Hi everybody!! Let me introduce my self. My name is Juan Luis, I'm from Spain and I'd like to do a MBA in USA. I'm starting the process, i.e. preparing the GMAT, looking for the appropriate program, etc. However, there is a big question in my mind (just one?? no! dozens of them, but this is the most important jejeje) What is the best age to start a MBA program? Nowadays, I'm 28 years old, and I think I'll be 29 when I start the program. That means that I'll finish it when I am 31 Is that too old?? Thanks a lot for your support.

I must admit a strong argument in my decision to go to Wharton next year (vs. ask for a deferral) is that I am 27. Great age to tap into ALL the dating pools. In fact, I met an undergrad at Wharton Welcome Weekend and we are now dating So, here my friend is my advice: 26-28 is the sweet spot, both in terms of ROI and impressing the undergrads without looking like a sleeze ball (if you tell them you are 30, you are Dead on arrival) I love GMATCLUB!h

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Best age to start a MBA

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gixxer1000

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22 Apr 2008, 10:03

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gmatclb

25-26.

Old enough to date the B School/Graduate Student females and also young enough to date the undergrads.

I don't think a 28 year old is going to complain about dating a 20 year old undergrad.

700willdo

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22 Apr 2008, 17:51

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gixxer1000

gmatclb

25-26.

Old enough to date the B School/Graduate Student females and also young enough to date the undergrads.

I don't think a 28 year old is going to complain about dating a 20 year old undergrad.

hell no, not at all :wink:

I know of someone who will and they are the wives and I guess most 28 year olds will have one

gmatclb

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22 Apr 2008, 21:38

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gixxer1000

gmatclb

25-26.

Old enough to date the B School/Graduate Student females and also young enough to date the undergrads.

I don't think a 28 year old is going to complain about dating a 20 year old undergrad.

Yeah.... a 58 year old won't complain about dating a 20 year old...

It's the other party I'm talking about in regards to dating. A 20 year old most likely won't balk at dating a 25 year old, but every year thereafter hurts.

nick_sun

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22 Apr 2008, 23:20

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gmatclb

gixxer1000

gmatclb

25-26.

Old enough to date the B School/Graduate Student females and also young enough to date the undergrads.

I don't think a 28 year old is going to complain about dating a 20 year old undergrad.

Well, that depends... on how much cash you might have. Many girls like substantially older men but with plenty of cash in the pockets :-D

kwam

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23 Apr 2008, 03:49

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bewakoof

and i am 24.. .. i think the best age is when you feel you are ready.

I'd just adjust to: when you slightly fell prepared go for it. The whole process, can take more than 12 months (especially for internationals).

I'd add, that if you want HBS or Stanford, try not to apply until you're 26-27, from the experiences I've seen here and other places, at these schools ones chances get harder when one gets older.

kryzak

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23 Apr 2008, 10:59

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kwam

I'd add, that if you want HBS or Stanford, try not to apply until you're 26-27, from the experiences I've seen here and other places, at these schools ones chances get harder when one gets older.

kwam, did you mean "try to apply before you turn 26-27"?

Irishfan

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23 Apr 2008, 11:32

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Ha, Kwam, way to derail the discussion!

:-D

Seriously though, I think the best age to go to school is the age you are when you get accepted.

Everyone's circumstances are different. If you get in and if the benefits outweight the costs, it's the right time for you.

kwam

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23 Apr 2008, 12:31

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Sorry it's been really crazy at work, and with EUR at 1,60 (well today it went back a little but the trend is still bad for the US$) it gets even harder.

What I really should have said is that if one's at banking, consulting, or any other kind of industry which heavy send people to MBAs, and you want to go to HS, he or she should apply as soon as he or she can. I talked to a classmate from my undergrad who graduated at Stanford in 2006 and he kind of confirmed that strategy to me. If I had applied 4 years ago my package would stink so much that I wouldn't have a shot anyways, so I guess it wasn't meant to be.

Having said that, I'm really satisfied with the outcome I got, and I REALLY fell that know I'm prepared and FOR ME now is the right time.

Sorry guys, I'll try to catch up with the forum early in may.

defenestrate

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24 Apr 2008, 06:14

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I like that this thread moved from "when is the right time to get an MBA" to "when is the right time to date a 20yr. old hottie undergrad."

I think the answer to both questions are the same: Do both whenever you feel you are ready for the experience, but realize that the older you get the more difficult it (might) become with the more selective entities that prefer those with great experience but see age after 26-27 as a little specious.

This thread seems a little sparse for advice for the MBA female applicant, but most of the men I know will be interested in all "competitive" applicants regardless of age. Perhaps B-school has the same attitude toward women. any ideas?

elhajoui

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24 Apr 2008, 06:50

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I must admit a strong argument in my decision to go to Wharton next year (vs. ask for a deferral) is that I am 27. Great age to tap into ALL the dating pools. In fact, I met an undergrad at Wharton Welcome Weekend and we are now dating :-D

So, here my friend is my advice: 26-28 is the sweet spot, both in terms of ROI and impressing the undergrads without looking like a sleeze ball (if you tell them you are 30, you are Dead on arrival)

I love GMATCLUB!h

gixxer1000

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24 Apr 2008, 07:23

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nick_sun

gmatclb

Well, that depends... on how much cash you might have. Many girls like substantially older men but with plenty of cash in the pockets :-D

Agreed.

I don't see many 20 to 22 year olds balking at a successful 28 or 29 year old. Especially when they're back in school in the same environment as them. Most (not all) guys mature later. I know if I was a 22 year old woman I would rather date me now at 28 instead of me earlier at 24. What a difference a few years make :wink:

gixxer1000

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24 Apr 2008, 07:40

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defenestrate

This thread seems a little sparse for advice for the MBA female applicant, but most of the men I know will be interested in all "competitive" applicants regardless of age. Perhaps B-school has the same attitude toward women. any ideas?

I'd have to say that while the discussion has veered toward 20 year old undergrads, I don't think bschool women are going to have any problem.

If you look at the other thread about women in bschool you see that they are a much smaller percentage of the class at about 30%. So most of the guys are going to have to look else where anyway.

I think the success notion very much works in reverse as well. Its going to be real hard to overlook the females in your class that are already "competitive" for the younger ones who only have potential. Especially for you IBankers. She won't complain that your at work all the time because she'll be at another bank doing the same thing. And you won't have to worry about spending your bonus to keep her happy :lol:

bewakoof

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24 Apr 2008, 08:14

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gixxer1000

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gmatclb

Well, that depends... on how much cash you might have. Many girls like substantially older men but with plenty of cash in the pockets :-D

hey hey.. hey..

bewakoof

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24 Apr 2008, 08:15

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elhajoui

i sometimes think that may be i should wait a year and apply next year to a higher ranked shcool.. aka.. HSW.. but with the economy and not gettnig assured that I will get into HSW, it sometimes feel not right..

datingwise.. i don't think thats a problem at any age..

aaudetat

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24 Apr 2008, 08:35

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You guys are nuts...why would you WANT to date undergrads?

I was at the late-night burrito joint recently and got approached by a little cutie who asked me "what year are you?" Hmmm....

I replied, "I'm a grad student. An old one. And while I appreciate your enthusiasm, as this stage in my life I'm more interested in expertise."

dabots

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24 Apr 2008, 08:45

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aaudetat

only a girl would ask this :roll:

kryzak

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24 Apr 2008, 10:25

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elhajoui

(if you tell them you are 30, you are Dead on arrival)

I love GMATCLUB!h

LOL!!!

So I'm DoA??? :shock:

then again, if you're hot, they'll date you at any age (ask any undergrad if they would date Brad Pitt or some other hot celeb over 30)

Aau, you're too funny! Any guy would have said, "let's go get a drink right now!" :lol:

bewakoof

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24 Apr 2008, 10:44

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aaudetat

as this stage in my life I'm more interested in expertise."

LOL - GOLD..

nick_sun

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24 Apr 2008, 11:07

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aaudetat

Well, young girls, although lacking enough expertise, are good for dating because, first of all, they are young and, secondly, as practice shows, they are quite teachable and have a great potential for improvisations.

kidderek

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24 Apr 2008, 11:58

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aaudetat

How can one single post begin so ignorantly (<-- I don't mean that in a bad way aaudetat) yet end so brilliantly? haha

kidding of course, I'd want to punch myself in the face before dating an undergrad.

I posted this a long time ago, marquis of stanford comments on mba's dating undergrads. I agree with him.

https://www.gmatclub.com/forum/108-p303382?t=43173#p303382