Hi,

I am a Product Manager at a reputed Indian Tech Startup (a unicorn- funded by Google). My GMAT is 760 (Q50, V41).
BTech in Metallurgy from a regionally well-known college (nationally/internationally not much known) with extremely average academics (7.5 CGPA on a scale of 10).
My objective for doing MBA is to get an MFAANG Product role. Looking forward to applying in the coming year of 2022-23.
My only issue is that my age will be 31 while applying. My total experience will be 8 years 7 months.

I have these questions:
1. In general I know my age is more than average. But just want to know if even applying would make sense (since I come from a heavily over-represented cohort).
2. If yes- which schools should I look out for?

anandchimp:

Thanks for sharing this information with the GMAT Club community:

1. In general I know my age is more than average. But just want to know if even applying would make sense (since I come from a heavily over-represented cohort).

A: It's not impossible at all. There are plenty of MBA students in their early 30s in the top programs. You will need to sell the depth and longevity of your experience at a unicorn startup as a big asset rather than try to run from it. Your essays need to clearly explain how an MBA is a necessity and your career goal must be tied to realistic expectations about what post-MBA jobs look like for someone such as yourself.

2. If yes- which schools should I look out for?

A: If you are serious about FAANG, you might want to take a look at UCLA Anderson, USC Marshall, Northwestern Kellogg, Michigan Ross, and UC Berkeley Haas. Of course, that's just a start not knowing your preferences for class size, geography, program focus, etc.

Please reach out to us at Admissionado if you'd like a free consultation. We can go over your background in more depth and help you build a prospective school list along the lines of reach/target/safety.

https://admissionado.com/free-consultation/

Hope to hear from you,
Admissionado

Hi anandchimp,

Thank you for sharing! You will be above the average in terms of age and work experience, but certainly not outside of the range.

At this point, clearly telling your story and detailing the reason that now is the right time in your career to apply will be crucial for getting an interview. Personal MBA Coach works with a lot of older applicants who are targeting top programs, and a large number of Indian applicants. Your 760 GMAT is strong, which will help with the fact that you come from a highly represented cohort.

The next piece of the puzzle will be creating a compelling application through your essays, letters of recommendation, short answer questions, etc. Story development is one of the main components that Personal MBA Coach works on with clients. At the start of working together, we learn all about clients and their aspirations to help select target schools, articulate their distinct story and fine-tune their goals.

I would be happy to learn about your profile in more detail to determine which schools are best for you to target. Do not hesitate to reach out to scott@personalmbacoach.com!

Regards,
Personal MBA Coach
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