Path to T15 MBA
Finishing up my undergrad this spring at t20 undergrad (think Vandy, ND, GTown) and will be starting as commercial credit analyst at a BB in the summer. I don't necessarily have a career path nailed down yet, but my inkling is that I'll need a highly ranked MBA once I fully figure it out. I'm going to end up with around a 3.1 GPA, and am fearful that this will cause me some trouble. I'm decent at standardized tests (34 ACT) and will try to kick ass when GMAT comes around. All this in mind, I'd love some recommendations on steps I could take to beef up my resume between now and 5 years out when applying to schools. Many thanks
kickass on the job, keep moving and dont insult your future MBA recommenders.
Chicago BullsnBears
A 3.1 undergrad can bite at top tier MBA programs. For advice on mitigating that stat, please see 5 A's for your Low GPA .
One thing you can do now is get great grades this semester. Ending with a 4.0 will help even though it won't make a large difference in your overall GPA. Schools like to see an upward trend, and if you are ultimately going to say that you didn't apply yourself due to immaturity or whatever, a 4.0 last semester (or close to it) will tell them you are capable and know how to apply yourself when motivated. And it's the one element of your transcript that you can still affect.
You are right to think of the MBA (or any graduate education) as something you should go for once you have a desired career path.
Finally, You might be interested in *Prep for B-School: A 4-Year Guide for College Students & Recent Grads. *.
if OP can get a 760+ that should mitigate the GPA
CFA will also do the trick with a decent GMAT.
I wouldn't worry too much about CFA unless you plan to use it for your future career.
I think getting a high GMAT is important, as is advancing in your job titles and having solid extracurriculars. You can take leadership positions in your undergrad's alumni chapter, volunteer on the board of a nonprofit, etc. It is also helpful to start thinking about what you want to do post-MBA, and then start progressing towards that as well. That will allow you to give strong, logical answers in your application essays and when they ask you "Why MBA?" during your interviews.
Get into Top10 MBA? (Originally Posted: 07/26/2013)
Hi, I am not quite familiar with MBA admissions. But I would really like to attend Chicago Booth, Wharton or Columbia.
Not sure my stats would be enough: B.S.E in Electrical and Computer Engineering UnderGrad GPA from top10 engineering school: ~3.45 Grad GPA from top5 engineering school: ~3.58 4+ years in one High Tech Company (such as Google, MS or Apple) GMAT: 730
Do you think if I have a shot assuming essays and recommendations are ok?
Thanks,
Sincerely
This will come down to your "story" because you've got the work experience from one of Ad Coms' favorite companies, a grad engineering degree from a top 5 program, and a GMAT over the avg. at each school (given a good quant/verbal breakdown, I hope?). Assuming your essays aren't a trainwreck, you should at least get interviews.
^^ agreed. I think as long as you come off as well-rounded in the personality/EC area you should have a good shot at your picks.
How's your GMAT breakdown? I'm assuming you killed it in the quant section, but from what I've heard from a few admissions consultants (read: take with grain/bucket of salt) Wharton likes a Q49+. However, if I had a 730, I would not retake.
Thanks. My Quantitative is fine I believe I did not get single wrong. But my Verbal did not go so well as Quantitative thou...hopefully it is ok?
Yes, those schools are in range.
And if you're a not of South Asian decent, you may even want to look at H/S as well (they like STEM folks and if you are white, black or Hispanic even better).
Thank all for your replies.
I do kinda worry if my undergrad gpa 3.45 would not be good enough for H/S or even Booth, Wharton, etc?
Any thought?
Thanks in advance,
I have a 3.05 GPA in engineering from a top engineering school and am going to be attending one of your target schools this fall. Don't worry about the GPA, your stats are fine and it will really come down to telling a good story in your essays.
Work experience for T15 MBA (Originally Posted: 04/08/2015)
I currently go to a non-target university (got a full ride) and so am not in a position to interview for BB or anything like that.
Should I pursue the Big 4 audit route and see if I can switch over to consulting or advisory there and apply for an MBA, or should I go for Financial Advisory - Valuation at Crowe Horwath (still one of the largest professional services companies in the world, just not big 4)? Which would potentially look better for a T15 MBA?
I'd probably try to ask people who are in the consulting/advisory practices at the Big 4 how often someone transfers from audit to their groups(from what I've heard it doesn't happen too often).
Transferring from audit is tough... internally. I know a few people who have done it, but it is often easier to go to a competitor's advisory practice.
What do you ultimately want to do? Don't tell me T15 MBA... and MBA is a means to an end, not a end unto itself. People sometimes lose sight of that.
Figure out what your end goal is, and work backwards. Once we know that, I am sure there is someone on here who can give you some advice
Leadership & perfect GPA enough to score a top MBA? (Originally Posted: 12/18/2017)
I am a double major (Information Systems & Accounting) student with a 4.0 GPA and a plethora of internship & leadership experience that will be joining Big 4 Accounting this fall in an advisory role. Since I am not from a target feeder school for top MBA - my question is: are my chances good right now, and assuming they aren't, what can I do to handicap my odds to really set apart from others? I was involved in student government during undergrad, broke recruitment records for my fraternity, set records for scholarships won, etc...I feel that I can differentiate.
I applied at MBB and have already been working hard to network with BA's and Associates at MBB - I really feel that I can hold my weight at these firms and with a top MBA...my ONLY issue is coming from a non-target.
Thoughts and suggestions?
joshgregory10, sorry there are no responses yet. Maybe one of these topics can point you in the right direction:
Maybe one of our professional members will share their wisdom: Ethan-Lim Yu Xian mitchr2 queenieyang
Hope that helps.
You don't need MBB to get into an MBA business schools">M7 MBA, and a 4.0 GPA means very little. GPA is a check the box, not a differentiator. Nor is it a big deal coming from a non-target.
It is way too soon to evaluate you for this. MBA admissions is largely resume driven. You're starting in a good place but your promotional record and relative performance over the next 3-4 years will be key. The GMAT is much more important than GPA. Start your road map now, but it's not worth overthinking target schools yet.
Best route for top20 MBA (Originally Posted: 11/21/2009)
Hi, i need to pick one of the job offers i got, i m currently doing IBD in boutique ib with little deal flow. So:, 1)I can choose to stay here.
2)Move back to the big4 corpfin group where i started who's doing well.(got a call a few days ago, I' m meeting next week with them)
3)Or join an Asset Management firm (insurrance and mutual funds) as an investment analyst. (The PM who invited me to work with him used to work at a BB and he told me that if i didn't like what i was doing there, he could refer me to one of his friends) or could move to trading.
$$ offer is: AM> 2xBig4 > Boutique+-e
I want to stay in ibd after i get my mba and i got 2 years left before applying.(not going to PE nor HFs). What's the best route to get into a good mba program?
and be happy
Thx piperchiangaccent, I 'm already a a very happy person so i'm not worried about that.
If you wanted to play college football would you quit your JV HS football team and join the soccer team?
This seems fairly obvious but if your post MBA goal is to go back into IB as an associate you should stay put at your current position to show Adcomms continuity and growth within your position. I would also recommend that you get involved in some ECs outside of work while deal flow is slow, even if that means once a week on weekends. You need to demonstrate that you are more than just an IB analyst and have goals and passions outside of work.
Honestly, I would recommend staying with the IB, and possibly looking to move to perhaps another IB. If your goal is to get back into IB, I would recommend that you either stay with IB, or pursue a non-profit opportunity - something that means a lot to you, as a means of making a difference in your community before pursuing your career from perhaps a different angle - say you want to move from your small shop, which is tech focused, to a BB in an M&A role. If you can't find another IB with more deal flow, and you don't have any non-profit interest, then I would say that you need to stay put.
When it comes time to begin your applications, you need to justify your moves, and thought process - going from big 4 to IB back to big 4 to IB sounds weird, and a bit disconnected. I think you need to stay put, look for another IB opp and until then, work towards getting as much experience as you can - as the market picks up there will be opportunity either within your firm or at a neighboring shop that you can jump to.
Additionally, I would recommend that you pick up some non-profit experience and other EC opps during your slow period - showing a connection with the community and an interest in giving back is something B schools definitely like to see. So while your job might be a bit slow right now, you have the opportunity to develop some strong non-profit experience, which is something many bankers won't bring to the table - whether they don't have time or are not that interested. Find out something that you really have an interest in, and pursue that - on a volunteer basis, I mean. For a bit more on B school, check out these articles:
http://www.bankonbanking.com/2009/11/12/applying-to-business-school-par…
http://www.bankonbanking.com/2009/07/11/applying-to-business-school-par…-–-top-mistakes/
Good luck.
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