<p>Are top Business schools like Harvard, Stanford, and Penn, really only for people who have connections? Or can you get into those programs with a good undergrad gpa, good standardized test scores, and years of work experience? Some say that for fields like business and law, it is much harder for minorities to gain footing and start a successful career. Is this true, and is this enough concern to rethink a possible career in law or business?</p>
<p>One can get into Harvard Law school by getting a very high GPA and LSAT scores.For the rest,its a black hole</p>
<p>Do you mean “one” to mean that people in general can do that by getting a very high GPA and LSAT? What I’m confused is to how important these four factors are weighted:</p>
<p>1) Work experience
2) Standardized testing and GPA
3) Connections
4) Where you went for undergraduate studies</p>
<p>How much do each of those matter? For example, if you dont have connections, is it near impossible to get in? Or, if you are at a not as famous undergrad school are you also in for a lot of trouble?</p>
<p>
Top business schools look for prestigious work experience, high leadership potential, and a good undergrad record. If you can work hard and accomplish this stuff, you’ll be a great candidate for the top business schools.
For law schools, pretty much all that matters is your undergrad GPA and LSAT score, so kill those and you’ll be set.</p>
<p>
Not sure why you think the color of your skin would negatively affect your career success chances. Who told you that? In fact, if you’re a URM, it might actually help you out, since many schools/companies have diversity hiring goals that will make you a more attractive candidate.</p>
<p>Minorities tend to do fairly well in law school admissions. Some people say that URM status can essentially add 5-10 points to your LSAT score.</p>
<p>This was just something that popped into my mind. I had read an article somewhere about a few prominent black businessmen who were commenting on how being a minority somehow placed a sort of spotlight on them and their work. Do well, and your achievements are amplified. Fail, and those failures hurt you much more. Of course, I had always thought that the color of your skin wouldn’t matter for anything. After all, we enjoy the closest thing to a meritocracy as there is anywhere else in the world. But there are people who constantly remind us that prejudice still exists. I’m just not sure how much that is true in the workplace.</p>
<p>Right now I guess the one that is interesting to me is law, but business is as well. I do have some questions about what you (Medwell) said. You said for law you just need a good GPA and a good LSAT. Wouldn’t you need to somehow prove that you are “lawyer material?” </p>
<p>Also, if anyone has any experience in law or business or medicine–is success in those fields based on how naturally good you are at those? For me, I know when people talk about investing, I think about Warren Buffett, and how people call him “a natural.” Is it possible for a businessperson to learn leadership, or a lawyer to learn to be persuasive and eloquent?</p>