Last visit was: 10 Jun 2026, 03:17 It is currently 10 Jun 2026, 03:17
Home
Messages
MBA Fair
Tests
Schools
Events
Close
GMAT Club Daily Prep
Thank you for using the timer - this advanced tool can estimate your performance and suggest more practice questions. We have subscribed you to Daily Prep Questions via email.

Customized
for You

we will pick new questions that match your level based on your Timer History

Track
Your Progress

every week, we’ll send you an estimated GMAT score based on your performance

Practice
Pays

we will pick new questions that match your level based on your Timer History
Not interested in getting valuable practice questions and articles delivered to your email? No problem, unsubscribe here.
Go to My Error Log Learn more
Close
Request Expert Reply
Confirm Cancel
avatar
pguard
avatar
Current Student
Joined: 09 Apr 2008
Last visit: 23 Mar 2022
Posts: 197
Own Kudos:
18
Given Kudos: 2
Concentration: Finance, Ibanking
Schools:Chicago Booth '11
Posts: 197
Kudos: 18
Forgone salary 22 Aug 2008, 22:15
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
I understand if this topic is too personal but I was wondering what salary most people are walking away from.

I’ll have 5 years experience in November and I’m walking from $128k/year in Arizona.
User avatar
riverripper
User avatar
Major Poster
Joined: 10 Apr 2007
Last visit: 20 Aug 2022
Posts: 4,306
Own Kudos:
806
Given Kudos: 5
Location: Back in Chicago, IL
Concentration: General/Operations Management
Schools:Kellogg Alum: Class of 2010
GMAT 1: 740 Q49 V42
Posts: 4,306
Kudos: 806
Forgone salary 22 Aug 2008, 22:29
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Averages at most top schools is around 70k...I believe thats only based on people working in the US. They dont factor internationals where people may make 25k or something far too low. Also I dont believe that includes bonuses so a banker could make that for a salary and then more than double it but it goes in as 70k not 160k or whatever.

There are definitely people way above that and people way below that.
avatar
dagrobo
avatar
Joined: 19 Jul 2008
Last visit: 23 May 2009
Posts: 34
Own Kudos:
1
Posts: 34
Kudos: 1
Forgone salary 24 Aug 2008, 14:24
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
How does the school use the salary information in their application? Is it just to compare pre and post MBA salaries or something else?

Do their 'Holistic Process' also takes into account if an applicant can survive the post MBA debt? :)
User avatar
jallenmorris
User avatar
Joined: 30 Apr 2008
Last visit: 09 Oct 2014
Posts: 1,226
Own Kudos:
967
Given Kudos: 32
Location: Oklahoma City
Concentration: Life
Schools:Hard Knocks
Posts: 1,226
Kudos: 967
Forgone salary 24 Aug 2008, 15:13
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
No school knows if an applicant can survive the post-MBA debt. That's like looking into a crystal ball and predicting who will get a high enough paying job and who will not. This data is purely for informational purposes. There might be some specific thing the school uses it for, but it's certainly not for admissions decisions. I think the school would like to know if it attracted people with very high salaries to their program. This would make me think great things about a school. Average salaries of $100k+ pre-MBA wanted to leave those jobs to attend Kellogg (just using a school's name, not specifically backed up) looks good because those people see value in Kellogg's education which wouldn't be attained in their current job, or they don't like their current industry.

dagrobo
How does the school use the salary information in their application? Is it just to compare pre and post MBA salaries or something else?

Do their 'Holistic Process' also takes into account if an applicant can survive the post MBA debt? :)
Show more
User avatar
rhyme
User avatar
Major Poster
Joined: 05 Apr 2006
Last visit: 02 Dec 2024
Posts: 5,906
Own Kudos:
3,198
Given Kudos: 7
Affiliations: HHonors Diamond, BGS Honor Society
Schools: Chicago (Booth) - Class of 2009
GMAT 1: 730 Q45 V45
WE:Business Development (Consumer Packaged Goods)
Schools: Chicago (Booth) - Class of 2009
GMAT 1: 730 Q45 V45
Posts: 5,906
Kudos: 3,198
Forgone salary 26 Aug 2008, 06:20
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
AZCFA
I understand if this topic is too personal but I was wondering what salary most people are walking away from.

I’ll have 5 years experience in November and I’m walking from $128k/year in Arizona.
Show more

Just to be sure... you do realize that post mba salaries are generally more like $100K?
avatar
pguard
avatar
Current Student
Joined: 09 Apr 2008
Last visit: 23 Mar 2022
Posts: 197
Own Kudos:
18
Given Kudos: 2
Concentration: Finance, Ibanking
Schools:Chicago Booth '11
Posts: 197
Kudos: 18
Forgone salary 26 Aug 2008, 07:34
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Generally, yes. I will most likely be taking a short term hit....not to mention the cost of living shift from AZ. I'm betting on the upside and the value of the MBA/CFA combo.
User avatar
agold
User avatar
Joined: 11 Mar 2008
Last visit: 01 Mar 2009
Posts: 1,577
Own Kudos:
303
Location: Southern California
Concentration: Investment Banking
Schools:Chicago (dinged), Tuck (November), Columbia (RD)
Posts: 1,577
Kudos: 303
Forgone salary 26 Aug 2008, 08:08
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
AZCFA
Generally, yes. I will most likely be taking a short term hit....not to mention the cost of living shift from AZ. I'm betting on the upside and the value of the MBA/CFA combo.
Show more

I can see where you're coming from. It's definitely a long-term investment rather than a short-term one. Additionally, if you went to a state school or other lower-ranked school for undergrad, it may add a lot to your profile immediately and open some doors which were closed previously if you attend an M7. Lastly, I think that average Finance salaries, especially investment management ones, tend to clear way over the $100k average mark.

I'm not sure what your plans are as far as applications, but if I was in your shoes, it would definitely be H/S/W/Col/Chi or bust. I wouldn't bother with any other schools - the opportunity cost is too high to justify attending a lower-ranked school.
avatar
pguard
avatar
Current Student
Joined: 09 Apr 2008
Last visit: 23 Mar 2022
Posts: 197
Own Kudos:
18
Given Kudos: 2
Concentration: Finance, Ibanking
Schools:Chicago Booth '11
Posts: 197
Kudos: 18
Forgone salary 26 Aug 2008, 08:57
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Agreed, Terp.

And, your assessment is spot on. I played bball at a community college my freshmen year and Pac10 after that...my sophmore grades couldn't withstand the pressures of D-1 bball -- it took everything I had to get my graduating gpa up to 3.45. My #1 is Chicago and my safety is Duke.

Frankly, I look at the average graduating salary and take it as a statistic. The average salary at my company is probably around $55k and the average salary of a CFA charterholder is $150k+....all just numbers.
User avatar
ryguy904
User avatar
Current Student
Joined: 27 Jul 2007
Last visit: 10 Sep 2013
Posts: 859
Own Kudos:
216
Given Kudos: 4
Location: Sunny So Cal
Concentration: Investment Management
Schools:CBS, Cornell, Duke, Ross, Darden
Posts: 859
Kudos: 216
Forgone salary 28 Aug 2008, 22:12
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
AZCFA
Generally, yes. I will most likely be taking a short term hit....I'm betting on the upside and the value of the MBA/CFA combo.
Show more
Ditto that!

terp06

I can see where you're coming from. It's definitely a long-term investment rather than a short-term one. Additionally, if you went to a state school or other lower-ranked school for undergrad, it may add a lot to your profile immediately and open some doors...
Show more
And check...check. Also incorporated in my decision to get an MBA.
User avatar
ryguy904
User avatar
Current Student
Joined: 27 Jul 2007
Last visit: 10 Sep 2013
Posts: 859
Own Kudos:
216
Given Kudos: 4
Location: Sunny So Cal
Concentration: Investment Management
Schools:CBS, Cornell, Duke, Ross, Darden
Posts: 859
Kudos: 216
Forgone salary 28 Aug 2008, 22:17
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
AZCFA
My #1 is Chicago and my safety is Duke.
Show more

AZ - Are you considering Columbia? No offense Rhyme and other GSB folk, but Columbia's IM program rocks Chicago's (which is still REALLY good) any day of the week. Placement in NYC is phenomenal as well.

Also, Darden and Texas (especially the latter if you want to stay in the southwest) are great "backups" for folks on the IM train.
avatar
pguard
avatar
Current Student
Joined: 09 Apr 2008
Last visit: 23 Mar 2022
Posts: 197
Own Kudos:
18
Given Kudos: 2
Concentration: Finance, Ibanking
Schools:Chicago Booth '11
Posts: 197
Kudos: 18
Forgone salary 02 Sep 2008, 13:43
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
ryguy904
AZCFA
My #1 is Chicago and my safety is Duke.

AZ - Are you considering Columbia? No offense Rhyme and other GSB folk, but Columbia's IM program rocks Chicago's (which is still REALLY good) any day of the week. Placement in NYC is phenomenal as well.

Also, Darden and Texas (especially the latter if you want to stay in the southwest) are great "backups" for folks on the IM train.
Show more


Yes, I'm considering Columbia. My direct supervisor is a CBS grad and he's pushing for it but my fiance isn't a fan of NYC so that's a big barrier.
User avatar
sng
User avatar
Joined: 28 May 2006
Last visit: 05 Jun 2009
Posts: 144
Own Kudos:
9
Location: New York, NY
Posts: 144
Kudos: 9
Forgone salary 02 Sep 2008, 14:59
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
terp06

I'm not sure what your plans are as far as applications, but if I was in your shoes, it would definitely be H/S/W/Col/Chi or bust. I wouldn't bother with any other schools - the opportunity cost is too high to justify attending a lower-ranked school.
Show more
I agree with your point. It leaves me with very few choices and chances. :|