<p>Is it generally more difficult or easier to get into a top undergrad school than it is to say, get into a top business or law school?</p>
<p>I'm talking about top 10 schools. I know the acceptance percentages for undergraduate colleges, but I'm not too familiar with how the graduate process differs.</p>
<p>IMO it’s more difficult to get into top business or law school than top undergrad school, even though the acceptance rate may be lower for top UG schools. But acceptance rate can be deceiving, at least for business schools. Applicants simply do not have the time/resources to apply for 10-15 business schools, since each school has its own set of essays, recommendation questions, application form, etc. </p>
<p>The level of competition isn’t the same for top UG than for top business/law programs. For UG, many top students choose to go to in-state schools because it offers good bang for the buck. In the scope of things, UG isn’t as important of a degree, if you have your sights set on top business/law school. Why take out a huge loan in UG when you are planning to be in debt for graduate school? </p>
<p>Also, top UG degree doesn’t offer much more in terms of job opportunities compared to top tier state school. I know a few Harvard UG having trouble landing a job (not even a nice job). Your degree is more important than the brand on the degree.</p>
<p>In contrast, for business/law schools, the brand on the degree is more important than the degree. The job opportunities available to top business/law school grads simply aren’t available to MBA/JD beyond top 25-30. BigLaw only recruits from top law schools, the lower on the totem pool, the shallower BigLaw will dig into the school’s applicant pool. Similarly, top bank/consulting firms only recruit at ~top 20 b-schools. For management, the elite MBA grads get a higher salary+bonus (usually).</p>
<p>Furthermore, for UG, you are competing mostly against domestic applicants. For graduate school, you are competing against the best the world has to offer. Top MBA programs boasts ~40% international students. I heard of Wharton UG, unable to get into McCombs MBA.</p>
<p>liu, very well written and certainly makes a lot of sense</p>
<p>grad school admissions are more competitive and difficult. however, the admissions criteria is substantially different than u-grad, so it could also be easier depending on your personality and attributes.</p>
<p>for example, law schools admit almost entirely based on academic criteria: standardized tests and u-grad gpa. for a super-smart geek, i suspect it is much easier to get into a top law school than a top undergrad. if you nail your u-grad gpa and LSAT, you are going somewhere good for sure. </p>
<p>business school is a whole other story. for b-school, academics matter minimally; once you get above a 3.5 ish and 680+ gmat, it comes down to personality, work experience, and leadership potential. thus the person that is good but not great academically, but was quarterback on their Division 1 football team will stand a great chance for admission. this same person would be rejected from law schools though.</p>
<p>my conclusion is that while grad school admissions are harder, at this level you are generally allowed to “specialize” and play into your strengths. thus it could be easier to get into certain types of grad schools depending on the person.</p>
<p>Did you know that 90% of class 2010 of Judge Business School (Cambridge University) is international ?This proves the great competition when comes to top Business Schools.</p>