MBB-->PE-->MBA?
There have been a number of threads recently comparing MBA placement from different arenas (Consulting vs PE vs IB). It seems of the three, MBA programs seem to, at least generally speaking, look most highly on MBB applicants. If someone hopped from MBB to PE and then applied to business school, would this hurt their chances of getting into a top program as opposed to going straight from MBB?
no.
Why would more experience hurt considerig you'd have MBB and PE under your belt? I think you'd have a stronger case.
That was my logic as well, but would you then get put under the bucket of those from PE/IB or those from MBB? To me it seems like it shouldn't matter since you have a both experiences, but as run4run said some of the forums have been talking about the negative stereotypes at H/S of those coming from PE
according to the guru on BW forums, PE guys aren't doing so well at H/S so maybe...
Yes, it hurts your chances, because you're bucketed as a PE candidate.
Think about it this way - how many HBS alums do McKinsey, BCG, and Bain hire? That gives those firms leverage when they're submitting their candidates for admission, but that's only relevant if you're applying from say BCG, as opposed to job x after BCG - because once you leave, you don't get that level of support from the firm.
Now, how many does KKR hire? Well, a couple, but there's nowhere near the numbers that BCG has.
That's point 1; point 2, which as always you can believe or disbelieve as you will, is that anecdotally PE got slaughtered applying to business school this year, to the point that next year's applying class is panicky as hell. From both sides of the coin - adcom connections at H/W/S and friends in PE - i've heard that PE is just not where bschools want to be pulling candidates from right now; too narrow a skillset and not a lot of post-MBA diversity.
MBB -> PE is one of the top combinations you could have applying to MBA. It'll also be easy to get a job afterwords.
.
Bump. Interested to hear any new thoughts. I agree that it might decrease your odds if you're not at a top PE shop (e.g. going from McKinsey to something more MM) relative to applying form a top consulting shop.
Although if your reasons for going to PE are compelling enough (e.g. acute interest in industry X, and that's what you specialize in forevermore) or if you're some URM it's probably fine.
Anecdotally, seeing many of my old colleagues go to PE and then jump to B-school versus staying at my MBB and going to B-school, you do take a hit on b-school chances because of the jump.
However, this isn't just the result of a more/less competitive applicant pool. Other reasons are 1) the support MBBs give you when applying to grad school and 2) the ability to craft your story in whatever way, since generally your options are still more open to you applying from MBB vs PE.
Consulting - Lower MM PE - MBA (Originally Posted: 10/21/2014)
Hi monkeys,
Just now got this lower MM PE (~200M AUM) offer with a decent package (roughly double my current number). So come here to ask you guys for advices.
Background: Top Econ undergrad, 1.5 years at Tier 2 consulting firm (LEK, Parthenon, Booz)
Goal: Planning to apply for MBA next year and break into a upper MM PE (500M-2B AUM) after that. I realize that a pure 3-year consulting pre-MBA background barely makes it possible, so maybe a mix background (1.5 years consulting + 1.5 years lower MM PE) could increase the odds.
Question: 1. In terms of MBA application, is it a right move? My targets are basically lower MBA business schools">M7 (CBS/Kellogg/Booth/Sloan) and upper S16 (Yale/Stern/Tuck). Do I have a shot at these? And how does this move change my odds?
Any thoughts would be exceedingly helpful.
If your GPA is good and your gmat score is above 700, I think you stand a very strong shot at admission for the lower MBA business schools">M7. I wouldn't sell yourself short - consulting + PE with a top undergrad is a very strong MBA profile, particularly for CBS / Kellog / Booth / Sloan.
Thanks hawainpalmtree. Actually I'm just curious that is a 1.5 years consulting+1.5 years PE more advantageous than a pure 3 years consulting background in terms of applying for MBA. I mean, my current consulting firm is pretty pretigious (even it's not MBB). But the PE firm is a middle market firm with AUM of 200M, basically nobody in business school admission office know it.
Thanks Personal MBA Coach. I've got an average Undergrad GPA and a 750 GMAT. As to Extracurriculars and leadership, I was president at some association and sport club during my college time. I know this is not going to make me a stellar, but you know, not going to be my shortboard. So basically that is my background. So how do you think my chance in business schools? Let's say five types of schools: Type A: Stanford, HBS Type B: Wharton Type C: Sloan, CBS, Kellogg, Booth Type D: Tuck, Yale, Haas, Stern Type E: Ross, Fuqua, Darden
Thanks
I'd be curious to know how relatively unknown PE firms place in B-school. Is there anyone at your firm that came from these schools? That might help.
its very tough to break into H/S from small MM PE firms. lower MBA business schools">m7 is very doable assuming gpa/GMAT are strong
Consulting-->Lower MM PE-->What tier MBA? (Originally Posted: 02/16/2015)
Hey,
I'm applying this year and get a little confused now. I've done searching for a while but didn't see similar post. So here I am.
My background: - Top public undergrad (UMich, UCLA, Berkeley) - 1 year in a decent non-MBB consulting firm (L.E.K., Oliver Wyman, Parthenon) - 2 years in a lower middle market PE firm (~200M AUM) - 3.3 undergrad GPA - Average extracurricular and volunteer experience, not prominent but enough to write my essay and deal with interview - GMAT 730
So basically that's about my background. What kind of MBA schools do you guys think that I have a decent shot at? Let's say five types of schools: Type A: Stanford, HBS Type B: Wharton Type C: Sloan, CBS, Kellogg, Booth Type D: Tuck, Yale, Haas, Stern Type E: Ross, Fuqua, Darden
Thanks
I'll give you my layperson's analysis. We'll go from E->A.
E: Looks very strong here. Everything in your profile is above average to well above average for this range excepting for your GPA, which presumably will not have a material impact on your admissions odds at these schools. Have some extracurricular involvement is also a +, as there are going to be a lot of PE guys who don't. C/D: Reach-competitive for C and competitive for D. GMAT is probably slightly below average for non-URM/finance and GPA may hurt you a bit. Work exp is probably still a bit above average in C and above average in D, which helps to offset the stats. Still are likely to get admits from this range. B: Work experience is average here and stats are below avg for non-URM/finance. I'd call this a reach but still have a shot. This is the range where you may be out-muscled by other PE folks who have stronger stats and work for a larger PE firm. Execution will be extremely important, as you need to convince Wharton as to why it should select you over the profusion of similar applicants. What about you makes you different and, thus, impossible to objectively compare to similar applicants? Think about this and make it stand out in your essays. A: Don't let an anonymous poster in a forum dictate how your applications go, as I am no expert, but from what I have read, this could be a difficult tier for you. Sandy Kreisberg has written about how admits to H/S can be very tough to get for MM PE applicants who are not applying from "favored", i.e., prestigious, firms. This is in part a name game and in part a stats game. If you have enough magic, you may still be able to turn this into an admit. This is all about differentiating yourself so that they don't take the 3.8/760 guy from KKR ahead of you.
Just my 2 cents. Hope it helps!
Based on the people I've met over my recent application cycle, I'd think you could end up in C/D with good execution. I doubt you'd get into all of them, but if you applied to all the schools in C/D, I'd guess at least a couple would take you. Your profile doesn't sound that different than people I talked to at the PE clubs at the C/D schools.
Just for context, I had 3 years of MBB and a fund with a couple $B AUM on my resume, a GPA well north of yours from a similarly competitive school, and a slightly higher GMAT, and still only went 1 admit, 1 WL, and 1 reject at your A/B schools, but 2/2 at the C/D schools.
People are being too hard on you here. You should definitely get into a C with proper execution.
I highly encourage you to talk to a qualified admissions consultant rather than listening to posters here on WSO. When I was thinking about applying to bschool, I posted my profile on here and was given negative feedback. However, I ended up getting into multiple MBA business schools">M7 schools including a H/S/W with a somewhat similar profile to you.
I see plenty of people with your profile at D&E. Some at C as well. Almost none in A who aren't URM or women., and a handful at B. Go ahead and roll the dice anyway. If you play your cards right you needn't be disappointed.
PE before MBA for Consultant (Originally Posted: 02/16/2015)
Hey all, new here and thanks in advance for any advice
Spent the last 2.5 years out of undergrad in MBB. Considering making the switch to PE for 2 years before b-school (or skipping all together. Any tips anyone can offer who was either a) in similar situation or b) has perspective on the benefits of PE after MBB would be great.
bump
bump
Hi there,
Know this is an old thread but have a question. I'm an MBB consultant, 2 years in, considering a switch to finance (most likely PE), want to get another experience under my belt rather than go straight back to school. And already know I dont want to be a career consultant.
Based on this post, are my chances of getting into a top school diminished if i DON'T go straight from BCG, meaning would they be diminished if i end up applying from MM PE firm but with BCG already under my resume? At first, I would never have thought that it could potetially diminish my candidacy (only strengthen it, since i have another experience), but one of the answers on here seemed to imply it's better if i apply directly from BCG....
thank you
Stronger than just MBB all else equal
/thread
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