Post-MBA goals for sponsored consultants (H/W)

Question

What does HBS/Wharton adcom prefer?

A) Sponsored consultant who wants to go back to MBB (goals: strengthen leadership skills, build network, maybe switch practice inside MBB)
PRO: Safe re-employment post MBA with high salary bump (good for stats)
CON: Boring? You don't need HBS for that. Also, there are hundreds/thousands of sponsored MBBs applying.

B) Consultant looking to break into finance/PE (= forfeiting her sponsorship if offered job)
PRO: Ambitious, shows commitment (forfeiture), and HBS indeed comes in helpful
CON: Entering PE still seen as difficult by many schools (think of a different goal instead?); however, going back to pre-MBA employer with salary bump still possible as backup; stats should be fine in any case

I know that schools like INSEAD/Columbia J-Term are very happy with A), but is it the same for HBS/Wharton? Would I be competing for one of the very rare "sponsored consultant" slots w/o having a shot at scholarships?

VeritasPrepDozie · Answer

Thanks for sharing your question. The best way to look at this is what do you genuinely want to do? It's never a good approach to try and game the system with these schools especially the super elite. If you are qualified numerically, with a compelling case for admission and a strong fit withe program and your development need that is always a recipe for success. I think you are over-thinking it all a bit. Regardless of either scenario you will need to make a strong case on why you need an MBA and from school X,Y,Z. But to answer your question a bit more directly either option would work but focus on the one that is authentic in fact as a sponsored student it is very common for students to explore other career paths during their internship so communicate a clear path via ST/LT goals and discuss your exploration of PE/Finance via your internship and perhaps clarify that your career in consulting would be potentially focused on PE/Finance clients. That might be the best way to address both your concerns.

Hope this helps!

Hope this helps!

MG4MBACrystalBall · Answer

Apart from the views already correctly expressed here, a few more takes MegaMathBlaster:
 
  Since you've worked at MBB, it doesn't make a huge difference if you are a sponsored candidate or not. Unless you were a not so good Analyst, usually MBBs are happy to hire Analysts back.  
  I echo the thought about being true to yourself. Avoid pandering to 'stereotypes'. The story  here  of someone in a similar situation (not sponsored though) may echo with you.  
  Remember btw, now everyone from MBB makes the cut. So it really also depends on the other aspects of your profile and the nature of work you've done. So don't leave out any corners.

Hope this helps some.

Cheers,

fxMBAconsulting · Answer

Hi,

On the one hand I think that the most believable story you can offer the adcom is a genuine one. What do you really want to do and is it realistic is the question. Certainly returning to consulting would be a feasible path for you to take, but reading your post, it seems like a backup plan to me. Breaking into PE is difficult and whether you can make a credible story for doing that will depend in large part on your story to date (undergrad and what you focused on as a consultant). There might be a middle ground too but without specifics on your profile it is hard to say.

Also factors like age play into this scenario. I'll assume that you've been in consulting for about 3 years - in which case that's not an issue. If you're an older candidate it might be a slightly different story.

Wharton really values non risky candidates with 710+ GMAT and solid GPAs. You can read more about that here:
https://fxmbaconsulting.com/wharton-mba- ... 2016-2018/

CriticalSquare · Answer

There's been a lot of great advice already so we'll append our thoughts to it. Obviously we agree with the "be true to yourself" fact. That's paramount. Don't try to figure out what the adcom wants to hear. You'll fail in that regard from a narrative perspective. There are issues with both routes. Whichever route you go - be researched. Be specific. These are not exciting stories at a base level so you need to sell your enthusiasm and research. It doesn't matter if you think the MBB story is boring (it is, but who cares?) - if you can sell it, that's all that matters. And while the PE story might seem more intriguing, if you sell it superficially you'll still fail.

An INTERESTING story doesn't have to mean a UNIQUE story. That's a common misconception. So whichever path you go with, make it interesting with your excitement, enthusiasm, and authenticity. That may sound like common sense, but in execution it's harder than you think!

Hope that helps,

An INTERESTING story doesn't have to mean a UNIQUE story. That's a common misconception. So whichever path you go with, make it interesting with your excitement, enthusiasm, and authenticity. That may sound like common sense, but in execution it's harder than you think!

Hope that helps,

AugustAcademy · Answer

MegaMathBlaster,

The way to look at it would be - what do you want to do? Nothing stronger than sincerity and conviction to your cause when it comes to making a good application. Show that, and throw in your hat - the rest will follow.

Regards,
Karthik

WyseGyde · Answer

Think of admissions committees as investors who are looking for returns on their investments. Some of those investments are for growth and dynamic change; other investments are for value. When you are looking at the question of "why me, why now" that admissions committees consider, think of how your story may fit into the committee's overall portfolio. Generally, the stronger stories with backgrounds such as yourself are those that have continuity than one which shows a dynamic career shift that doesn't necessarily fit, even though you may have desires to pursue both avenues. Be aware, though, that an admissions committee's candidate desires can shift in a given year given the strategic plan of the program. We generally advise candidates to tell a genuine story with continuity and a sensible flow, though candidates may and should continue to keep themselves open to new career experiences while going through the MBA.

If you have any additional questions, please request an additional FREE 15-minute profile review from a WyseGyde admissions consultants. WyseGyde consultants have track records of success at top schools such as Wharton, Booth, Tuck, HBS, Columbia, Darden, and the list goes on. They could certainly help guide you along your MBA path…and the profile review is FREE!

Sign-up for your profile review or information at https://www.wysegyde.com or email us directly at [email protected].

We look forward to helping you reach your MBA and career goals!

--The WyseGydes

Post-MBA goals for sponsored consultants (H/W)

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