Full time MBA. Age related question.

Question

I am 31. How does it limit my chances to enter Harvard or Wharton?

nink · Answer

Too little info to tell you anything. For any bschool, age alone won't hinder your candidacy. One might argue that HBS or Wharton is trending younger but one might also argue that some older applicants with established resume has a great shot at those schools as well. After all, you will find few 30-35 yr old students at every top MBA programs.

vcom · Answer

I'm >40 and just interviewed at Wharton for the full time MBA. Happy to see that they can look past age and consider the whole package and what one brings to the school. I'll know more in about 4 weeks when admits come out!

bsyde · Answer

From everything I've heard, Wharton is more age friendly than Harvard (who tends to accept younger applicants). I'm 32 and applied to Wharton and got interviewed , but it at least means they're looking past the age thing as vcom said.

As an older applicant, you will have to have a stronger answer to the "Why MBA" and "Why Now" type questions.

xolod · Answer

How can one call a 30-something year old an "older applicant" :?:

I just don't get it. In my oppinion, there is absolutely no difference between a 27 yo and 35 yo applicant. What really matters are your accomplishments and motivation to pursue an MBA.

MBAUncle · Answer

I agree with you but statistics shows that the crude truth is that every year Harvard and Stanford admit an extremely low number of people over 30's. Even K/Chi/C/Mit, etc also have few spots. Wharton seems to be the most "old" people friendly school.

Obviously it is related to the profile of people that goes to the consulting and banking worlds: young with full of energy that will think that it is normal to work 80 hours per week.

bsyde · Answer

In talking to a few adcom people, since I am going into non-traditional field, they said my age mattered less. However, if I had been targeting consulting or banking, they said they would have taken note of the fact that I was above the average age. It has a lot to do with employability in those typical MBA industries as well as the ability of the individual to gel with his/her classmates who will on average be a lot younger.

When I attended admit weekends and recruiting events. There were only a small handful (2 that I remember) of people that were around my age. Most were around 5 years younger than I am.

All that being said. I got into and will be matriculating at one of my dream schools this Fall. So, though age may be a factor, it definitely isn't a showstopper. Apply and if your story makes sense to the adcom of why you need an MBA and where you'll be going afterwards, then you can definitely get in.

MBAUncle · Answer

bsyde , out of curiosity, could you please share your profile: WE/ post MBA objectives / etc. ? Thanks !

bsyde · Answer

32 / 3.9 (Ivy League School) / 760 / WE - 2 years consulting and 8 years entrepreneurship / goals - entrepreneurship/social entrepreneurship.

Weakest parts of my application were probably my age and the seemingly non-logical work history (at first glance, my resume can seem to be all over the place industry and function-wise).

hcb · Answer

Yeah, it's hard to tell based on just age alone.

Cielo · Answer

I have just been to the information session in Harvard, and I was told that the age does not matter. They are trying to go away from their "young" image.

MBAUncle · Answer

Well, not sure if HBS is being honest because the admission statistics from the lastest years clearly show that "older" candidates make up a very tiny group in HBS when compared to other Top 5.

Posted from my mobile device

xolod · Answer

What if they just apply less?

Cielo · Answer

They admitted that before they would recommend to apply earlier in your career, but this year it will be different and the years of work experience ( as they don't really talk about age) will not matter at all.

Posted from my mobile device

Posted from my mobile device

MBAbot · Answer

Hello from the GMAT Club MBAbot!

Thanks to another GMAT Club member, I have just discovered this valuable topic, yet it had no discussion for over a year. I am now bumping it up - doing my job. I think you may find it valuable (esp those replies with Kudos).

Want to see all other topics I dig out? Follow me (click follow button on profile). You will receive a summary of all topics I bump in your profile area as well as via email.

Full time MBA. Age related question.

Prep Toolkit

Top 5 GMAT Debrief Videos

615 to 715 in 15 Days (Ria's Strategies)

More than Quant/Verbal Abilities: Speed vs. Accuracy

745 with Only Self-Prep and GMAT Club

From 555 to 765: 210-point Improvement

Perfect 805 Score Debrief by Julia

My Rewards