<p>Is an MBA at a great school basically out even if you do well on the GMATs? I'm not just talking HWS but the second tier ones as well? What can you do to mitigate the situation?</p>
<p>Work up to a top company.</p>
<p>I think the mid to lower tier schools focuses a lot more on GMAT and GPA, since they do not get as strong of an applicant pool.</p>
<p>For admissions into elite schools, you need meaningful WE. It doesn’t have to be from a top consulting or banking firm. Your fit for the school is also important. For example, if you are from a non-traditional background, you should probably target Stanford, Fuqua, or Yale.</p>
<p>When I went for my interview at Fuqua, none of the students I talked to worked for top companies, but they all had interesting WE. I did not work for a top company, but I am admitted to Fuqua.</p>
<p>Can you expand on what you mean by “interesting work experience?”</p>
<p>example, my interviewer was a physician going back for a MBA.
a current student ran his own company prior to matriculation.
another student did extensive non-profit work.</p>