Ask Paul Lanzillotti

Hi Paul,

Thank you for taking the time to respond to all of our--what must, after a while, seem repetitive--questions.

Like everyone else here, I have a question regarding my candidacy at a top MBA program. However, I think my background does add a couple twists. I have posted the default template for convenience, but please do read on to get the full story.

Target: Not yet sure

Age: 27 currently; 30 when applying

GMAT: 740+ (not yet taken, but please see below before judging me as a presumptive tool)

Nationality/Race: East Asian Male, international

Education: 3.2 GPA at an Ivy League School; 3.4 GPA at top ten law school (cum laude)

Work Exp: 2-3 years at M/B/B; military in my home country prior to law school in the middle of college

Extracurricular: Nothing outstanding.

Motivation for MBA: To break into private equity; failing that, into a field of finance that might lead to PE

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my deal:

I am currently in my last year at one of the top 10 law schools in the US. Instead of law, I will be joining one of the big 3 management consulting companies in one of their smaller offices as a consultant, starting at the level that other MBAs do.

Ultimately, I would like to end up in private equity. I am very attracted to basically every aspect of the industry, from sourcing deals, executing transactions (the primary reason why I went to law school, actually), using management expertise to grow/turn-around/increase value for the company, etc.

I know that getting into PE is possible from management consulting--but it's still a best-case scenario, and I might not be in a position to pick and choose my options when it comes time to exit consulting. I would not mind going into finance, etc, as well--and while I know that these are also gettable out of consulting, I just wanted to be informed about all possible avenues.

I am wondering if going to business school might be worthwhile--or if business schools will even have me. I will be older (28 when starting consulting next fall, at least 30 when I am applying to b-schools) and already have "post-MBA' experience. I am not sure if this will work against me in both (1) getting into top programs (as I have heard that median age at H/S are trending down; concerned that adcoms will think that it's pointless for me to go and that they'll be doing me a favor by rejecting me) and (2) getting a PE/finance job out of b-school (age, no prior quant/finance background)

I attended a top ten undergrad, as well, but my GPA is low--around 3.1. Although I haven't taken a real, live GMAT, my practice scores are over 750, and while I hate to be presumptuous, my performances in other standardized tests, including SAT, GRE, and LSAT, convinces me that GMAT will, at worst, not be what holds me back.

Thanks!