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MBAFetish
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Joined: 06 Apr 2023
Last visit: 05 Jan 2025
Posts: 12
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Top MBA: questions on how to move forward 07 Apr 2023, 12:25
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Hello!

I would appreciate a few thoughts and advice on how I should move forward with regards to getting an MBA from H/W/S/C:

Profile:
- GMAT 750 (able to retake, confident I can score 760+)
- Currently at Tier2 Strategy Consultancy in a European office at junior level - joined 1.5 years ago and will most likely get my first promotion in January next year
- Previously 1 year at another Tier2 Consultancy in a European office
- Engineering undergrad in Europe and Masters degree at top 3 university in USA (think of Harvard, Stanford, MIT, Columbia)
- Extracurriculars (incl. leadership positions) existing, international experience abound
- White male, however second generation immigrant in the country I grew up

Concerns:
- Whether I really need an MBA - I only consider to leverage it either for a transition to MBB (ideally in USA) or investment banking, however for the former I think I can re-apply in European offices after promotion and for the latter I am not sure if an MBA (even if I take finance classes) will be sufficient for interviews given my lack of background and internships in finance (though I have mostly done CDD projects for PE's). I would also need a working visa if I want to work in the States.
- I applied in the past to all top programs and got rejected by all except Yale SOM where I was interviewed and waitlisted - most likely due to little work experience, it would have been 22 months by the time of starting the MBA back then. Concern is that past rejections might be held against me.
- Whether I should apply now or next year - I lean towards next year since I will likely have the promotion in my CV, however I will be 30 (with 5 years work experience) by the time I start and that might be too old.
- How to navigate references without the partners finding out - last year I thought of going to law school and prepared for LSAT in parallel with my job, when I told the office lead about it they were pretty upset and told me that if I decided to apply for Law School I would be let go (they did not want to negotiate about an educational leave, since they pretty much took it as a clear sign that I do not want to do consulting anymore). Now I am scared they will react similarly if I ask about an MBA leave even if I say that I will continue with the firm after the MBA, thus I need to be certain about confidentiality on my potential referees' end.
- My office has never sponsored an MBA before and will likely not do it in my case, thus financing will be an issue (especially since I am not a US citizen).

Questions:
- Should I do an MBA?
- If so, when should I apply?
- Should I openly discuss this opportunity with my employer?
- Is it common that non US citizens do a top US MBA without employer sponsorship? If so, how do they finance it?

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MBAGuide
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Joined: 24 Jul 2019
Last visit: 11 Nov 2025
Posts: 2,282
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Location: India
Concentration: Operations, Marketing
Schools: Insead Sept'18 (A$$) ISB '19 (A)
Schools: Insead Sept'18 (A$$) ISB '19 (A)
Posts: 2,282
Kudos: 942
Top MBA: questions on how to move forward 12 Apr 2023, 02:18
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MBAFetish
Hello!

I would appreciate a few thoughts and advice on how I should move forward with regards to getting an MBA from H/W/S/C:

Profile:
- GMAT 750 (able to retake, confident I can score 760+)
- Currently at Tier2 Strategy Consultancy in a European office at junior level - joined 1.5 years ago and will most likely get my first promotion in January next year
- Previously 1 year at another Tier2 Consultancy in a European office
- Engineering undergrad in Europe and Masters degree at top 3 university in USA (think of Harvard, Stanford, MIT, Columbia)
- Extracurriculars (incl. leadership positions) existing, international experience abound
- White male, however second generation immigrant in the country I grew up

Concerns:
- Whether I really need an MBA - I only consider to leverage it either for a transition to MBB (ideally in USA) or investment banking, however for the former I think I can re-apply in European offices after promotion and for the latter I am not sure if an MBA (even if I take finance classes) will be sufficient for interviews given my lack of background and internships in finance (though I have mostly done CDD projects for PE's). I would also need a working visa if I want to work in the States.
- I applied in the past to all top programs and got rejected by all except Yale SOM where I was interviewed and waitlisted - most likely due to little work experience, it would have been 22 months by the time of starting the MBA back then. Concern is that past rejections might be held against me.
- Whether I should apply now or next year - I lean towards next year since I will likely have the promotion in my CV, however I will be 30 (with 5 years work experience) by the time I start and that might be too old.
- How to navigate references without the partners finding out - last year I thought of going to law school and prepared for LSAT in parallel with my job, when I told the office lead about it they were pretty upset and told me that if I decided to apply for Law School I would be let go (they did not want to negotiate about an educational leave, since they pretty much took it as a clear sign that I do not want to do consulting anymore). Now I am scared they will react similarly if I ask about an MBA leave even if I say that I will continue with the firm after the MBA, thus I need to be certain about confidentiality on my potential referees' end.
- My office has never sponsored an MBA before and will likely not do it in my case, thus financing will be an issue (especially since I am not a US citizen).

Questions:
- Should I do an MBA?
- If so, when should I apply?
- Should I openly discuss this opportunity with my employer?
- Is it common that non US citizens do a top US MBA without employer sponsorship? If so, how do they finance it?

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Hi MBAFetish

While your education pedigree may be top-notch, for an MBA at these schools you would need to showcase some solid standout factors. Needless to say, there will be plenty of consultants with similar profiles (more experienced and more age appropriate) who would give you tough competition.

- Should I do an MBA?

If your main objective is to secure a position at the MBBs, and you come from a feeder college background, there is a good chance you could make the cut after your promotion with sufficient effort and preparation. A solid preparation, networking, and strategy could give you slightly better odds compared to applying to ultra-competitive business schools in the USA. Age will also be a factor. Another option to explore could be pursuing a one-year MBA program in the USA (such as Kellogg), which could serve as a launchpad into the US consulting market. However, the best way to determine your suitability for either a one or two-year program would be to speak with the schools directly and read into their feedback.

Breaking into IB without prior experience or even internships can be challenging. But if you are determined and resourceful, you will find ways to achieve it. Before taking steps in that direction, it's important to ask yourself if you are truly passionate about pursuing a career in IB. Since you mentioned about your LSAT preparation, I feel your thoughts may be in a whirlwind.

- If so, when should I apply?
You could apply when you feel you are most prepared. What will be important is that you explore all the possibilities before the application season. You could take the initiative to reach out to MBBs, express your interest, and set up coffee chats or informational interviews to demonstrate your motivation. Seek referrals from contacts within the industry and build connections. Make every effort to understand your current standing and identify any additional steps you may need to take to strengthen your candidacy. This proactive approach can significantly improve your chances of success.

- Should I openly discuss this opportunity with my employer?
I would exercise caution. Managers can react in unpredictable ways, depending on their subjective principles or beliefs.


- Is it common that non US citizens do a top US MBA without employer sponsorship? If so, how do they finance it?
Yes, its pretty common. Besides requesting scholarships, most international students take help from specialized lenders that offer loans specifically for international students pursuing education abroad.

Best wishes