How to get into decent MBA with no work experience
Hi,
So basically, I really don't want to be stuck in accounting (especially since it isn't Big 4, Grant Thornton, BDO, etc) and have to work there until I get work experience if at all possible, and I really want to get an MBA from a decent school ASAP. I was wondering if anyone knows any T15-T20 MBA programs that are somewhat forgiving towards having less W/E from undergrad or who take a good amount of UGs with 0 experience? I know you're going to say wait 5 years and then aim for the M7, but frankly, I doubt a non-target at a no-name PA firm is good enough experience for them even if I destroy the GMAT, which I why I'm looking to make a switch sooner.
Why not just do a masters program and save the MBA. You will get another shot at recruiting, you can add a better school name to your resume, relocate and not ruin your future shot at a top MBA.
MBA with no work experience is really a bad idea.
Lets assume you get into a T20 school. Upon graduation, why would they hire some kid from a non-target undergrad with no W/E . You would be applying for jobs which you would be grossly underqualified for.
Dont sell yourself short, with a decent UG GPA, strong GMAT, cogent essays, and a few years W/E (even at a small accounting firm) you could be compet. at various top 15 schools and make yourself exponentially more marketable than you are right now. Good luck.
What qualifies as a "decent UG GPA"? I have yet to take the GMAT (I'm aiming for 750+), but my GPA sucks (3.4), which is also why I couldn't get into Big 4/GT/BDO. I'm just worried that because I have literally nothing prestigious about me (not a brand name school and a shitty local accounting firm) that this alone will keep me out of a halfway decent MBA. Keep in mind I'm not even aiming for HSW, and I'm looking more at Duke, Cornell, UVA, UNC, Michigan, UCLA type of schools, but I'm just not sure what to do because of my GPA and lack of brand name in anything. Are Duke and the like a bit more forgiving about having prestigious work experience, and can you still get into a good consulting/banking firm from them?
thefugees,
Stop focusing so much on prestige, either you are listening too much to people on this website, or someone else is giving you poor advice.
A 3.4 is a fine GPA. The average GPA at Fuqua is only around 3.4, as well as several of the other schools you mentioned.
Second, I have friends who got into HBS by working in "non-prestigious" firms (like for example Amtrak) so stop worrying so much about this "prestige" card.
Lastly, focus on what you want to do in life. If it is really banking then by all means go for it, but if you are doing it for the money, or the prestige, don't do it. I have several of friends that are in banking and they are counting down the days until they leave for their MBA, or their PE position. Then I have friends who are in PE who are counting down the days until they can leave PE.
There are people who love these positions, but there are SO many different jobs out there, make sure you have thought through your decision.
Oh and about getting into an MBA without work experience, that will be VERY hard. Friend applied to Fuqua with 760, 3.5 (top 10 college hard science major), Div I athlete, with no full time work experience and was rejected.
I would've been in the same boat after undergrad, but worse stats (3.0GPA total no name school). I leveraged leadership activities, internships and an above-average gmat to get into a top accounting grad program. This put me in a much better position for recruiting. I had interviews with all of the Big 4, a few decent F500 companies and a boutique IB.
I took a Big 4 poition, ended up doing Corporate Finance somewhere for a while, boutique IB until it all went to hell and am now doing ok at a F500. I have no doubt that with some good luck and harder work I could be at an IB.
Point is, I was probably in worse shape than you and things have worked out well for me using a MAcc program and I am by no means a success story. Honestly, I've probably slightly underachieved where I should be (partially due to lifestyle choices I made).
If you don't like your current trajectory do something to change it, but a top MBA probably isn't in your immediate future.
Don't worry, I'm definitely not doing IB/consulting for the "prestige" of it. I just want to do it because it offers good experience for going into a F500 role and is great for networking with other hardworking individuals and since the work (the big picture of it at least) is much more interesting than counting other peoples' money or filing tax reports all day. I'm just worried, since prestige/branding is so important, that my lack of brand name is going to hurt. Now, not getting into the Big 4 feels like another ding, so that's why I'm inquiring about this. My last shot is to get into a top 10 MBA program, so I want to really make sure I don't screw it up this time.
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