MBA - Right out of college

Graduate School Business School - MBA
1

<p>I'm about to become a junior (with senior standing) who is studying EECS at Berkeley. I'm interested in going into entrepreneurial engineering, corprate tech finance, or tech VC. I'd look to go into an MBA program straight out so as not to lose time. I've heard most programs ask for 2-4 years of experience, but I feel like I'm a little different...</p>

<p>I plan to graduate with at least a 3.5 GPA (Our program is ranked top 3 in the nation). I manage/own/operate a sole proprietorship that generates in excess of $500,000 in revenue with 5 contracted part-time reps. Academically, I have numerous independent technical research from high school/college. I've been playing the stock market (successfully) since I was 13. </p>

<p>Do I have a shot? If so, which MBA programs encourage college seniors? Which would be a good math for my interests? Are there any special things I should be currently doing (ex: I potentially have a Haas professor that I could work/volunteer for and get a rec from)? I have the oppertunity to spend summers interning at a Silicon Valley VC, is this worth it or do admissions understand it is low involvement?</p>

<p>Any advice helps, I come from a family of engineers and am clueless on b-schools.</p>

<p>Thanks in advance!</p>

2

<p>try the ONE pinned thread at the top of the board:</p>

<p><a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showthread.php?t=194375%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showthread.php?t=194375&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

3

<p>I've seen similar stories - and it's still pretty fricking hard. I definitely wouldn't count on a top 10 program. But you could probably get in a top 30 program.</p>

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<p>Why the rush?</p>

5

<p>I feel that I've already (and still continue) proving myself. </p>

<p>Plus, I'd like to start on a career and probably be part of a startup. I know if I don't get the degree after college, I won't at all (going back to school won't be worth dropping everything). The lack of a degree will hurt me at the beginning, but once I set off, I feel as I'll learn through experience or others more than an MBA program can teach me. </p>

<p>What do admissions look for when your at my age? Would professor recs help or better use of time to grow the business?</p>

6

<p>So, if you want to be part of a startup - where there won't be some corporate hierarchy with the guy above you always saying "well I have an MBA so you need one too" - and you think you could learn more actually out working that back in school, why do you want to spend $100k (plus two years of your life plus lost earnings of about $135k) on an MBA?</p>

7

<p>personal satisfaction, experience, connections. also a back-up plan to rely on. </p>

<p>If everything was about earning money, i'd drop school, work full time, and make more than I need. I think thats clear by my choice to stay in school.</p>

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<p>Are you implying the only reason for an MBA is to talk back to the give above and say "I've got one too"?</p>

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<p>No, I'm saying in a larger corporation you might need one to advance. If you are in on a startup, all anyone would care about is your performance on the job. The vast majority of people who get MBAs do so because they think they need one to advance.</p>

10

<p>skiingfool101, there are many, many, many mba programs. If you are steadfast on getting an MBA straight our of college then you most definitely can. Although many would not advise doing so, there are a lot of kids that do. Just don't count on a top program. If that is not important to you (which is certainly fine) then go for it. Top programs, though, are looking for potential leaders who have already shown great potential in previous employment.</p>

11

<p>Take a look at most CEOs, tech VCs, and founders. Most of these guys did not need to advance rather needed the degree for understanding and a way of thinking. You'll see the majority of them have an undergraduate engineering degree and an MBA from a top 10. Maybe it was in the older days, but I've noticed that the degrees are exactly a couple years post bachelors?</p>

<p>"Top programs, though, are looking for potential leaders who have already shown great potential in previous employment."</p>

<p>Explain how creating and managing a multi-million dollar company for 5 years is not enough for a top program. Yet, working at a desk doing tedious corporate tasks would be. </p>

<p>I've seen these profiles, they put on the website and I'm confused. For the most part, these are all "corporate climbers." None of them have started anything successful else they wouldn't be at someone elses firm, none of them took risks. They entered a big firm - Goldman, E&Y, etc for the most prestigious... and have sat there slowly rising for some time. I feel I have experience and most of it is more than others I've read - yes it is NOT in a corporate setting, rather more entrepreneurial. </p>

<p>I guess I'll just begin applying and re-apply yearly until I find a school which believes in me. I'll decide when its worth going if I get in first.</p>

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<p>Its always nice to see someone doing thier own thing.</p>

<p>Much luck to you in the future.</p>

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<p>Based on your profile and interest, I would say you could be a good candidate for Haas, Stanford and Sloan. If you are ready, apply and let the adcom judge if you have the qualication for their classes. </p>

<p>While you may have gathered some "great experience", just bear in mind that someone else similar to your profile may have even stronger track records. Also you should be able to articulate a good story why MBA.</p>

14

<p>After seeing the discussion here, I'm somewhat swayed. SkiFool, you may in fact be one of those rare candidates who has the background to be "ready" for an MBA out of college.</p>

<p>At College Day at HBS, they mentioned that out of their class of ~900, they had 12 guys who had come in straight out of undergrad. I met one of them. He had started, managed, grown and sold his business (I forget in what) while an undergrad at Brown. He was an arrogant prick but he clearly had tremendous potential.</p>

<p>To answer your questions,</p>

<p>"Do I have a shot?" </p>

<p>Potentially. But you should be prepared to continue being an entrepreneur for a few years and demonstrate not just an ability to run a sole proprietorship but to grow a business and run with it. Show some managerial or executive competence, network a lot, maybe get bought. If your venture is good enough, perhaps some VCs might take an interest.</p>

<p>"If so, which MBA programs encourage college seniors?"</p>

<p>None of the top ones. Simply put, applicants are much "safer bets" to have a wildly successful career in business once they have demonstrated those abilities in a work environment for a few years, been promoted, gotten tremendous recommendations from ex-managers, etc. Admission committees are always going to prefer guys who have shown that they can work their asses off and succeed in the pressure-cooker environment of an investment bank or a top consulting firm.</p>

<p>"Which would be a good math for my interests?"</p>

<p>That's a question for books like How</a> to Get Into the Top Business Schools, by Richard Montauk. I found it to be an excellent book.</p>

<p>"Are there any special things I should be currently doing (ex: I potentially have a Haas professor that I could work/volunteer for and get a rec from)?"</p>

<p>That would be a great way to spend some side time in your senior year. It depends on what sectors you're most interested in, and what sorts of leadership skills you can be able to demonstrate. A professor at a business school is like a repository of contacts and useful advice, they're the polar opposites of engineering professors who prefer to sit around doing research all day.</p>

<p>"I have the oppertunity to spend summers interning at a Silicon Valley VC, is this worth it or do admissions understand it is low involvement?"</p>

<p>Depends on the quality of work and your opportunity cost (i.e., what else could you be doing with the time?). If it's Sequoia Capital and they want you to do analyst work with revenue models, valuations, market research, etc... that's great stuff. If some no-name shop with like $10MM AUM wants you to be an office b*tch, it's not worth it at all.</p>

15

<p>What type of business? Do you consult? Do you produce a product?</p>

<p>Certain businesses have better cache than others. Someone who has grown a business in IT consulting might be seen as "not as good" as one who creates and sells software. If the HBS stats hold for other top 10 programs things like this might become an issue.</p>

<p>Yes, you are clearly 99.9th percentile - but that might not be enough, simply by looking at the HBS stats. Like I said before. Getting into many programs between 10-30 ranks is probable. Top ten though is a different story.</p>

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<p>Letters of rec from professors should only be a last resort if you can't get anything more work-related. I guess if you have no experience you don't have any other choice, unless you have some internships.</p>

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<p>The business is exclusively product-based. We have a small product line as well. It is by no means includes consulting in any way. </p>

<p>The VC I can work at is a top Silicon Valley. Funny, you mention Sequoia - I almost ended up working there for a summer. It is another one of equal caliber. </p>

<p>My question regarding the professor and research entails the thought that a 'contact' is needed. I'm already here at Cal and can easily make connections and get my name out at Haas. Is this a good use of time or is this not a factor in decisions?</p>

<p>As you may have guessed, I'd like to go to a top school. Not to seem arrogant, but I and most of my friends feel that am I extremely accomplished for my age. </p>

<p>Focusing on tech business and finance, if I could go anywhere, it would be to Stanford, Haas, Wharton, Sloan - probably in that order. Moving away from the Bay Area would require that I give up my position at work. Any advice/tactics for these schools? I guess waiting a year or two would not hurt me greatly, only delay my true interests. But that said, what is the best utilization of time to maximize the chances for admission into these programs? They all seem between 10-20% with a highly self-selected applicant pool. </p>

<p>Thanks in advance!</p>

18

<p>hello everone. Im really concerned about my gmat scores. Im going to be a junior and my scores really don't match my gpa. I have a 3.65 gpa with a major in accounting. This is really embarassing but the first diagnostic test i took, I got a 260. I did better on the second test I took but Im not satisfied with my score The only reason why I got a 260 was because Im was worrying excessively and for some reason could not tap into my intellect. I have to overcome this anxiety and at least get a 500 or higher. I guess the only way I'm going to really increase my score is to take the kaplan program and re-read and re-read and practice the sample tests. anybody should be able to get a 500. Thats like the mminimum score. The only question I have is there any easy way to score higher on the test or you have to hit the grindstone and keep on practicing.</p>

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<p>Don't you get a 200 just for writing your name? PRACTICE PRACTICE PRACTICE. Get all the study books and PRACTICE PRACTICE PRACTICE.</p>

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<p>Im pretty confident that I can raise my score to a 650. My instructor said is was definitely possible. and honeslty it doesn't really matter what buisness school I go to. I just want that MONEY in the bank. Lots of it!!!!!! But yes i will keep practicing and practicing and practicing.</p>