Unless I find $70k lying around I’ll be getting my undergrad from either SUNY Binghamton or SUNY Albany. Both business schools are ranked around 125th in the country, unfortunately New York’s state schools suck if you want to major in business. What kind of consideration would MBA programs like Duke, UVA, UNC, UT Austin, etc give me with a 3.7-4.0 fro a SUNY. I know GMAT and work experience especially play big factors, but I can’t project what I’ll get on my GMAT at this point or what company I’ll be able to work at and in what capacity when I finish undergrad. So assuming my work experience and GMAT are middle of the pack among applicants how much does going to a SUNY hurt me?
Your options for graduate school will depend upon more than where you went to college. Why assume middle of the pack? if you do that, your aspirations should be equally low. Find some great internship or co-op or work (during the semester) experience. Get your foot in the door to a local business and impress them. If Albany, maybe knock on a politician’s door. Offer to manage something that is meaningful. Play an important role in something. In other words, set yourself a goal of distinguishing yourself in ways outside the classroom. Don’t just be a passive recipient of what the school offers. Then when you apply for an MBA program the name of the school will be less influential than your accomplishments.