updown44 wrote:
Background
Work experience: IBM Consulting (1 year), Big4 Audit (2 years), consumer product startups (3.5 years); all progressively better roles
Extra curriculars: none to speak of
Undergrad school/major: state school, 3.4, double major finance and accounting
Other education/coursework: none
Race/nationality: white
Sex: m
Stats
GMAT Score (include breakdown!): 720 (V40Q49)
Undergrad GPA: 3.4
MBA Info
Goal of MBA: PT - build out management skills to track towards executive level roles, FT - more of an open question.
Target schools: UT McCombs PT, FT - that's the question, are top 10 schools realistic?
I initially started the MBA journey targeting McCombs PT because I really like my job, it's high impact and I'm in Austin so I can continue working and get my MBA. I wanted to keep the FT option open pending my GMAT. Now that I have my GMAT score, I'm wondering if it's worth applying to reach FT programs (Haas, Ross, Fuqua, Stanford (big reach)) with the thought that career prospects from a top 10 school are substantially better. I'd be applying next cycle, first round.
With the PT program, the purpose of the MBA is more growth focused within my current company. If I was to get a FT degree I'd like to stay in CPG, but likely target roles at F500 or Series D+ startups.
So the question is, are those FT programs reasonable and, if so, am I looking at any scholarship money or should I expect to foot full tuition.
Only other disclaimer is that I could (although I'd prefer not to) take the GMAT again and pull up my quant score and try to get my overall in the 740-750 range. I'd only do this if it'd make a material change to my prospects for FT programs.
Hi uptown!
Thanks for posting. I'll do a quick dive
Let's talk about the good - your GMAT score is very competitive, especially with a 49Q (you would need a perfect quant score to achieve a 740, its more realistic that you bring up the verbal). This type of score alone will make you competitive at a number of schools in the 20-30 ranking range. Depending on your goals post-MBA, there may be a number of good fits for you here. GPA is neutral, won't help you nor hurt you.
Your work experience is interesting, would need to do a deeper dive in order to determine the scope of your roles and reasons for shifting through a few opportunities.
Having no extracirriculars is going to hurt you in this process, but what I find is that most people do have things in their past they can draw upon. Again, we would need to have a longer conversation.
On the surface, I think you could make yourself competitive at schools ranked 15-30. I think anything ranked higher would be a bit of a reach (again, this is just on the surface, maybe you were a rock star at your jobs!). You'll have to also decide what paths are interesting to you post MBA if you go the full-time route.
Hope this helps and let us know if you have any more questions!
Regards,
Personal MBA Coachwww.personalmbacoach.com