Hi,
I am an engineer with more than 12 years of experience in the area of Integrated Circuit design (mostly in networking/computer area). I'm an Indian national, with an bachelor degree in engineering, and currently employed with a good fabless semiconductor company, and placed in Asia. I'm 34, and very much interested to do a full time MBA from a top B school in USA. After going through a number of discussions in various forums, I'm feeling that my age might not work in my favor. However I am posting this message with the hope of getting some candid and conclusive answers specific to my situation.

My intention to do MBA is mostly to do with my ambition to pursue a career in business management, and it would certainly mean a switch of career (from the very technology specific job that I have been doing). I came across the suggestions in a few forums that an executive MBA is best suited for a candidate of my age, however in my case it might not be so. In the technology companies, MBAs are not sought after (a Phd is more respected) to move in the technology ladder. I don't have any prior management experience. My extra-curricular list is not impressive either.

I come from a strong mathematical/statistical and analytical background. I'm not married, I shall be able to finance my MBA. A technology job in California at my current level pays around the same as the median salary for fresh grads from the top B schools.

Do you think it will be difficult for me to get into a good B school, and then chose a different career (in technology management, strategy, business consulting) at this age, and will most likely be sidelined by companies when it comes to recruitment? My current experience is probably not going to align with any of the specializations or even general management. So in literal sense, I don't have much to offer, except for a strong desire to overcome my current situation, and do something that I always wanted to.

I'm very keen to give a fresh breath of life to my career in the management direction, and I can't think of a better alternative than MBA.

Please advise, and suggest from your experience. Appreciate a very pragmatic (even if it's discouraging) response.

Thanks a ton,
Tech Guy

You may want to look towards Europe. I have met a 36-year old chump who was going to the Manchester Business School (he was still a party animal, however, and young at heart).
However, European schools seem to be much more accepting of the older candidates.

You also may want to inquire with the admissions consultants here: admission-consultants-124/
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That's one heck of a story. A 55 years old lady attending medical school. Truly inspirational.