<p>Graduated from Princeton (economics major) with a 2.9 gpa. Gmat is 760. I am applying to b-schools, planning on starting in 2013. My work experience includes a investment banking paid internship and a non-paid internship at a global hunger non-profit (I should have 1.5 years experience by the time I start). I have decent recs and I am confident about interviews. I am looking at all the Ivies, Booth, Duke, Haas, University Virginia and some safeties. Do I have any chance of getting into my top choices?</p>
<p>forgot to say thank you !</p>
<p>So you have never held a full time permanent professional position? </p>
<p>Just ib internship and the non-profit gig? </p>
<p>I am an HBS grad so I can offer some insight there.</p>
<p>as it stands now that’s the case, I could maybe take an extra year off and find more similar work full time</p>
<p>B-school, unlike law and med, is much less about grades and scores and much more about professional experience.</p>
<p>Most of the applicants from Princeton to HBS will have worked in a full time position for probably 2 or more years. Many of them did their 2 years stint at Goldman, McKsiney, and the like etc. </p>
<p>So you being from Princeton won’t make you stand out, given you have so many competitors from P. But I am sure you already know this. </p>
<p>As it stands, your chance for HBS would be low because of your lack of significant, and meaningful professional leadership full time experience. </p>
<p>Remember, your professional experience does not have to be some glamourous gig, you could have worked as a project leader for some low key non-profit building schools for children in Afghanistan. That would look substantially more compelling than someone who just did their cursory 2 years analyst gig at Goldman’s bond desk pushing paper.</p>
<p>The key to HBS is having a significant accomplishment while serving as a leader in your gig. The gig does not have to pay well or be famous.</p>
<p>Okay thanks, so now I know I am going to want to make sure I get 2 years of solid work experience in.</p>
<p>Basically what I’m asking is how screwed am I at getting into a top-12 b school given my grades, even if the rest of my app is strong?</p>