Hello,

I'd appreciate some advice/insight into my situation for applying to business school... I think it's a pretty unique and abnormal situation. I would be applying for a Fall 2014 start semester.

Here's my profile:

Age: 25 Asian male
Undergrad: Civil & Environmental Engineering with 3.1 GPA
Haven't taken GMAT yet
7+ years commitment to church leadership and outreach
Avid guitar player/musician, snowboarder, and basketball player

Work Experience: 2 and a half years, both with Fortune 500 companies. Worked in operations/supply chain management in a Global Leadership program, now doing Product Management at Fortune 100 company

After graduating, I was going for a master's in Operations Design and Management at my school, when my adviser recommended me to go for the MBA instead, as it was a more valuable degree with only a handful of additional classes. I was a full time MBA student (with 0 full-time work experience) for about a year and a half when I was hired into a global leadership development program. I've since then moved into my ideal position and industry with my current employer. I am about 75% done with my MBA which, relative to other programs, is lower cost because I took advantage of graduate tuition promotions.

I'm happy with my current role and the potential growth opportunities, but I feel that my growth could be capped based on the fact that I don't have a top tier MBA. I'd like to get into consulting or corporate strategy, which will likely require a higher ranked MBA.

I've accumulated about $150K in loans from undergrad and the current MBA program that I'm in. Thus, I am only looking into low-cost MBA program, such as:

Kelley at Indiana University, ranked #23. Has a great online/part-time program that costs only $50k total
Marriott school at BYU, ranked #32. Costs ~$20K total, but it is a full-time program
Tepper at Carnegie Mellon, ranked #19. They will be starting a new online/part-time program next year, I believe it will cost around $60k total

Is it worth abandoning my current MBA to pursue a higher ranked MBA given my situation (currently in MBA program @ 75% completion and high student debt)? With my current resume, would I be able to get in the above schools assuming I get a GMAT score around 670-700 or higher? Are there other low cost ranked schools you can recommend that I would be a good candidate for?

Thanks in advance for your advice!

Thanks for the prompt response!

I'm currently getting my MBA from WPI (Worcester Polytechnic Institute). They are not ranked, but are "#1 part time MBA in Northeast," and was #1 in the nation a few years ago (by businessweek). My fear is that as I'm applying to jobs a few years down the line, my resume will be ignored because I don't have a top tier MBA, specifically competing against other candidates in consulting and strategy. At the same time, there's also the fact that I am near completion to my current program.

How strong of a candidate do you think I would be to get into the programs I had mentioned above? I know I have a lower undergrad GPA, but there was a significant upward trend after my 2nd year. Would a GMAT score of 700 and strong references be enough to overcome that?

I'd certainly like to speak with you more. I'll set up an appointment through the link you sent me.

Thanks!

Steve

Hi,

I think with GMAT score of 700 and strong references, you should be competitive at the schools mentioned. But the bigger question is defining a clear vision for your career, and knowing why you want to do management consulting or corporate strategy, and that clarity would guide you to make decisions that move you closer to your vision.

Happy to discusss further.

Christine
If you like this post, please give it KUDOS!



_________________

Christine Lin | Marvel Admissions
http://marveladmissions.com/ | Marvel Admissions Blog