HWSAspirant wrote:
Hi there,
I was planning to devote the next couple months to LSAT prep so that I can apply for JD/MBA joint degrees at Top-Schools (Harvard, Stanford etc.) this September.
As by the time I apply I will only have 12 months of work experience (Tier2 Consulting), and by the time I would start the JD/MBA it would be 22 months of work experience, I know that chances are by far not high that I get accepted. I would like to give it a shot nevertheless, as I think that the rest of my profile is decent.
Would a rejection of my application actually significantly hurt my chances of getting accepted if I re-apply the year after, or even 2-3 years after my rejection? I know that they keep previous applications in their files, but if the reason for getting rejected was "too little work experience", that is something that can be fixed, and it could also be the case that the competition for 2022 entry was higher than for 2023 or 2024.
My profile is as follows:
- GMAT 740 (I do have time to re-take and aim for 760+)
- 1 year Tier2 consulting, though quitted so that I can a) try either another consulting firm (my previous firm had a relatively toxic culture) or another industry and b) prepare for LSAT
- Bachelors degree in Mechanical Engineering at German university
- Masters degree in Mechanical Engineering at Top-US-University (think of Stanford, MIT etc.)
- Recently co-founded a local initiative in my home town, currently president
I know many will say that most competitive applicants have 5 years of experience. But I already have a Masters degree and, if I decide to start a JD/MBA in 2022, I will already be 30 by the time I graduate. Therefore, I think it is at least worth giving it a shot even if having a minimal chance to start early.
Thanks.
Hello
HWSAspirant,
Thanks for sharing! As you mentioned, having 5 or so years of work experience is definitely the norm for a lot of applicants (a bit less for consultants). That said, many top schools assert that there is no requirement for the minimum or maximum years of work experience needed to apply to their programs. While it depends on the situation, having 5 to 6 months at a role is a good minimum before applying to business school – which you will have surpassed.
As for reapplying later on if you do not get in, your previous application(s) may be kept on file to assess your growth but reapplicants receive unbiased evaluations just like everyone else.
There is no negative impact of reapplying and in some cases, it can work to your advantage.The key thing to do now is work to make your application as strong as it can be. Maximizing your GMAT will be part of this – and we can definitely help!
Personal MBA Coach offers
customized tutoring services with tutors who raise clients an average of 90 points and have scored in the 99th percentile on the GMAT / GRE and are graduates of MIT, Harvard, and UPenn.
You will also want to successfully articulate (and convince the schools) that now is the best time for you to apply for a JD/MBA. How many schools do you plan on applying to? I suggest you target 5-7 to maximize your chances of getting an acceptance.
Please do not hesitate to reach out for a more extensive profile evaluation:
scott@personalmbacoach.comBest,
Personal MBA Coach _________________