Schools that are older applicant friendly?

Question

Hi,

I'm 35 (almost 36 by matriculation) and I'm interested in doing a FT MBA. PT options are limited where I live and also, since I would like to make a change from engineering to financial services, I think the FT experience would be a lot more valuable to me.

I know I can look at school profiles but although a lot show the average age, few show the age range.

I've applied to Fuqua R1 and should hear in about 3 weeks. I'm considering the following schools for R2/RD but I'm wondering if I'm already not competitive because of my age:

Chicago (reach)
Columbia (reach)
LBS (target)
NYU (target)

FWIW, my profile: M/African (soon to be -American)/750/3.4 (top-3 engineering), 3.2 grad school (top-10 engineering)/10yrs work exp./decent extracurrics

riverripper · Answer

There are a few people in my section who are over 35. I think you would be competitive at most top schools except H/S since they prefer younger applicants it seems.

Find schools that fit your personality and then apply. 35 is older but you have a lot working in your favor in your profile.

I dont know how columbia stacks up for older folks but Chicago, Kellogg, and Wharton all seem to accept people in your age range at about the same range. You also may want to check out Darden as another target school. They have a great finance rep.

refurb · Answer

I'm getting up there in age as well (33 at matriculation), and what I've found is that as long as your "why mba" story makes sense, you should be ok.

LBS is very older applicant friendly as the average age of an MBA student in Europe tends to average higher than the US.

RF

Leverandon · Answer

Wharton's average age is pretty high. Harvard and Stanford skew pretty low. I don't know much other than that. I will say, however, that you GMAT is great and your GPA (for engineering) is really solid. Your ethnic background can also only help. You look like you have a strong profile even though you will be on the older end of the applicant pool. Cast a wide net (wider than four) and some schools will probably bite. Its the same thing I'm having to do since I am a very young applicant.

yaazol · Answer

Thanks, guys, for your encouraging responses! Good luck leverandon and refurb with your own apps.

riverripper, nice to have the insider view too. I noticed in the Kellogg Ambassadors thread that's linked in your sig that you include the 2010 class profile which says the age range is 26-31. Is that the middle 80%? Or are the 35+ year-olds you see 2nd years or part-time students? I just hope that other schools aren't considering going the H/S route.

Anyway ... I'll keep looking at more schools. UCLA Andersen is another possibility since I'm a California resident.

riverripper · Answer

Kellogg's numbers are for the middle 80%. I know several people in their mid-late 30s in my class (1st year) and these are all FT people. Since you want to do a career change a FT definitely makes more sense than a PT or EMBA. However, your age pushes you more towards the EMBA territory. Make sure you make it clear why you need the FT MBA not just the degree.

kwam · Answer

On can always look at average numbers, though they don't tell the whole truth they are a good guidance.

I met a guy at MIT Sloan with 38 (I may be wrong, but it was around that), and I know one here at Chicago Booth with 36 - talking about FT programs. That said, both are willing to open their own business.

I believe that up to 33 people would have a shot to many places, though historically, H/S are the ones that things get harder - but we have terry's example here that with 30 one can break into Stanford GSB.

About the schools you mentioned I believe that Columbia would be the hardest (CBS also seem to be moving a little bit towards younger applicants from what I've hard from some friends of mine who are there), but all of them, especially this year, will be hard.

Gil · Answer

I think the best advice you can get is to apply to as many schools as possible. When you start reaching the older ages, there are less spots for you in each year's class. It's just a statistical issue.

Of course you need to have a strong application (and a strong why MBA now answer), but you will do yourself a big favor by applying to as many schools as you can (so long as the applications are strong, of course).

Schools that are older applicant friendly?

Prep Toolkit

Top 5 GMAT Debrief Videos

615 to 715 in 15 Days (Ria's Strategies)

More than Quant/Verbal Abilities: Speed vs. Accuracy

745 with Only Self-Prep and GMAT Club

From 555 to 765: 210-point Improvement

Perfect 805 Score Debrief by Julia