Is work experience really necessary to get into a top MBA program?

<p>Please remember, too, that your "real world" full time work experience, post-graduation from college, will affect not only you admission into MBA programs, but also your success in getting a job coming out of your MBA program. The higher the quality of your work experiences, the more promotions you received and the greater the level of responsibility that you handled will all be examined closely by companies recruiting employees out of your MBA program.</p>

<p>I shall remember well. Thank you very much ^__^;;
I hope I can come back to these forums after many years and thank you guys for your help =)</p>

<p>I need some advice. I'm interested in applying for a JD/MBA program, but I want to start immediately after I finish my undergrad (at UCSD); I have a GPA around 3.3, and I have been a real estate agent/loan officer for two years already, I currently run my own real estate and mortgage company, and will be obtaining my broker's license this September. I have been working well over 40 hours a week over the last 2 years (although undocumented), and my businesses have been successful enough to finance my undergrad. My questions are:
1) Is this sufficient work experience for most MBA programs?
2) What schools should I realistically be applying to? (With a 3.3 GPA and above average LSAT/GMAT scores)</p>

<p>2.) You need an LSAT score before this can be well-assessed.</p>

<p>I'm chiming back in here in reference to a previous post that asks how one can work full time and attend school full time? It's possible. Take my word - when you have to do both - you do both. </p>

<p>Additionally, to make this point more clear, law school doesn't require 4+ hours of studying per day. In fact, after the first 1 and 1/2 months in as a 1L, studying dropped off to about 30 min a day (mostly before class). </p>

<p>As for 2nd and 3rd years - well I didn't even purchase books this year for three of my classes. That should give a hint of how much studying is needed.</p>

<p>I will also say that the bulk of my studying occurs during the month before finals. It is during that period that every law student learns what they need to know for the exam. You may hear stories of 98 page outlines for courses - yeah, they exist. But I wouldn't use that as a benchmark for succeeding in law school. In fact, in any given course I've taken I can distill the course down to 10-20 different rules to memorize and apply during the exam - and usually walk out with an A to B. </p>

<p>So yes, to sum up - it's VERY possible.</p>

<p>thanks, (I think you were referring to a post that was based off of my question Xd) . However, what was your major? I'm doing EE at the moment (or will be attending next year)</p>

<p>I think JD with MBA degree is pretty worht it. Nowadays many lawyers are dealing with business matters and they need the related knowledge to provide right legal services to the clients. For instance, if the lawyers can understand the principle of accounting and finance, it would be easier for them to work with these issues which became remarkably complex and impotant these days. The demand of JD/MBA degree is increasing a lot and will increase substantially near future</p>

<p>i agree with that. I'm studying for the gmat and lsat right now, but even if I do well on those test and have a great gpa, that work experience is still looming over me. Sure average schools don't require work experience, but for Ivy league, how specific does the experience have to be, if I have my own LLC would that cut it? or do i actually have to work at a popular firm like merrill-lynch?</p>

<p>I am currently deciding between grad schools for Engineering, some are PhD programs and some MS. My field is biomed engineering, and the more I research schools and programs, Ive thought about getting a MS and a M.Eng Management (the latter takes about 1 year full time I believe). My rationale is that this would get me a much better job in the same field (medical/ortho devices probably). Here is where I have two questions:
1) What kind of jobs can one get with a MS/M.E.M?
2) What kind of weight will these jobs carry when applying to a top-20 business school?</p>

<p>Muchos Gracias...</p>

<p>Ok, so would I be right to assume that work experience is less important to NON-TOP 30 Business schools? I don't plan on going to Harvard or Wharton, or any Ivy League B-school, so for less known schools, is work experience not as important of a factor? Which leads me to my next question, I've heard a lot of people say that if you can't get a law degree from a top school, then there is no point in going to law school, assuming that is true (which I don't think it is) is getting an MBA from a non-Ivy league, non-top 30 school pointless? I mean, if I get an MBA from a lesser known Business school, will I still get a decent job? I'm not expecting a huge salary, I just want to make sure that if I go to a Business school that isn't the cream of the crop, that I will at least have the opportunity to succeed in the business world, even if it takes me longer than say a Harvard or Wharton MBA.</p>

<p>Hi Everyone,</p>

<p>This will be my first post, I landed on this forum on accident by searching google but forum is more than helpfull to say the least. </p>

<p>I recently got into The University of Florida's business undergrad program (Warrington business college). I know this isn't up to par with a ivy league college but I am happy to made it this far. </p>

<p>I want to get into UF's MBA program and like many colleges they require 4 years of minimum post BA work experience. My problem is that I don't know if I want jump into a career right after graduation without doing some graduate work. Is it possible to earn a higher education in business with all of work experience or should I settle with a job offer upon graduation? </p>

<p>I'm only a junior and I know it is early to think about these things but my main concern besides a decent job offer is good pay. My grades are not of a factor since my GPA is a 4.0</p>

<p>Thanks,</p>

<p>Leon</p>

<p>Boston College has a joint MBA/Law program you might want to look into.</p>

<p>I know this has been talked about again and again, but I needed soem clarification about the defn. of 'full time' work experience. I am currently in midst of a 16 month internship after my junior year at a major IT Gaint, doing a semi technical and a project management job. Is it possible for me to apply to Biz schools say after a year of work after I graduate ?</p>

<p>The concept is simple. MBA's generally consider one's work experience after graduating from college. Your 16 month internship is obviously substantial, but it won't really count. Besides, the average post-undergraduate stdies, full time work experience for MBA students these days is 48-72 months. You can always try of course, but even if you get into an MBA program, you will be competing against students who have 3-5 times more work experience than yourself.</p>

<p>hi,
I'm currently a rising sophomore at NYU college (non-stern). I'm majoring in econ and minoring in "pre-business," and plan to minor or major in mathematics. As I am not an undergrad business student, I would like to know the following:
1. what business/finance related jobs are offered to an econ major?
2. how is the econ major regarded as by the top MBA schools?
3. any other suggestions that could help me get into an MBA school
Thanks</p>

<p>Sorry, one more question.
I will be (hopefully) graduating with a Masters degree in Mech Engineering in a few years, so my job will most likely be in an Engineering field. Someone stated previously that you had to go into banking or consulting.</p>

<p>Can engineering work be counted as "work experience"??</p>

<p>Yes, it certainly does.</p>

<p>Sakky, or anyone else that could answer this.</p>

<p>You know what you are talking about, I don't but I want to</p>

<p>Do you think you could answer this question for me very quickly? if not, its all good</p>

<p>I am a rising High school senior applying to colleges for the Fall semester of 2008. I know I would like to combine Spanish (in which I am already fluent), Portuguese, and Italian (which are both similiar to spanish) with a business education. However, I do not know how exactly to approach this task. Should I go to a small liberal arts school like Middlebury (one of my top choices, and a great language school) and study these languages intensely and then apply to a business school, or should I focus on a large school at which I can study the languages while obtaining my Bachelor's degree in Business/Finance?</p>

<p>My ideal situation in the future would be having the ability to speak the above languages fluently in addition to having my MBA.</p>

<p>What should I do?</p>

<p>^ Majoring in International Business is probably a good thing for you to do. I think Penn has a probably where you can get a degree from Wharton and CAS in 4 years. It's called Huntsman or something along those lines. Good Luck :)</p>

<p>Hi everyone...i had a question regarding business school entrance...i just graduated from University of Maryland, College Park with a double major in Finance and Economics (Honors) and now i am working with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) on a 2 year contract...i want to knw that when i leave here in 2 years will i have enough and good enough experience to be able to get into a top MBA program? also i am interested in international business and international law (i am an international student myself) so do u think i have a shot at getting into a top JD/MBA program when I leave the IMF after 2 years like say Wharton? Please help me out so I can then start preparing for the GMAT/ LSAT accordingly...thanx a lot!</p>