LSEguy wrote:
bakfed wrote:
Hey there buddy, congrats on the admit, first of all.
I think your question is going to be a bit broad for anyone to answer for you. Why did you want to get an MBA? Why did you apply to McCombs? Why did you apply this year, knowing that next year would still be a good time to reapply/matriculate? I think you just have to ask yourself why you're doing all this MBA preparation right now. If you had not wanted to attend McCombs, you really shouldn't have applied. Now that you've applied, my suggestion is that you go (if you don't get in Kellogg or CBS) unless there's some extenuating circumstances. Your numbers are great, but definitely not a shoo-in for top b-schools. If you apply to only top 10 schools next year, you risk the chance of not getting in still. And of course, if you choose a school in the 10-20 range next year and get in, you run into the same dilemma you have today. So this is really something only you can answer for yourself.
Thank you bakfed for the comments. To be honest, I kind of rushed into my applications for fall 2011. I was a late starter (GMAT in October 2010). I was also apprehensive of the tremendous amount of competition to get into a top b-school. This meant, that I missed the early and R1 deadlines at many top schools (UCLA, UCB, Yale, Duke, CBS, Ross, INSEAD etc...). McCombs was a natural choice for me because I was comfortable at exhibiting my "fit" with the program (I banked upon my energy consulting background). I agree with your POV that if I do not get into a top 10 school next year, then I will pretty much land up where I am right now (or I can still be worst off if I do not even get a top 20 admit).
Though my career goal is to work for a top MC firm, I am realistic about my chances of landing up at a top tier MC straight out of b-school ( I was interviewed by Booz and also by GS while I was in London but did not get the final offer). I will need to strengthen my profile and increase my skill set in order to increase the probability of making it to one of the top MC firms. I am trying to get more info with regards to the the career services at McCombs and how they prepare students to face these tricky interviews. I believe that a top 10 school (as compared to a top 20) will be able to groom me better for a career in MC, given their vast resources and experience.
It is a tricky situation for me. I will be paying the deposit at McCombs (due by March 15) but will keep exploring other options. Thank you very much for your time, I appreciate it. Please do share your thoughts and opinions, it certainly helps!
Cheers!
I completely see your point. I want to say one final thing, which you probably know already. For top MC firms (M/B/B), any school within the top 16 b-schools will earn you an interview spot fairly easily, as long as you're willing to go to the recruiting events and schmooze with the company reps. For schools in top the 10, most definitely that the possibility of acquiring that interview is extremely high. For schools in the 10-15 (such as duke, uva, michigan), chances are if you want it you can get at least the interview. Then of course, as cliche as it may sound, once you get into that interview room the only thing that matters then is how you do in your fit and case interviews. Being in the top 10 b-schools will not necessarily give you better access into the MC firms, but simply a better access to getting an interview. In summary, as long as the firms that you want to work for (again, most likely M/B/B) recruit at the school you go to, you have a pretty good shot at landing an interview if you put in the work. You can easily check whether or not the firms you want to be with recruit at McCombs by visiting each firm's site. If none recruits directly at McCombs, yes, your chance of getting into the company becomes ever slimmer. But if they do recruit on-campus, know that you have a good shot at landing an interview with them. Once you step into the interview room, whether you went to Booth or McCombs play little role in the final decision.
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03 Mar 2011, 03:54
in the optional essay I did mention that I was down will viral fever just a week before the finals at LSE)
