patents555 wrote:
Hi,
I have been practicing patent law for 6+ years and would like to enter business school in the fall of 2007. I will be 32 at that time. My undergrad degree was eletrical engineering (3.5 GPA), and my law degree was from a top-10 law school.
I would like to get into investment banking with an end-goal of eventually working at a private equity or venture capital firm where I can use my patent experience in evaluating companies. Alternatively, if it is possible, I would like to jump directly from business school to a private equity or venture capital firm.
Assuming I get around a 750 on my GMAT, what are my chances of getting into into a top-5 or 7 business school (including Kellogg, U of Chicago, Wharton, and Stanford)? I know that the admissions offices like to see a lot of leadership. I have had a lot of responsibility and interaction with clients during my practice. However, I'm not quite sure if this is the type of "leadership" for which the admissions offices are looking.
Thanks in advance.
patents555,
I think top schools will view your application favorably. You have a rock-solid reason for the MBA and a very logical and coherent goals statement. If you have a law degree from a top 10 law school you have some "pedigree" that the top B-schools will note and I'll assume that in your law career you've shown the same ability that got you into the top 10 law school (?). As for preferred types of leadership, they'll take whatever kind you can show, so long as it's real leadership (making things happen) and you connect the dots (challenge --> what you did --> tangible results). Hopefully, you will be able to show leadership outside of work too -- some passion that shows you are more than just work and that you have a "social vision" of some kind. Assuming you do, and you get a 750 you should be in good shape to get into some of the top schools.
Good luck,