marakon8 wrote:
**I accidentally posted this in the wrong forum the first time, so sorry for the repost**
Is it possible to get into an M7 school, or even schools just outside that like Tuck, Stern, etc. if you go to a state school and don't work in investment banking/consulting or have an incredibly unique background (i.e. army, peace corps, olympic medalist, etc.)? I keep hearing that all those schools basically choose people solely off of work experience, and that even working in corp finance is considered average, so how the hell do you get into a good school without curing cancer?
I have decent grades (should graduate with a 3.5+), I'm going to do everything in my power to destroy the GMAT (730+ is my goal), but banking/consulting just isn't going to happen. My school's network for that is garbage and there's basically no hope. The most I can do is corporate/commercial banking at a Bulge Bracket, but it feels like anything outside of I-banking, Consulting, and blackstone private equity won't get you into HSW, so I'm wondering what the hell I can do?
Hi Marakon8,
As I have frequently mentioned in this forum, both my business school admissions clients and MBA classmates came from many diverse backgrounds. I personally did not work for I-banking, consulting or private equity, and was admitted to all my top schools in the first rounds. Schools don't admit people just on the basis of where they worked, but from what they learned from their experiences as well as how well they present their stories to the AdCom. In fact, the flip side is that candidates from the regular feeder channels of I-banking and consulting have to work harder to distinguish themselves since there are many applicants with a similar profile.
If you are looking for advice on your next steps, take up a position that you were well-suited for, and in which you will learn and grow. Leadership, initiative, teamwork and communication are important attributes to any application, and from what we see daily in our clients, these can developed in many, many different settings.
Email us at
mbaconsult@mymbaadmit.com to find out more about how we help our clients define their profile and differentiate themselves from the competition. Check out our
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