GMAT 700+, Age 30/31 Female, 2.8 GPA - too old for FT?

Question

GMAT score of 700+, an undergrad GPA of 2.8 (downward trend) from a top 10 engineering school, Gender - female from India. I will be 31 soon. Am I considered too old?
I have steady promotions in the same line of work. I work as an engineer in California.

I graduated at 21 and I am 30 today. I have a total of 9 years of experience. Considering I have several years of work experience, am I at a disadvantage for a full-time MBA?

Post-MBA, I want to stay in tech. I want to do Business Development or Strategy in tech companies such as Google, Apple etc.

Target schools - Duke, Ross, INSEAD, LSB, UCLA, Tuck

PaulBodine · Answer

Monikajudd,
31 is certainly not too old for F-T MBA programs, though your age combined with your GPA may make programs like Tuck, LBS, and INSEAD less achievable. It really depends on other factors like the depth of your leadership, the strength of personal and extracurricular stories, etc. If you send me your resume/CV I could give you more precise feedback: [email protected].

--Paul Bodine, Great Applications for Business School, https://www.paulsbodine.com/testimonials

ManhattanReview · Answer

i would consider you at the cusp of being too old for a F/T program -- so if you are going to apply you should do so in the next year. Even at this age, you might see some age discrimination -- as some of the programs on your list might push you towards their EMBA program. The one good thing that you have going is that you want to stay in tech -- just re-focus your career. If you wanted to get into strategy consulting or investment banking, you would be considered too old - but not for tech (especially given your background). So apply and my guess is that you will be pleased with your options.

Good luck.

Kimberly Plaga
Senior Admissions Consultant
Manhattan Review

Call for a free candidacy assessment.

Good luck.

Kimberly Plaga
Senior Admissions Consultant
Manhattan Review

Call for a free candidacy assessment.

Admissionado · Answer

Monika,
31 isn't too old, even if it is a bit on the older side. When you do apply, just keep in mind that you are older, and that if you can explain this (in the Why now section) in a clear logical way, then you will erase any doubts the adcom might have about you.

GeneralEducation · Answer

Hi Monika,

You have a decent GMAT score and an avg. GPA. You can write lot about achievements at work place in application essays and demonstrate leadership traits, maturity, professionalism and other aptitudes during final interviews. You can try your chances in b-school by clicking  https://goo.gl/em5DX

Regarding your eligibility, the best point of contact would be MBA admission office. You must write to them and ask your specific concerns regarding eligibility criteria. You can target schools like: INSEAD, IMD, IE-Spain, St. Gallen-HSG, etc.

If you happen to be based in Mumbai, you can attend a MBA workshop by the alumnus of ISB along with alumnus of various top global B-Schools during the dates mentioned in this link  https://tinyurl.com/cjy62uh

Feel free to post any other queries you might have. You can also PM your number to have a detail discussion on your profile and selection of b-schools.

Cheers!!
Neha Singh

VeritasPrepRon · Answer

Hi Monika, I wouldn't worry too much about age as an admissions criterion. Just put together a strong profile and highlight your achievements. You don't have to be exactly age x and GPA y and work experience Z to get into a program, in fact a little variety is better than homogeneity. When I did my MBA there were a few students in their 30s and they tended to be awesome people with some good real world experience. I wouldn't stress about it too much. Just put forth your best effort and you should be good to go.

Best of luck!
-Ron

Best of luck!
-Ron

GMAT 700+, Age 30/31 Female, 2.8 GPA - too old for FT?

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