Last visit was: 20 May 2026, 16:15 It is currently 20 May 2026, 16:15
Home
Messages
Tests
Schools
Events
Close
GMAT Club Daily Prep
Thank you for using the timer - this advanced tool can estimate your performance and suggest more practice questions. We have subscribed you to Daily Prep Questions via email.

Customized
for You

we will pick new questions that match your level based on your Timer History

Track
Your Progress

every week, we’ll send you an estimated GMAT score based on your performance

Practice
Pays

we will pick new questions that match your level based on your Timer History
Not interested in getting valuable practice questions and articles delivered to your email? No problem, unsubscribe here.
Go to My Error Log Learn more
Close
Request Expert Reply
Confirm Cancel
User avatar
crazi4ib
User avatar
Joined: 19 Feb 2014
Last visit: 03 Apr 2020
Posts: 29
Own Kudos:
7
Given Kudos: 7
Posts: 29
Kudos: 7
PE VP to B-school? 17 Mar 2019, 04:43
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
I am currently a VP at a relatively small PE firm, targeting the likes of HSW for admission.

I understand that by far the most common path is IB 2 years -> PE Pre-MBA Associate 2 years -> MBA. I was wondering if anyone could share some insights on how a VP from a smaller PE firm would be perceived by adcoms? I have ~4 years of total work experience, and because my firm is small, I was made to be VP even though from my understanding the VP title is typically for after a few years of post-MBA PE experience.

Do you guys think the VP title may help, showing that my firm gives me a lot of responsibility, or that it may throw off adcoms, and/or make them think my PE firm must be really small to give me a VP title? FYI, my total compensation is I would say a bit less than that of a mega fund PE pre-MBA associate.
User avatar
MBAPrepCoach
User avatar
MBA Admissions Consultant
Joined: 24 Mar 2015
Last visit: 03 Dec 2025
Posts: 3,936
Own Kudos:
1,545
Given Kudos: 634
Status:MBA Admissions Consultant
Affiliations: MBA Prep Coach
Location: United States
Farrell Nelson: MBA
Expert
Expert reply
Posts: 3,936
Kudos: 1,545
PE VP to B-school? 17 Mar 2019, 10:06
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
The WE part does not concern me...you are clearly killing it, just need to demonstrate leadership, teamwork, problem solving in recs, CV, app boxes. But the Why MBA if VP does. What's the incentive? Why do you need that seat?

https://mbaprepcoach.com
User avatar
crazi4ib
User avatar
Joined: 19 Feb 2014
Last visit: 03 Apr 2020
Posts: 29
Own Kudos:
7
Given Kudos: 7
Posts: 29
Kudos: 7
PE VP to B-school? 18 Mar 2019, 20:00
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Bump

Posted from my mobile device
User avatar
PersonalMBACoach
User avatar
Personal MBA Coach Founder
Joined: 11 Sep 2010
Last visit: 19 May 2026
Posts: 3,829
Own Kudos:
372
Given Kudos: 11
Status:Boutique MBA Admissions Consulting from a Wharton graduate - Helping applicants get into top global business schools since 2008
Affiliations: Wharton, MIT
Location: United States (NY)
Overall Client Admit Rate: 96%
Expert
Expert reply
Posts: 3,829
Kudos: 372
PE VP to B-school? 19 Mar 2019, 03:14
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
crazi4ib
I am currently a VP at a relatively small PE firm, targeting the likes of HSW for admission.

I understand that by far the most common path is IB 2 years -> PE Pre-MBA Associate 2 years -> MBA. I was wondering if anyone could share some insights on how a VP from a smaller PE firm would be perceived by adcoms? I have ~4 years of total work experience, and because my firm is small, I was made to be VP even though from my understanding the VP title is typically for after a few years of post-MBA PE experience.

Do you guys think the VP title may help, showing that my firm gives me a lot of responsibility, or that it may throw off adcoms, and/or make them think my PE firm must be really small to give me a VP title? FYI, my total compensation is I would say a bit less than that of a mega fund PE pre-MBA associate.
Show more

Hey crazi4ib,

Thanks for posting! I do think that schools will be able to put 2 and 2 together and see that while you are at a small firm and progressing well (presumably ahead of your peers), your salary and years of work experience will put you on the level of a pre-MBA associate. What's more important here is articulating your goals post-MBA and convincing admissions why you want to leave a PE firm where your managers think very highly of you and your responsibilities mirror those of a VP. The presitge of the firm does matter too and if your fund is raising new money, closing on deals, and expanding headcount, it will bode much better than if it were sitting on capital with nowhere to invest. On the application, schools will often ask the revenue or size of your firm and can make determinations based on these metrics.

I'm guessing your goal is to try and make your way to a mega fund? Do your responsibilites mirror those of a megafund VP or are they closer to a pre-MBA associate? Also, have you taken the GMAT yet?

Cheers,
User avatar
crazi4ib
User avatar
Joined: 19 Feb 2014
Last visit: 03 Apr 2020
Posts: 29
Own Kudos:
7
Given Kudos: 7
Posts: 29
Kudos: 7
PE VP to B-school? 19 Mar 2019, 04:16
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
PersonalMBACoach
crazi4ib
I am currently a VP at a relatively small PE firm, targeting the likes of HSW for admission.

I understand that by far the most common path is IB 2 years -> PE Pre-MBA Associate 2 years -> MBA. I was wondering if anyone could share some insights on how a VP from a smaller PE firm would be perceived by adcoms? I have ~4 years of total work experience, and because my firm is small, I was made to be VP even though from my understanding the VP title is typically for after a few years of post-MBA PE experience.

Do you guys think the VP title may help, showing that my firm gives me a lot of responsibility, or that it may throw off adcoms, and/or make them think my PE firm must be really small to give me a VP title? FYI, my total compensation is I would say a bit less than that of a mega fund PE pre-MBA associate.

Hey crazi4ib,

Thanks for posting! I do think that schools will be able to put 2 and 2 together and see that while you are at a small firm and progressing well (presumably ahead of your peers), your salary and years of work experience will put you on the level of a pre-MBA associate. What's more important here is articulating your goals post-MBA and convincing admissions why you want to leave a PE firm where your managers think very highly of you and your responsibilities mirror those of a VP. The presitge of the firm does matter too and if your fund is raising new money, closing on deals, and expanding headcount, it will bode much better than if it were sitting on capital with nowhere to invest. On the application, schools will often ask the revenue or size of your firm and can make determinations based on these metrics.

I'm guessing your goal is to try and make your way to a mega fund? Do your responsibilites mirror those of a megafund VP or are they closer to a pre-MBA associate? Also, have you taken the GMAT yet?

Cheers,
Show more

Thanks for your reply! I sent you an email