<p>Hi. My stats are as follows: </p>
<p>Undergrad: Top 35 school, received BS in electrical/computer engineering, GPA of 2.9, research experience in integrated circuit design, scored 90th percentile on dental admissions exam</p>
<p>Dental School: I initially applied to 20 dental schools, of which only one barely accepted me. This school isn't known for dentistry but is a big-name institution; GPA of 2.8 ; received the DDS degree; National Board of Dental Examiners, Northeast Regional Boards and Western Regional Boards certificates; NYS licensure</p>
<p>General Dentistry Residency: Ivy League medical center and largest municipal hospital in NY</p>
<p>I want to make a career change and possibly enter management consulting or investment banking in a NYC firm.</p>
<p>It appears I'll need an MBA to get any further but my undergrad/grad gpas are drastically low and I don't have any prior work experience in business. </p>
<p>Any suggestions on how I can strengthen myself for an MBA program at a school like NYU Stern ? </p>
<p>Also, suppose I do make it into a strong mba program. Will that nearly guarantee me entry into a high-paying job in the field of mgmt consulting or i-banking? I also don't have any past experience in consulting or i-banking; will that affect me when I look for jobs within these industries? </p>
<p>More importantly, what should I do? </p>
<p>Thks</p>
<p>Your unique work experience (as a dentist) itself could easily make you stand out. The GPA won't count too negatively as long as you present a high GMAT score (relative to the class profile of Stern or Columbia). The key is to convince adcom that you can do well academically in the program (given your < 3.0 GPA).</p>
<p>Given your lack of IBC experience, your best bet is to attend a 2-year residence program so you can use the summer internship to gain some IBC experience. Note internship slots at top IBC firms is highly competitive. I suggest that you try using the alum connection to transition into boutique firms that specialize in health care (hence fully levaraged your prior experience).</p>
<p>The other important aspect is your essays. You need to tell a good story why the transition now and why a particular school. </p>
<p>Bottom line, stop worrying about your GPA. That's nothing you can about it, can you? Prepare and do well in GMAT. Visit schools (and talk to students/alums to make sure their programs can really help you). Work on the essays.</p>
<p>Thks for the advice. </p>
<p>I don't know the contents of GMAT but, if the past is any indication, I had gotten mid 1300s on the SAT ( old format; don't remember scores from SAT II ) and 90th percentiles on the DAT ( taken many college years later ). </p>
<p>To be realistic, I'm expecting a GMAT score comparable to the results of my previous standardized exams. </p>
<p>And in terms of personality, I'm a nice guy, but am not generally likeable and tend to have little ability in social skills. </p>
<p>In all honestly, does it even make sense for me to contemplate about mba programs for entering the investment banking or consulting field? ( I mean the really lucrative ones, and thus are expected to be really competitive. And I don't want to do anything involving healthcare )</p>
<p>No grad of any MBA program is guaranteed a job in consulting or ibanking. There is huge competition even at Harvard and Stanford for these job. A lot is about personality and fit with the organization. They interview you multiple times in multiple environments and want to meet your gf!</p>
<p>Are you significantly older than the average candidate? What is your goal? If you have the business touch why not open dental offices?</p>
<p>If not i-banking or consulting, what are my prospects of getting a lucrative position in management at a major corporation?</p>
<p>And am I being out-of-touch in thinking a top mba program is in my reach?</p>
<p>I think another possible hurdle is that you have been switching majors quite often. First engineering, then dentistry, and now business. They will want to know why you really want to go into business and whether you know what you really want.</p>
<p>lucrative OP, you need to look at two of your major concerns separately. The first point is getting admitted to a one top MBA program which has been fairly well addressed by various posters and other threads. Bottom line, you have a shot.</p>
<p>The other point is reaching your career goal(s) once you are in the business school. Before one can answer that question, you need to think hard about the academy/career decisions you have made thus far and why you want another career change now. You have used the word "lucrative" twice, leading to me believe that you are solely interested in a well-paid position (IBC or not). Are you not satisfied with your current compensation? Is there still room for career growth in your chosen profession? The main reason I ask is that you may NOT need an MBA to reach your goal. </p>
<p>As to whether a top MBA is right for you, I suggest you visit some of the schools. Assuming you are in NYC, attend the information sessions at Stern and Columbia. Make a day trip to Boston to visit HBS and Sloan (MIT). If time permits, swing by Yale SOM. That should give you a pretty good idea of different favors of a top MBA program.</p>
<p>The op said: "And in terms of personality, I'm a nice guy, but am not generally likeable and tend to have little ability in social skills."</p>
<p>To get the really big bucks in ibanking, consulting and management in general, most people are great rainmakers and motivators which generally means great social and schmoozing skills. </p>
<p>josmith -- You are at a point that you should really think through which careers would be a good match to your skills, interests and personality. If you can find a great match, the money will come because you will be able to excell. Perhaps you would be an outstanding researcher. Some MBAs do market research, forecasting and operations management. There are other careers that don't require great people skills. Anyway, it seems to me that some self-assessment would be beneficial. The career center at your undergraduate school might be able point you in the right direction.</p>
<p>Litmus test for B-School personality. If you do great with girls, you'll probably do great with clients. Please don't flame me for this, because that's what I've observed.</p>
<p>mba2008 your test couldn't be more wrong. at least half of MBAs are losers hoping that MBA salary will help them get girls !!</p>
<p>LoL!!! I was only kidding! :D</p>
<p>If that litmus test were true, then dumb jocks who "routinely get girls" would be great for elite business schools. We all know that isn't true.</p>
<p>Your best bet seriously is to go into Pharmaceutical consulting. Use your experience as a plus and it will make you stand out.</p>