Work experience - 2 years enough to get into a top b-school?

Is 2 years of work experience enough to get into a top b-school? By 2 years I mean applying after 1 year and then attending after 2 years. Also how much of a difference does it make if you apply in different rounds?

 

unless you did something ridiculously awesome that is helping save the world, you're gonna get dinged by most - if not all - top b-schools with only 1 year of experience (since that is all you have to show for when you apply).

experience is one of the most important components of your application. i suggest you get at least two years of work experience before applying. HBS has a tendency to accept younger people, but two years is still on the younger end of the bell curve. hope you're working in a top financial shop or internet start-up that's taken off tho...

Capitalist
 
Best Response
esbanker:
unless you did something ridiculously awesome that is helping save the world, you're gonna get dinged by most - if not all - top b-schools with only 1 year of experience (since that is all you have to show for when you apply).

experience is one of the most important components of your application. i suggest you get at least two years of work experience before applying. HBS has a tendency to accept younger people, but two years is still on the younger end of the bell curve. hope you're working in a top financial shop or internet start-up that's taken off tho...

Actually, HBS is not moving downward age-wise, at least over the last 3 years. You'll see quite a range here at this link on the Admissions Director's website

http://www.hbs.edu/mba/admissions/Pages/from-the-admissions-director.as…

Betsy Massar Come see me at my Q&A thread http://www.wallstreetoasis.com/forums/b-school-qa-w-betsy-massar-of-master-admissions Ask away!
 

2 years is very much on the low side. You won't be able to speak to any management or many leadership situations in a professional setting. I would say your chances are so low with that little experience it's not worth the $250 application fee. Give it a year or two and apply then.

 

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