of subpar people who got in because they knew they couldn't get in regular decision or the other M7 schools. IMO, the OP is competitive at wharton and booth and should not preclude his options by binding himself to columbia, unless of course he visits and absolutely falls in love with the school.

Dude, the MBA landscape is changing. There is no such thing as a shoo-in at the top schools. My advice was for the OP to improve his chances to get into Columbia because there are no guarantees.

 

Based on the limited information provided, my estimates are below. I know people with very, very similar profiles that applied last cycle, including myself.

H/S - Long Shot Wharton - Reach Chicago + Sloan + Kellogg - 50/50, maybe 40/60 (not in your favor) Columbia - Competitive

CompBanker’s Career Guidance Services: https://www.rossettiadvisors.com/
 

Based on your stats and career history, you have a shot everywhere, and in short, it's the longest at Stanford and HBS, and yours to lose at Columbia (you have to screw up, which many do).

We're forgetting ECs/leadership/story, which HBS and Stanford obsess over, Wharton focuses on strongly, Booth has recently been obsessing over, and which Columbia doesn't consider much.

Pedigree is another story. They all like pedigree, but of these, Stanford is the one most likely to hold your UG against you. HBS is the most likely to hold your MM PE firm against you. Your IB should be fine (not harmful) at all of them.

You'll be fine as long as you don't screw up.

The truth is you're the weak. And I'm the tyranny of evil men. But I'm tryin', Ringo. I'm tryin' real hard to be the shepherd.
 

might want to reach out to a consultant who knows the trade and can guide you with essays

looking for that pick-me-up to power through an all-nighter?
 
LIBORmight want to reach out to a consultant who knows the trade and can guide you with essays

Who are the better consultants out there? I'm trying to get the lay of the land; is there a ranking, or a couple of generally accepted "top" mba admit consultants?

"There are three ways to make a living in this business: be first, be smarter, or cheat."
 
Sandhurst
LIBORmight want to reach out to a consultant who knows the trade and can guide you with essays

Who are the better consultants out there? I'm trying to get the lay of the land; is there a ranking, or a couple of generally accepted "top" mba admit consultants?

In my personal opinion, the only ones worth the money are sandy "HBSguru" Kreisberg and Alex Chu. The others are pretty awful. If you have clear career goals and have b-school friends who can help with essays, that's a better way to go.

 

Ccolumbia is hard to get into and he could definitely screw it up, but if he executes solidly and knows what they're looking for (which a lot of people don't), I'd be very surprised if he didn't get in.

The truth is you're the weak. And I'm the tyranny of evil men. But I'm tryin', Ringo. I'm tryin' real hard to be the shepherd.
 

When people mention EC's for bschool, do they mean from undergrad or things done during the first few years of work (or both)?

Impossible is nothing
 

Both.

The truth is you're the weak. And I'm the tyranny of evil men. But I'm tryin', Ringo. I'm tryin' real hard to be the shepherd.
 

Consequatur libero libero velit eos quaerat sequi debitis maiores. Sit voluptatem sit eos ea porro neque. Ut accusamus omnis consequatur eaque ea.

Veniam deleniti odit voluptas esse non eligendi. Quisquam inventore consequatur delectus voluptates. Odio doloribus porro occaecati cupiditate.

Iste eveniet molestiae laboriosam aut nihil et rem nisi. Ut veritatis qui omnis natus atque et.

Career Advancement Opportunities

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.8%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.2%
  • Guggenheim Partners 01 97.7%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.1%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.4%
  • Morgan Stanley 01 98.8%
  • Evercore 01 98.2%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.6%
  • Banco Santander 01 97.1%

Professional Growth Opportunities

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.4%
  • Evercore No 98.8%
  • Morgan Stanley 05 98.2%
  • JPMorgan No 97.7%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.1%

Total Avg Compensation

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (14) $434
  • Associates (43) $259
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (22) $179
  • Intern/Summer Associate (13) $156
  • 1st Year Analyst (75) $151
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (65) $101
notes
16 IB Interviews Notes

“... there’s no excuse to not take advantage of the resources out there available to you. Best value for your $ are the...”

Leaderboard

1
redever's picture
redever
99.2
2
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
3
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
4
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
5
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
6
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
7
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
8
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
9
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
10
Jamoldo's picture
Jamoldo
98.8
success
From 10 rejections to 1 dream investment banking internship

“... I believe it was the single biggest reason why I ended up with an offer...”