<p>I'm in a bit of a state of flux. My GPA is around a 3.5 at the University of Virginia's College at Wise. I know I'm years of work experience away from applying to an MBA program, but I've already started looking. </p>
<p>The thing is, I can't figure out how hard it really is to get into these top tier MBA programs. Duke and Georgetown both, for example, list their average GPA's as around 3.4. If I have a 3.5, do well (near 700?) on the GMAT, etc., shouldn't I be safe? I mean, I know this is ALL relative to decent work experience. But I'm interning for a United States senator and should have some opportunities available to me that'll look good. I've got a double major in Political Science and Business Administration, and I'm looking at trying to find a government job, possibly in foreign policy. </p>
<p>Should I feel sort of safe with Georgetown MBA, or is a 3.5 too low?</p>
<p>3.5 will not keep you out of the running with these schools, but it won’t keep you in the running as well. It all depends on your work experience. Your WE in public policy/government will not give you an edge for business school, since it’s more related to a MPP program. </p>
<p>You should work a few years, look at the essay questions these schools ask and see if you can truly be satisified with your responses. If you can, then apply. If you have to dig deep for obscure examples to answer the prompt, then try to get some more relevant experience.</p>
<p>So basically, in regards to my GPA, it’s pretty much right on target then? I’m not expecting them to open my application and be all “HMM THAT’S A MIGHTY FINE 3.5” and admit me. I just want it to be solid enough that I don’t have to have above average credentials in everything else to get in. It won’t make me have to score a 700+ GMAT will it? </p>
<p>Also, work experience. You say it won’t give me an edge, but will it be “good enough?” Alternative to government work, I could always get an entry level corporate job. My fears with that though is that since I won’t be working at say, a corporate HQ on Wall Street, but rather a small branch in my small home town, they’d overlook that. Does the experience have to be at a “big name” location?</p>
<p>Assuming you are an unhooked applicant with average academic stats (3.5 GPA, 700 GMAT), here’s the low down on how MBA programs generally view your work experience:</p>
<p>Work experience that will get you into HBS, Stanford, or Wharton
Management Consulting at McKinsey, Bain, BCG, or top boutique (Parthenon, Monitor, etc.)<br>
Investment banking at Goldman Sach, Morgan Stanley, JP Morgan or top boutique (Lazard, Evercore, etc.)
Commissioned officer in the Military<br>
A stint at a reputable private equity or venture capital firm.<br>
Product management or similar at top tech firms like Google, Apple, or Microsoft. - Management or Marketing rotational programs at top F500 firms (GE, Dow, etc.)
Management team of a start-up with a successful exit
<p>Work experience that will get you into MIT, Kellogg, Booth, Columbia, or Tuck
Management Consulting at second tier firms (Booz, ATK, Deloitte)
Investment banking a second tier bank (Merrill/BoA, Deutsche, etc.), mid-market, or no name boutique.
Management rotational programs at most F500 firms, or technical rotational programs at top F500 firms
Technical experience at a top tech firm, or product management at a second tier tech firm (HP, Yahoo, etc.)
Semi-prestigious non-profit, think tank, or NGO
Reputable Phd, Reputable JD, other reputable academia
Technical role at a start-up with a successful exit</p>
<p>Work experience that will get you into the rest of the top 16ish schools (basically everything down to UNC)
IT consulting at firms like Deloitte or Accenture
High five-figure engineering, IT, project managment roles
Miscillaneous high five-figure managment roles at no-name companies
Management or high level technical role at a profitable start-up which has not yet had, or will never have, a successful exit
5+ year non-officer level military experience</p>
<p>Work experience that will get you into pretty much anything ranked below UNC
3-5 years of anything that pays over $50K</p>
<p>Of course this is not ment to be a definitive listing of what constitutes “good work experience”, but it should give you an idea what kinds of jobs are in the ballpark for what schools.</p>
<p>Thanks for the info. I know it’s not definitive, but that is a pretty good baseline indicator sheet.</p>
<p>Another question if you guys feel like answering would be about these “Financial Analyst” jobs that are on internet listings for Edward Jones, etc. Basically the ones that sound like where you work at some wealth management group in a small town. </p>
<p>They’re pitched at all us undergraduate business students. They seem too good to be true. They have a pretty decent base salary and room for commission and bonuses. Would those look good at all? </p>
<p>Also, Georgetown is ranked about 25th, right? I’ve heard them called “Second tier” multiple times. That should help my chances…</p>
<p>Interesting list. While I guess it’s a general guideline, I’ll say that I have four friends attending the schools on your first list (HBS and Wharton, specifically). Two fall under your first work experience description (IB at Goldman, consulting at McKinsey) and two fall under your third list of work experience (IT Consulting at firms considered even below Deloitte and Accenture). So, there are other things in your application that can stand out. You don’t need the super name brand employer to gain acceptance, but it helps.</p>
<p>Also, in regards to Georgetown, I have another friend who got waitlisted there and into Ross, which is ranked much higher. Just as there are some seemingly odd decisions with undergrad admissions, if it’s ranked lower it doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll get in there before higher ranked programs, so I’d apply to a decent spectrum if I were you.</p>
<p>If you’re asking if you have to be in management or consulting to get into a top-tier MBA program, the answer is a resounding NO. Those two industries just happen to be particularly well-suited for those seeking MBAs so they are very well represented, but that doesn’t mean they’re your only options. If you want to go into supply chain, then go into supply chain. Just gain solid experience, perform well, perhaps managing others/lead of a project, etc. and relay that info to MBA programs. You certainly could be a solid candidate and get into top schools from supply chain - it just depends on what you do with it.</p>
<p>That’s exactly what I am talking about. I know people who got into USC and Washington or Duke and didn’t get into Georgetown, with like 3.9 GPAs. I’m basically held down by a few random classes on my GPA that I really don’t have time to retake. Do MBA programs look more at your overall GPA, or in-major? What sort of work experience did your friend have, if you don’t mind my asking?</p>
<p>Someone mentioned management consulting firms earlier. I looked into those (I’m new to wanting to go into business, if you can’t tell) and think it would be exactly what I’m suited to. I don’t want to make a new thread about it, but do you guys think I would be an okay candidate for a management consulting firm with a 3.5 from UVA Wise?</p>
<p>And as a bit of a survey, have any of you even heard of UVA-Wise and knew it was linked to UVA?</p>
<p>My plan has always been to double major in Political Science and Business Administration. But as it stands, it’ll take me an added semester to pull off that double major and probably result in a lower GPA.</p>
<p>My question is this: In regards to some of the semi-top tier schools like this, would it be worth it to dump Business Administration as a major and focus on getting higher marks within my Political Science program? What about if I minor in Business Administration? Would I still be able to find the coveted “entry level corporate management” job that seems to be necessary for a future MBA?</p>
<p>Or should I just rough it out and get a double major with a slightly lower GPA?</p>