I want an M.B.A.

Graduate School Business School - MBA
1

<p>Okay so lately I have become quite infatuated with the corporate world, and am quite new to the process. I did the whole medical school thing, and unfortunately that did not work out. </p>

<p>So heres the stats:</p>

<p>haven't taken GMAT
graduating with a double major in psychology and human services
made deans list all four years in college
current g.p.a. 3.89
no work experience</p>

<p>....do I even stand a chance? I have applied for some entry level positions such as a bank teller (haven't heard back from the bank) and I hope to score at least a 600 on the GMAT.</p>

<p>Is work experience really necessary and do schools look for graduates who majored in Finance, Marketing and things of that nature.</p>

<p>Thanks in advance.</p>

2

<p>Yes. You can get an MBA right now if you wanted to -- even without taking the GMAT. There are accredited programs out there willing to grant you an MBA if you pay the tuition and do the time. It's for the reputable ones where you'll need to have a solid GPA and GMAT and good work experience.
What you majored in undergrad will not determine whether you get in or not.</p>

3

<p>really...I thought you would have to take the GMAT to enter into an M.B.A program. To be honest, I'm not really interested in Kellog or Wharton for that matter, I'm fine with a mediocre program. Can you name a few schools that would not require GMAT scores in the states.</p>

<p>thanks in advance...again.</p>

4

<p>Why are you fine with a mediocre one? Are you fine with making a mediocre salary? What's the point of getting an MBA then?</p>

<p>
[quote]
Okay so lately I have become quite infatuated with the corporate world,

[/quote]
</p>

<p>This is a big red flag for me. I think you need to work in the corporate world for a few years and then let's see how infatuated you are with it.</p>

5

<p>By "lately" I meant 2 years. Actually I have looked into the corporate environment and its something that suits me well. I have many friends who hold M.B.A.s and are working for reputable companies such as HSBC, KPMG, and the Royal Bank of Scotland. They attained their degree from State schools and are doing very well salary wise. By mediocre, I'm being realistic here and am not referring to Devry or anything of that nature.</p>

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<p>Graduate</a> - Admissions - Admissions and Costs - Golden Gate University</p>

<p>Though I think GGU is barely at the mediocre level.</p>

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<p>A few years after he gets the degree it won't even matter. Most people I know haven't gone to prestigious schools and are doing very well for themselves (certainly not "mediocre" in terms of salaries). </p>

<p>I'll admit it, I've gotten wrapped up in this prestige of programs myself, and the more I talk to adults with years of work experience, the more I think about how ridiculous all this nonsense is. </p>

<p>To the TS, you have much better grades than I do, and I plan on getting an MBA. I'll probably go to a cheap, unprestigious state school, just like my dad, and pay my dues in the work world rather than the academic one.</p>

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<p>
[quote]
They attained their degree from State schools and are doing very well salary wise. By mediocre, I'm being realistic here and am not referring to Devry or anything of that nature.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>I understand what you are saying. However, what I think you fail to grasp is the wide salary variance between good schools and average schools as well as the difference in career opportunities. The discrepancy is much larger for MBA programs than it is for undergrad programs. (btw, there are fantastic state schools, so that description doesn't mean much)</p>

<p>Every po-dunk university has an MBA program now and they are not all created equal. Recruiters know this. MBA graduates know this. I know this, and pretty much everyone on this forum knows this. If you go to a business school that allows a high number of undergrads to enter the program (and you are one of those undergrads), you aren't going to be much better off then getting an MBA. Forget the fact that you won't be considered for top jobs..but even if you get hired by a fortune 500 that also hires someone from a top 30 school, you aren't going to be hired at the same level that they are hired at. Your position won't be a whole hell of a lot different than an entry-level undergrad position.</p>

<p>
[quote]
I'm sorry vectorwega, but your post is ********. "Are you fine with making a mediocre salary?" Shut up dude. A few years after he gets the degree it won't even matter. Most people I know haven't gone to prestigious schools and are doing very well for themselves (certainly not "mediocre" in terms of salaries).

[/quote]
</p>

<p>^ "A balding loser" is a perfect example of why MBAs with no work experience are not looked upon very favorably by employers. As for his comments, they are simply ludicrous. In regards to salaries, i could name dozens of people who are doing "pretty well for themselves" with simply an undergrad degree. Doing "pretty well" is completely arbitrary. You should base your decision on actual numbers.</p>

<p>
[quote]
To the TS, you have much better grades than I do, and I plan on getting an MBA. I'll probably go to a cheap, unprestigious state school, just like my dad, and pay my dues in the work world rather than the academic one.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>Your stats may limit you to unprestigious school. The threadstarter is in quite a different situation. He could very well get into a good school in a few years and it would be a shame if he made the mistake of entering a program right now.</p>

<p>In regards to your dad, I know exactly what you are saying. My dad also attended an unprestigious state school and did quite well for himself. However, times are different now and MBA programs are different. Back then, students went directly from undergrad to get their MBAs. Today, the gap has increased because some schools require work experience (of most) and some don't. </p>

<p>My dad encouraged two of my brothers to get their MBAs straight out of undergrad and one ended up in a crap corporate job and the other one couldn't get a job and got out of business altogether. The avg starting salaries of students from the MBA programs my dad and my brothers attended are currently not much different than what I was paid out of undergrad 7 years ago (mediocre GPA, non top100 undergrad at the time).</p>

<p>In some instances going to a lower level MBA program makes sense (and i'm thinking of a school like TCU...really, i would avoid programs lesser than that). However, when you are a proven high performer in academia (3.89 GPA) why not try to prove yourself as a high performer in the real world because if you are a high performer there you are seriously limitiing yourself.</p>

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<p>representative of their MBA programs.</p>

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<p>To talk to the OP: Calicartel wasn't suggesting you GO to one of the programs that doesn't require the GMAT, he was only pointing out that what's "required" for an MBA admission is really very low if you're willing to settle low enough.</p>

<p>You certainly will want work experience to apply to, say, a top-30 MBA program. And you'll have to take the GMAT for those programs. Keep your eyes open for good job opportunities (and ask around) -- sometimes some good ones come up without warning.</p>

<p>Where did you do undergrad?</p>

11

<p>@bluedevilmike</p>

<p>I went to Loyola University Chicago, which has the second best MBA program in the midwest, but seats are limited so I thought I'd look elsewhere.</p>

<p>@VectorWega</p>

<p>I know three people with M.B.A.s who are earning near 70k, alll went to state schools, however two graduated with honors so I'm not sure how much of that played into their salarly and them attaining a job.</p>

<p>There are far more deserving students than I who have dreamt of entering Kellogg, Stern, or Wharton from day 1 of their undergraduate careers. Don't get me wrong, I would like to enter one of these schools, but I'm not looking into becoming the Chief Financial Officer or CEO of some major corporation, rather I prefer working at a lower tier, such as a job in consulting and (or) marketing. I like money too (who doesn't) but in terms of salary I'm hoping for at least 60k starting with a minimum of 2 years work experience in the industry, which is possible if you look at how much people are getting paid in major cities (partially accountable for the cost of living).</p>

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<p>...But thanks you guys for your honest advice and constructive criticism.</p>

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<p>
[quote]
I went to Loyola University Chicago, which has the second best MBA program in the midwest

[/quote]
</p>

<p>Hmmm... so if Loyola is second, then Kellogg and Chicago GSB are tied for first? ;) I'm sure that Kelley, Mendoza, and Olin would be willing to scrap for second place in the Midwest with Loyola...</p>

<p>
[quote]
I know three people with M.B.A.s who are earning near 70k, alll went to state schools, however two graduated with honors so I'm not sure how much of that played into their salarly and them attaining a job

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</p>

<p>You do understand that the STARTING median base compensation for MBAs out of the top ~10-ish schools is six figures, right?
I don't dispute that, for the rest of your life, what you do/accomplish will trump where you went to school. But for the most part, rightly or wrongly, where you start off and your initial trajectory can be heavily influenced by where you obtained your MBA.</p>

14

<p>
[quote]
Most people I know haven't gone to prestigious schools and are doing very well for themselves (certainly not "mediocre" in terms of salaries). </p>

<p>I'll admit it, I've gotten wrapped up in this prestige of programs myself, and the more I talk to adults with years of work experience, the more I think about how ridiculous all this nonsense is.

[/quote]

I know of college dropouts that have gone on to become billionaires. While often very entertaining and inspiring to hear about, exceptions don't make the rule.</p>

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<p>
[quote]
I know three people with M.B.A.s who are earning near 70k

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</p>

<p>Consultants with undergraduate degrees should be making that type of money within a few years. I don't know what your career prospects look like right now with your psychology degree, but would still recommend u work for a few years and return for an MBA.</p>

<p>
[quote]
rather I prefer working at a lower tier, such as a job in consulting and (or) marketing.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>Well, it's obviously too early to speculate about being a CEO or CFO, but these jobs you mentioned are not "lower tier". Strategy consulting jobs from top MBA programs pay an average of 120k starting plus $20k bonus (and from a lower top 20 school these numbers wouldn't be all that much lower). Starting salaries for marketing are lower but still 85 to 95k for top 20 schools.</p>

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<p>"At Loyola University Chicago's Graduate School of Business, we offer practical, flexible academic programs that are responsive to today's dynamic global business environment. Our M.B.A. program was recently ranked among the top 20 part-time M.B.A. programs nationally in 2007 by U.S. News & World Report." - Website</p>

<p>I must have read wrong, but their MBA program is in the top twenty. </p>

<p>Its really not about the money, I just want to get an MBA and have an opportunitity to work in the corporate environment. Its something, I'm very passionate about, and my passion exceeds any salary expectations. I don't want to work for free though (as I'm sure most of you would agree) but I'm not all that crazy about earning a 6 figure salary. I just want to be happy and satisfied in what I do.</p>

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<p>
[quote]
I must have read wrong, but their MBA program is in the top twenty.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>Yes, you have read wrong. Their program is not in the top 50 much less top 20. Part Time rankings are pretty worthless. We could spin this into a seperate debate about part-time vs full-time but for now just note that we are talking about full time programs when referring to rankings.</p>

<p>BTW, you can find salary statistics on the school's website: Loyola</a> University Chicago- Student Employment Reports</p>

<p>Keep in mind that with no work experience, you would most likely be coming in at the low end of the pay spectrum.</p>

<p>
[quote]
have an opportunitity to work in the corporate environment.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>Getting a job in a corporate environment is not difficult. You certainly don't need an MBA to get one.</p>

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<p>i hope this doesn't get me banned, thats not my intention, but..</p>

<p>vectorwega, i don't think you realize how much your comments put people off...you really do sound like a brat in some of your responses. you just completely bashed the guy's school...as a matter of fact, loyola is where i go to school too...and it kinda made me feel like crap the way you just put it down for no reason....you couldve stated your opinion without saying, "its not in the top 50, much less the top 20." what are you trying to do, embarrass us? </p>

<p>honestly, seeing how you behave makes me want to dismiss all the advice you give around here. most people with any time in the real world dont care this much about the superficial US news rankings, which makes me question whether or not you even have real work experience. im starting to doubt it.</p>

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<p>
[quote]
you just completely bashed the guy's school

[/quote]
</p>

<p>I just spoke the truth about an MBA program that he is not in yet...</p>

<p>
[quote]
loyola is where i go to school too...

[/quote]
</p>

<p>and neither are you.</p>

<p>
[quote]
"its not in the top 50, much less the top 20." what are you trying to do, embarrass us?

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</p>

<p>Does that embarrass you? In this thread, I previously mentioned that I had attended a undergraduate school that wasn't even top 100 at the time. Sorry, it's the truth.</p>

<p>
[quote]
superficial US news rankings

[/quote]
</p>

<p>Don't look at the rankings then. Do research yourself on salary statistics.</p>

20

<p>lol</p>

<p>"just speaking the truth" is such a copout. you can make a point without being rude, and you'd have to be blind not to see how your post could be construed that way. </p>

<p>anyway, like I said, I think youre as clueless as the rest of us, and thats probably why you cling to UNWR so religiously.</p>