To Get More Work Experience Before B-School...

So, after 2 months of preparation and studying (a lot of credit due to Phantombanker's study guide) I got a 770 on the GMAT. So now I'm turning my focus to actually applying to schools. I'm wondering if I should get more work experience or have a reasonable shot at Harvard/Wharton/Booth level schools (and the Ross/Tuck level too).

My profile is pretty standard:
White
770 GMAT (51Q,44V)
3.9 GPA in Econ from UMich/UNC/Cal level school
2 Years as IB Analyst at GS/MS/JPM (in 1st year)
Assorted PWM and I-Banking Collegiate Internships
D1 - Lacrosse
Very Boring Life Story

So again to reiterate, do I have a shot at those top level schools we all love, H/S/W, and the rest of the top 10? Or should I honestly focus on getting more work experience to round out my application, as I'll be on the younger side (24) when applying.

Thanks

 
Best Response
westsider:

So, after 2 months of preparation and studying (a lot of credit due to Phantombanker's study guide) I got a 770 on the GMAT. So now I'm turning my focus to actually applying to schools. I'm wondering if I should get more work experience or have a reasonable shot at Harvard/Wharton/Booth level schools (and the Ross/Tuck level too).

My profile is pretty standard:
White
770 GMAT (51Q,44V)
3.9 GPA in Econ from UMich/UNC/Cal level school
2 Years as IB Analyst at GS/MS/JPM (in 1st year)
Assorted PWM and I-Banking Collegiate Internships
D1 - Lacrosse
Very Boring Life Story

So again to reiterate, do I have a shot at those top level schools we all love, H/S/W, and the rest of the top 10? Or should I honestly focus on getting more work experience to round out my application, as I'll be on the younger side (24) when applying.

Thanks

H/S in particular are a "one shot" deal, meaning that they're not particularly reapplicant friendly.

Here's what I recommend:

  1. If you apply this year: H/S/W only; if you get in, great. If you don't, then reapply next year to W, as well as 4-5 of the other top 8 schools (Sloan, Kellogg, Booth, Columbia, Tuck). And if you still don't get in, then consider not going to b-school at all, or getting an exec MBA way down the road.

  2. If you apply next year: H/S/W, and 3 of Sloan/Kellogg/Booth/Columbia/Tuck.

Alex Chu www.mbaapply.com
 

I'm honestly doing it for the network rather than the career advancement opportunities. In an ideal world, I'd love to shift over to a PM track at a top AM firm or jump ship to a L/S hedge fund. I decided PE/IB was not my boat, despite having a wide range of PE opportunities available to me.

Also, anybody else having any commentary on the "one shot" deal at H/S and my youngish age for applying? I really havent seen too many people in my shoes (23/24, very strong stats in terms of GPA/GMAT but limited WE) and am wondering what else there is to do really?

 

Do you mind sharing Phantombanker's GMAT guide?

People tend to think life is a race with other people. They don't realize that every moment they spend sprinting towards the finish line is a moment they lose permanently, and a moment closer to their death.
 

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