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Where Should I Apply and Future Plan

Which tier of schools do I have a realistic shot at?

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bb11
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Where Should I Apply and Future Plan [#permalink] New post   02 Sep 2013, 13:04
Profile:

GMAT: 730, 48 Quant (76th%) and 42 Verbal (96th%), 8 IR (93rd%), 6.0 Writing
3.51 GPA, B.A. in Psychology from a mid-tier UC (Davis/San Diego/Santa Barbara/Irvine group) .
White male. Strong extracurriculars but lacking in leadership roles.

One year working in entry-level sales at a Fortune 100 tech company in the Bay Area. Working hard to transition into a marketing role or get promoted. I'm guessing it's not realistic to apply this year but I'd like to apply by next year if possible, if not then hopefully the year after. Thoughts on the best year to apply?


I'd love to get an MBA from a top program, and I think this would help me solidify my career in a job that challenges me and I'd enjoy. I'd also like to move out of the Bay Area permanently. I'd like to be in a big city eventually but I'm open to LA/Chicago/Northeast. I think Uber-Elites are a stretch for my background, but I'm hoping to at least go to an Elite. Programs that seem like potential fits would be UCLA, Michigan, Cornell, Yale, and Duke with 1-2 of the very top programs thrown in as reaches. What do you think and which ultra-elite would be most likely to give me a shot?

Final question: Should I try taking the GMAT again? I scored a 740 and a 760 on my two practice tests. I'm thinking take another practice test. If I outscore a 730 again, cram for two weeks and take the GMAT one more time to hope for a 20-30 point improvement.
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asimov
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Re: Where Should I Apply and Future Plan [#permalink] New post   03 Sep 2013, 17:09
You do not need to retake your GMAT with a 730 score. In my opinion, at this point in your career, you will be hard pressed for a spot at an ultra-elite school. I always recommend people to do what they love, instead of going the things that will look good on a resume. If your goal is in marketing, you should pursue it, rather than a promotion in sales. I would recommend that you apply after you have successfully transitioned into marketing, and have a couple of years of work experience and career progression. This may push your MBA start date a few years down the line, but it will benefit you in the long term, in the form of stronger b-school candidacy and better post-MBA job prospects.

When you are ready to select schools, look first at the school curriculum and recruiting strength, and then at location. For example, the top 2 marketing schools are Northwestern and Duke (in that order). However, Duke is a bit stronger for post-MBA opportunities in the Southeast locations, such as Atlanta.
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bb11
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Re: Where Should I Apply and Future Plan [#permalink] New post   04 Sep 2013, 16:08
Thanks for the feedback.

I will definitely work as hard as I can on transitioning into marketing, it's just tough to do. I am meeting with lots of people to network and have a couple of side projects brewing though.

As for choosing between schools, it is really tough more me to discern the difference between most of the criteria. How much of the "Kellogg and Duke are better for marketing while Columbia and Stern are better for finance" talk is just stereotyping? How much of job placement statistics just comes from self-selection? Makes it hard for me to glean much.

Would love to hear some more feedback!!
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Re: Where Should I Apply and Future Plan [#permalink] New post   05 Sep 2013, 19:00
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bb11 wrote:
As for choosing between schools, it is really tough more me to discern the difference between most of the criteria. How much of the "Kellogg and Duke are better for marketing while Columbia and Stern are better for finance" talk is just stereotyping? How much of job placement statistics just comes from self-selection? Makes it hard for me to glean much.

Would love to hear some more feedback!!


Asimov gave you much to think about, so I'll just add on to your last comment. A lot of that is stereotyping, but there is some truth to it. For obvious reasons, finance recruiting at Columbia and Stern are going to be stronger than other schools, especially since a lot of applicants and students self-select into those schools based on having career goals in IBD/PE/VC in NYC. Do Columbia and Stern also have really strong marketing programs? Yes they do!

When it comes to the schools you are looking at, all of them will have great programs. Yes, marketing is super strong at Kellogg, but you can still go elsewhere and get a great marketing program with similar recruiting offerings at other places. What you have to consider is if all these schools are good fits for you -- do you want to be in the midwest vs New England vs the mid-Atlantic, do you want to work at the companies/roles that hire from these schools, do you like the curriculum at each (they ARE different), do you like the students? If you can, try to visit each and/or attend the admissions information sessions. They'll give you some more sense of the school as a whole versus what you read on the website.
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Re: Where Should I Apply and Future Plan [#permalink] New post   07 Sep 2013, 10:26
Your GMAT is fine, however I think it's very unwise to apply to business schools with little (and so-so) experience. Getting into top-tier schools with only three years of experience at matriculation is tough enough, let alone if you don't either have blue-chip experience. I'd advise you to change functions (to marketing, perhaps), and apply when you would have four years of work experience at matriculation.

P.S. I'm another white male from a mid-tier UC, so PM me if you want to talk further.
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Re: Where Should I Apply and Future Plan [#permalink] New post   08 Sep 2013, 19:47
You have a good GMAT score and an average GPA. You are from a less competitive background i.e psychology
Though there is no hard and fast criteria regarding number of years of experience, but mostly minimum 3 years of experience is preferred.

You have the potential to be in the top MBA programs. I think you should keep your targets high. If I were you I would wait at least two years, get an outstanding work experience and extracurricular experience. Remember good leadership experience is almost a necessity at top programs. Try to be in leadership roles at your Workplace and in your extracurricular activities. Gain accolades and awards for your work.

Good Luck!
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Re: Where Should I Apply and Future Plan [#permalink]
08 Sep 2013, 19:47
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