Full time MBA at 40

Question

Hi Guys,
I am planning to do an MBA but need help in finding the schools that I can target.
My profile
Age - 40
Work Ex - 15 years
Working with - Largest IT company of India
Also, I would like to know what kind of GMAT score can land me to those schools.
Any kind of suggestion will be appreciated.

Nikhil · Answer

SumanS

Did you consider a part time or an executive MBA?

Posted from my mobile device

SumanS · Answer

I am considering a Full Time MBA...I am not fond of Part time/Executive MBA.

Admissionado · Answer

SumanS :

You may not be a fan of the part-time/executive MBA programs, but those are likely you best or only shot. Gaining admission to a full-time MBA program at age 40 is nearly unheard of. It isn't officially disqualifying, but I think you are going to have a very hard time convincing an MBA admissions committee to give you a shot.

The professional and personal experiences of someone who is 40 are almost surely very different from those of people who are in the early to mid 20s, and the schools recognize this dynamic.

Now, there might be some programs out there that would consider your candidacy but I would definitely encourage you reach out to the admissions committees directly to ask honestly if they recommend you apply for the full-time program.

SumanS · Answer

Thanks for the detailed response. I did discuss with some of the schools in Europe. A few said that they have students over the age of 40, so the age is not a problem, e.g. CASS, Warwick. Some said after completing the MBA, people get associate/sr associate kind of job, so this will not be ideal for you, e.g. Oxford, LBS. I have checked that the average age in the US schools is less than 30, so I am not considering that.

rajiga · Answer

chiefinance · Answer

What's the absolute cut-off mark for age you would put for a full-time MBA program?

PersonalMBACoach · Answer

Hello SumanS , Even if you are targeting European schools, 15 years of work experience is a lot for a full-time MBA program. Typically, your chances of admission start to decrease slightly each year after 6 years of work experience, so you have more than twice that. The longer you wait, the more likely it is that you will run out of time to give your dream program your best shot. However, Personal MBA Coach does work with many more experienced professionals who gain admission to top programs by crafting a story to explain their roles to date. As others have mentioned, you may be better suited for an EMBA. Executive MBA programs tend to cater to students with more and more varied years of experience compared to the traditional 3 to 7 years for most full-time MBA programs. Feel free to send a note to scott@personalmbacoach.com to further discuss your situation! Best, Personal MBA Coach

GeneralEducation · Answer

Is it advisable to do an MBA at the age of 40?

It sure is for the following reasons.

1. Most top MBA schools take students with experience. There are also a lot of Full-Time as well as Executive MBA courses available, but I would recommend you pursue a degree from an accredited top B-school and not a diploma.

2. The worth of an MBA is based on the experience you gather from real life. With your experience, you are better equipped to understand concepts and do case studies and thereby learn better.

3. At any age, you should be maximizing your career opportunity by seeking suitable knowledge. The right degree can position you to become
 a Country Head, a GM, or a Director.

The question you need to ask yourself is which MBA degree is suitable for you? There are many specializations available. Will you be able to complete the degree in 1 to 2 years? You need a suitable learning format for this. How can you make sure you gain the most from this degree you do in terms of return on investment?

Most B-schools can also offer a GMAT waiver. We have had many admits with similar profiles. You should have a discussion with Admissions Committee members and Admission Counsellors. We can help you out with a free profile evaluation.

You can now find all the free resources on  the Website  or try the free  Intelligent B-School Selector Tool  for a better evaluation.

ARINGO · Answer

It’s true that you are never too old for more education, but there are several things to consider when preparing an MBA application for senior candidates. While schools peruse thousands of individual applications, they also have their statistics to consider. Older applicants don’t always contribute to positive outcomes, which are based on factors such as job placement and salary increases. Review your profile to determine how YOU can help boost these statistics, and be sure to highlight these points.

If you feel that top-10 full-time MBA programs are not right for you at this point, there are several other options to consider. Part time and Full time EMBA programs and Global EMBA programs are more suitable for older and more experienced professionals. Programs like Stanford MSx, London Business School Sloan Masters in Leadership and Strategy and MIT Sloan Fellows are designed programs and good options for older and more senior candidates. European MBA programs, especially LBS and IMD, tend to be more tolerant towards older candidates.

For more info on Full-Time Senior EMBA Programs: https://www.aringo.com/full-time-senior-emba-programs/

manish41711 · Answer

Hi,
I am in the exact same boat as you. I would like to connect with you or ask you here if you were able to proceed with your full time MBA aspirations? Did you apply? Did you get any admits and then visa?

yashverman · Answer

I am also facing the simlar situation . I am wokring in a telecom company for last 16 years . I am looking for MBA program . But really dont know if its a good idea at this age . 
Please let me know you finding . did you find any collage ? 
Whats your conclusion . ?

ARINGO · Answer

Hi Yash (and any other MBA aspirant with more than 10 years of professional experience),

I hope this email finds you well! My name is Shimri Winters, a London Business School alumnus and the head of the senior team here at ARINGO.
I wanted to highlight several full-time, 1-year senior MBA programs that might align with your goals.

These programs typically require a minimum of 10 years of full-time work experience. Here are a few notable ones:
 
  London Business School’s Sloan Program  
  MIT Sloan Fellows  
  Stanford MSx  
  Foster GEMBA  
  USC Ibear   
The benefits of these schools include:
 
  Mid-Career Opportunities : They are excellent for mid-career professionals seeking a pause in their career or a way to transition towards another industry. 
  Prestigious Affiliation : All these programs are part of prestigious business schools, providing numerous post-MBA opportunities. 
  GMAT Waiver options : Four out of five offer GMAT waivers.  
Feel free to watch my video on this topic: Senior MBA Programs. https://youtu.be/DFVqE7WMinM?si=mUMNhjrhhDwORzwc

If you’d like to discuss this further, please share your CV, school wish list, and any other relevant info. I can always be reached at  shimriw@ARINGO.com

Best of luck on your MBA journey!
Shimri

ExpertsGlobal · Answer

Hello  yashverman ,

Hope this finds you well.

You have not shared details pertaining to your GMAT score; however, assuming you are targetting an above average score, your options will be the the 1-year programs in the US (some of these prefer students have prior management education; hence, you must be sure to check your eligibility with any school prior to applying).

Some of the UK programs such as Warwick and Cranfield are also open to senior candidates; hence, you should also consider looking at these schools, as well.

All in all, the exact list of schools you should apply to requires greater deliberation on the basis of your profile, achievements, career goals, and GMAT score. Therefore, should you wish to discuss your prospects in greater detail, please feel free to get in touch with us for a free profile evaluation session.

Hope this helps.

All the best!

MBADecoder · Answer

To all the older applicants who have posted here,
@yashverman, @SumanS, @manish41711

I am going to echo what my fellow consultants have said. At 40 years, joining a regular full time MBA will probably not work for you from the admissions perspective, but more important, it may not be the best format for your own interests. Here's why:
1. As an older applicant with substantially more experience than the the rest of the class, you would be at a different stage of your life. You probably have a family and different responsibilities. Living amongst a younger class with different priorities for 1-2 years may not suit your expectations too well. Whereas, going for an MBA program where you have people in your age group will take care of this element. I have discussed this with many of my older applicants who went to regular MBAs about how this often overlooked aspect has somewhat been a challenge.
2. Regular MBA programs (full time, two years) are mostly geared for recruitments activities for younger students (as you found out at Oxford). While you can still join these MBA programs if the b-school admits you, you will practically have to make your own efforts for a job hunt.
Just these two factors can be unnerving when you actually go through such situations. So while your desire for an MBA is perfectly legit, look for programs where you fit the class composition better - you will learn more from people at the similar age/ experience as you. In fact you will build a more relevant network in such a class.

Many consultants have given you good options above. I will add the ISB PGP Max program if any of your want to stay in India.

IMHO, the purpose here is not just to do the MBA, but find the right job opportunities thereafter, so that the MBA and its opportunity cost feel justified at the end of it. So, while a b-school may offer you admission, you should join only if you hear positive reviews about employment opportunities from current international students who have a similar profile as yours.

Hope that helps,

Namita Garg,
Founder, MBA Decoder
Email: contact@mbadecoder.com
Reach out to us for a Profile Evaluation
Helping applicants achieve their MBA dreams since 2011

AugustAcademy · Answer

Hi Suman,

Would definitely need a bit more information to advise you:

1. What kind of leadership experiences do you have? (Compared to your peers)
2. Why do you want an MBA now?
3. Do you have any differentiators in your background?
4. What is your level of seniority?

Based on taking the information you provide - if you have had a decent/above average career progression so far, then you may be a better candidate for an executive MBA - it really depends on the level of seniority you are in right now.

There are very few reasons for why you may fit into a regular MBA program, where the average age at entry is about 28.

Assuming you crack a 655 on the GMAT, you may be able to look at a top 40 program in the US - bt yo will have a lot of explaining to do about why you want an MBA at this stage of your career. (If you want a regular MBA).

Feel free to reach out at:  https://bit.ly/GM_AugAcd_Profile_Evaluation

Best
Karthik

cl.shailendra · Answer

Hi Guys,
I am planning to do an MBA & Got offer from Cranfield with 10000 GBP scholarship.
My profile
Age - 37
Work Ex - 14 years
Working with - Govt. Bank as Senior Manager, Current CTC- 25 LPA
Will Cranfield will be worth for me as I will have to invest almost 50 Lakh in study.

ExpertsGlobal · Answer

Hello  cl.shailendra ,

Thanks for writing in.

Considering your age and years of experience you will not have many options to choose from; yes, Cranfield may not have the repute of the top European schools; however, if you go out there and make the most of the opportunities that come your way, you will be do fine.

The answer to your question also depends on your GMAT score and the results you received if and when you had also applied to other schools. Do share the same with us.

All the best!

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 at 40

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