<p>Here's my story, after graduating from college I landed a job in the legal field. I started studying for the LSAT as well but after much contemplation, I realized law school may not be for me (considering various factors).</p>
<p>Before considering law school however, I was interested in business. Due to some problems with my credits transferring after going to 2 community college I was unable to get a degree in finance (plus probs in pre-reqs). Anywho, I regret that alot. Maybe more than anything because Im sure I would have at least enjoyed my work and what I do.</p>
<p>My question is simple, I have a bachelors of science degree and little over a year of professional work experience. Im really unhappy with where I am academically and professionally and have considered going back to graduate school for either an MBA or MSF. </p>
<p>Granted I dont plan on going into a top 20 B-school or working on wall street, Im okay with just a decent program. Would it be a wise move if I just applied after 2 years of professional work experience and a 580 on the GMAT? Im looking into University of Houston's CT Bauer. Also would the fact that I have only legal and no business experience help or hurt?</p>
<p>I would try to speak with an admissions committee member, or try to find stats on your own regarding average GMAT for that school, as well as average years of employment prior to entry. That will help answer your question.</p>
<p>i would strongly consider part-time MBA programs. going full-time outside the top 10 or so schools is a somewhat questionable financial decision. </p>
<p>you usually go full-time to radically switch careers into a high-paying business field like banking or consulting, so that you can quickly repay your student loans. this option is not available from lower-ranked mba programs, so you could be saddled with debt.</p>
<p>a part-time MBA will allow for a less drastic career change (maybe entry level manager in a large corporation) and provide less of a financial downside, as you will take on a much smaller debt burden.</p>
<p>Go non-matriculated and take some graduate level classes. You’re probably only allowed 3. Take 1 class at a time and work full time in 1 - 2 years apply to a PT MBA program.</p>
<p>Taking the business classes will:
help you decide if business is what you really want to do
get you more experience in business while you continue to work at the law firm.
Strengthen your application.</p>
<p>Don’t get less than a B in any class. Take an intro accounting class, an intro econ class (Macroeconomics may be easier and more relevant to what you understand), and an intro marketing or HR class. If all else fails you’ll have “graduate studies in business” to put on your resume. also you will have only spent about $6k</p>
<p><strong><em>Careful about the economics class. Graduate economics is no joke you may need to do a calculus review if it’s an analysis class.</em></strong> </p>
<p>Then speak to a graduate advisor (you probably should do that first. It may be required) to sort out your plans for your MBA if you still want one.</p>
<p>Boston is right. go PT if you can. Your background doesn’t scream math to me so you may want to reconsider your career goals. IB work may not require high math but to get there it does. Psychology and Marketing go well. You may want to consider organizational management type degrees and not an MBA. Health Administration, Public Policy, etc.</p>
<p>I agree with the above two posts. One specific though: you said intro econ class, but then you mentioned something about graduate economics. If the OP has no prior econ coursework, he definitely shouldn’t/won’t be allowed to take any graduate econ courses. I’m not sure what you were meaning to say, but yes he definitely should take intro econ. And intro econ is not calculus-based.</p>
<p>The 1st 2 graduate econ classes at Temple U. are designed for “beginners”. They also allowed non econ students in. I had a classmate in graduate political science.</p>
<p>You’ll get a B without calculus but it will be a hard B.</p>
<p>Tortfeaser; I don’t know how you define “high math”, but banking absolutely does not require anything close to high math. You need the right personality type, and a bit of accounting and corporate finance knowledge. I know some bankers who can barely do math without excel.</p>
<p>The vast majority of top MBAs do not know “high math”, nor do most econ/business UGs from top schools, and yet these are the typical feeders for Associate/Analyst classes.</p>
<p>BostonEng: PT is an option I plan on taking, thankfully as an employee at my company they are willing to offer a 35% tuition discount as long as I remain on staff. This will definetly help. </p>
<p>Tortfeasor: Im not interested in health administration, public policy, or investment banking. I have taken several core classes for a BBA, but again due to switching 3 colleges (yes 3) - some credits would not transfer. So yes, I have taken econ and accounting at the undergrad level.</p>
<p>Giants92: Yea, I dont think Intro to Econ is Calc based.</p>