<p>I want to start preparing to be a competitive applicant for a top 10 MBA program and would like some tips on where I can improve.</p>
<p>Currently my third year of college. First year at Indiana University- Bloomington. Cumlative GPA at the the end of this semester is going to be between a 3.6-3.7. I'm a peer tutor through the business school for a fundamentals of Microsoft Excel/ Access class and also a member of the judicial board here.</p>
<p>Before this I was at a community college for 2 years. Transferred to IU with a 3.6. Was part of Phi Theta Kappa (Honors Society for 2-Year Colleges) and PSI Beta (Honors Society in Psychology).</p>
<p>I am majoring in Accounting/ Finance. My "dream job" would be to do something related to investment banking. Second choice would be to go into public accounting or even (technology) consulting.</p>
<p>A few more stats:</p>
<p>-Completing my second accounting internship this summer at a small firm. (Going to begin networking intensely when I return in the fall to hopefully land an internship in something Finance related at a bigger company)</p>
<p>-First Generation Hispanic Male</p>
<p>What else can I do to stick out during my undergraduate career?
Which programs should I begin looking into? Where would I have the best shot of getting into if I keep going down this path? (or is it too soon to consider this)</p>
<p>From my understanding, it's easier to get into a top MBA program than it is to get accepted to undergraduate programs at top schools. I've seen average GPAs around 3.4ish-3.6ish to most of the top schools so I don't think my GPA will be a problem. I've also read that job experience and GMAT scores are big factors. </p>
<p>You can go into technology consulting without the MBA. Companies like Accenture, Deloitte, and E&Y will hire undergrads, especially business majors. You don’t have to spend the money or time on an MBA to get into those companies. And honestly, once you are there, they don’t care what your degree is, they care what you have done for them and their clients lately.</p>
<p>I’ve considered technology consulting because Deloitte is IUs biggest recruiter. They keep their eye out for the excel tutors and even host networking where they’re the only ones invited. </p>
<p>I’m considering that as a 3rd option though. Right now I really want to go into Investment Banking even though the odds are leaning towards something accounting related. </p>
<p>Investment Banking> Accounting> Technology Consulting are the 3 career paths I’m looking at. </p>
<p>Isn’t it true that an MBA can help you when it comes to a job promotion down the line? My sister is at Citigroup and she said he MBA helped her get the position she has now. My brother wants to go back to school to get his MBA so he can get a raise and promoted at his place too…</p>
<p>I have an MBA, but don’t think it matters much. Especially if you already have an undergrad business degree, you are getting the basic coursework anyway (remember that lots of MBAs don’t have undergrad business degrees, so the courses you take can be kind of repetitive if you have already taken a lot of it). Why don’t you target one of the consulting companies out of college for a couple of years, then decide about the MBA? MBA programs don’t want students without work experience… so try consulting for a couple of years and then decide.</p>
<p>Yeah maybe your right. Most MBA programs require experience but there’s a 3/2 program here where I can graduate with a bachelors and MBA in 5 years. I don’t think it would be worth it though unless I secured a job position with a big company. Plus the MBA program here is top 20-25. If I’m going to get an MBA, I want to try to get into a top 10 program.</p>
<p>A lot of places will help you pay for your MBA too so I’ve been thinking about that too. Another reason to hold off on it. </p>
<p>It is tough to get a company to pay for a full MBA from a top program. It does happen, but don’t count on it. You will have to do your own cost-benefit analysis. Is it worth taking two years off from working/earning AND paying tuition to a top program (if you get in) if you already have an undergraduate business degree? I’d suggest you get out into the working world for a couple of years before you are certain you know whether it will be worth it for you. </p>
<p>Even if you do the 3/2, it isn’t just the MBA programs that like work experience. It is the companies hiring out of those top programs, too. A student who goes straight to an MBA from undergrad is going to have a harder time getting a big salary job when they come out because they still don’t have any real work experience. It is the students with good experience plus the MBA that tend to do best in the job market. Plus, I think students with some work experience are better students in MBA programs as well – they get what the professors are talking about in a real-life way that someone who hasn’t worked doesn’t.</p>