Dilemma: Cost of Waiting

Question

I have average to slightly above-average stats for an elite school. Worked for 4 years, but don’t have a solid career trajectory due to job switching. I have been admitted into a top 10-14 school. I am unsure about my post-MBA goal. But if I stick with my job for 2 more years, I am very likely to be promoted. I’m wondering whether or not to wait a year or two to reapply for a chance at Stanford or HBS.

Ignoring my chances of getting into S/H after 2 years. Is 2 years of post-MBA career head start from an elite b-school worth the potentially better career exit and network at S/H?

Ignoring my chances of getting into S/H after 2 years. Is 2 years of post-MBA career head start from an elite b-school worth the potentially better career exit and network at S/H?

Gokhra · Answer

I don't think anything can beat the HBS network and brand prestige. But I think you have to ask yourself if its worth giving up admission at an elite school for a  chance  at H/S?

afyl128 · Answer

Not a whole lot of information here other than slightly above average stats.

But i'm not understanding how a promotion 2 years down the track will make you H/S material. 
Im feeling fundamentally you will be a very similar candidate then.

If you are sure you can get into H/W in a year or two it may be worth it. But not many people can be sure.

Lets say you can move up a tier to say a M7 school not H/S/W i would say its not worth it, but there are many other factors to consider. Like why you want to goto bschool and what you want to achieve etc. Lets say for example you want into P/E, then the two years and getting into H/S would be worth it.

finmaster · Answer

May I ask which school have you been admitted to? You should keep in mind that once you rescind the admission offer of the school you've been admitted to, you won't be able to apply to the same school ever again with a straight face.

You can also ask them whether there is any possibility of deferring the admission offer citing some personal exigency.

You can also ask them whether there is any possibility of deferring the admission offer citing some personal exigency.

kingfalcon · Answer

One thing to remember is this: you already have four years of experience, which is the sweet spot for H/S. If you didn't get in this cycle, I don't see how two years and one promotion will meaningfully change your chances. Keep in mind, though, that this is just a gut reaction to the minimal information with which you have provided us.

method · Answer

Agree with the above posters. Being a 10-14 admit myself at Ross, I would absolutely give up 2 years to attend Harvard or Stanford. But I also know that 2 years wouldn't dramatically alter my chances. P&Q already dug up the dirt on Stanford's incoming class, and it's not all hippy dippy save the world as they would want you to believe. It's a metric ton of Bain & GS types. So if you are currently working at a firm of that stature, then maybe your chances are decent, if not.... good luck lol.

I would not give up 2 years for non-HS M7. The 10-14 schools are all super solid and will provide tons of opportunities across the board.

I would not give up 2 years for non-HS M7. The 10-14 schools are all super solid and will provide tons of opportunities across the board.

scorpionz · Answer

I agree with the poster who said above that fundamentally you would remain the same/similar candidate. Wouldn't a promotion in the next 2 years be considered as expected if you continue in the same job trajectory? Further you are looking at it as 2 years until matriculation. Really speaking, you only have a year until the app season for 2014 begins...

If you think there were other factors including your job profile that contributed to you not getting into H/S, simply holding out for two years for a promotion won't help.. Even if you think that your job profile/growth was the ONLY factor which did not help you get into H/S, it still doesn't help..because 1 year of rockstar work will not override 4 years of middling performance..

Take the admit and go with an open mind to your school. You will find that many of the opportunities that could've been available to you at H/S would still be available to you, albeit in lower numbers..

rduitch · Answer

Thanks for you feedbacks.  Ignoring  my odds of getting in H/S. I want to get your feel on what the pros and cons of getting a head start on one's post-MBA career versus the benefits of attending H/S.

method · Answer

Everywhere I went I heard, "You know when we go into a job interview, we're sitting next to applicants from HBS, Wharton, Kellogg, and at that point the school has done its job and it's up to you."

A lot of the core b-school jobs are feeding from all of the top schools. Waiting 2 years might just put you 2 years behind where you were already going to end up. Which is why, to me, most of the M7 is not worth the wait. HBS and Stanford supposedly hold the keys to some ultra elite jobs, and hold that extra special prestige to grease your first job and boost future promotions, but probably most other schools are in roughly the same boat.

kingfalcon · Answer

I think one case where it may make sense is if your desired career is in an ultra-competitive field where networking is at an even higher premium, like private equity, venture capital, or hedge fund management.

Dilemma: Cost of Waiting

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