<p>Can someone please help me assess my chances at being admitted into a top MBA program. I'm majoring in Finance with a 3.8 GPA and my EC's include Treasurer, judicial board member, and house manager of my fraternity, Habitat for Humanity, Relay for Life, along with other small activities to fill in on my resume. I also plan to serve on my school's judicial board and work at a local investment bank branch office for my senior year and hope to intern with Merrill Lych next summer. I know I have the grades and have made 690-710 on diagnostic GMAT tests, so I have no worries there. My only concern is my work experience, which is none up to this point. I have done my research and most programs class average work experience is 2-5 years. Do schools such as Wharton, NYU, Berkeley, Chicago, etc. accept students with no work experience? I understand that with grad school having work experience is vital in order to participate in class discussions, but I just want to know my chances.</p>
<p>This is the graduate school forum. You might have better luck in the MBA forum</p>
<p>I don't understand the rush. Even if you could get into a top MBA program, you would be doing yourself a disservice by going now. Work for 2 or 3 years and then come back and post this question.</p>
<p>BTW, avg work experience at top business schools is generally 5 yrs with a few schools averaging just 4 years.</p>
<p>But wouldn't it be harder to get back to studying mode if you take 4-5 years off since you graduated?</p>
<p>^You don't need to study during business school anyway. There's no even ranking if I'm not mistaken</p>
<p>If you are a finance person, don't do an Masters Degree in Business Administration. Take the Chartered Financial Analyst Exams. :D</p>
<p>When it comes to the work experience, you'll be the one on the losing end if you jump into an MBA without any. An MBA is best appreciated when you've had 8 years of quality work experience, because half of the time the MBA lectures make use of corporate jargon and the real life cases your company couldn't solve. If you come in fresh out of college, you won't know HALF the stuff they're talking about, you won't appreciate 80% of the lessons, and you'll forget about when you start working then won't remember the lessons when you actually encounter the problems as a supervisor or director.</p>
<p>Anyway, the BEST school for an MBA is Harvard. Although the curriculum may not be as amazing as that of other Universities - Harvard delivers networking. That's pretty much the most important thing when you're a CEO or a supervisor - knowing people, who know people, who can help you make money.</p>
<p>If you are a female applicant to MBA programs, I highly recommend at least 3 years of solid work history. 8 years is a bit much because most adcoms know women want to start families in their late 20s and early 30s.</p>
<p>Here are my qualifications (I have not yet taken a GMAT):</p>
<p>EDUCATION
Hofstra University Honors College, Hempstead, NY 2008 - present
Accepted into the Zarb School of Business and Honors Program; currently a candidate for a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in Finance and a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Economics Class of 2011
Cumulative GPA- 3.85/4.00- Deans List
Business GPA- 3.96/4.00
Chaminade High School, Mineola, NY 2004 - 2008
Cumulative Average: 94.6 / Rank: 31 of 400</p>
<p>Recognition:
Selected for Chaminade Collegiate Program in senior year, earning 37 credits from Long Island University Senior Year
Scholarships: Hofstra Universitys Presidential Scholarship
Provost Scholar-Achieved 4.0 GPA in a given semester in Hofstras Honors Program
Deans List with 3.85 Cumulative GPA in Hofstras Honors Program
Chosen to be a member of the Golden Key International Honour Society </p>
<p>EXPERIENCE</p>
<p>iL Ferra Clothing Co. ([iL</a> Ferra Clothing Co.-A Company Designed and Modeled by its Fans!](<a href=“http://www.ilferraclothing.com%5DiL”>http://www.ilferraclothing.com)), Rockville Centre, NY September 2008-Present
Founder and owner of a skateboard clothing and apparel company
Created an innovative company that allows its fans to design and model the company
Interacted and established relationships with some of the largest manufacturers and distributors of clothing and apparel in New York City (i.e. Harvic International LTD.)</p>
<p>Cat Construction Corp., Rockville Centre, NY 2003 Present
Assistant project manager and personnel officer
Established the accounting and financial infrastructure
Developed policies and procedures for budgeting and minimizing costs in order to maximize profits
Constructed PERT charts to improve the planning, scheduling and reporting of construction projects</p>
<p>Heroes of Baseball Wax Museum, Cooperstown, NY Summers of 2003-2009
Manager of the wax museum and gift shop
Conducted break-even analyses on all inventory to determine volume profitability
Created an online website that generated higher revenue and profits</p>
<p>Westbury Beach Club, Atlantic Beach, NY July 2007- September 2007
Employed as a cabana boy and waiter
Developed strong customer service skills</p>
<p>SKILLS
Proficient with computers; training in Microsoft Word, Microsoft PowerPoint, and Microsoft Excel
Effective Leadership (Cat Construction Corp., Wax Museum, iL Ferra Clothing Co.)
Strong oral communication skills (Cat Construction Corp., Westbury Beach Club, Wax Museum)
Proven customer service skills (Westbury Beach Club, Wax Museum, iL Ferra Clothing Co.)
Team player (Westbury Beach Club, Cat Construction Corp., Wax Museum)
Personable (Westbury Beach Club, Wax Museum, iL Ferra Clothing Co.) </p>
<p>Just wondering if I have a good foundation of work experience and leadership qualities that MBA programs are looking for. I intend on getting an MBA in Finance and I plan on interning for an Investment Banking firm this summer!</p>
<p>(Thank you in advance for your answers, insights and suggestions!)</p>