I am currently going to college and will not graduate until I am about 28-29 years old. I was interested in IB but it seems my age would be a problem. My goal in the future is to get into an M7 business school for my MBA. What career path would you recommend so I can get the optimal work experience required asap to get into a top MBA program considering my age?
The goal is to work the least amount of years to satisfy M7 business school requirements.
Thanks.
Stanford & Harvard MBA programs tend to prefer younger applicants.
Northwestern & Penn are more age (30 & over) friendly.
I will PM you some info.
You should first think about getting into a field or a career path that you would enjoy. There is no specific career path for admission to top ranked MBA schools. Two to four years of solid work experience is fine. While you are in college, maintain a good cummulative GPA (3.5+) and later study to attain a good GMAT score (around 700+).
Agree with @UCBUSCalum; an MBA is a tool, nothing more. What is your actual goal?
OP: There are definitely feeder employers into the M-7.
Either I do not understand the above two posts, or they are somewhat off base.
For confirmation, just follow my earlier PM & you will have no doubts.
In fact, the M-7 programs are, in large part, designed to serve the needs of these feeder employers.
This is almost universally understood.
agreed that there are about 20 organizations (esp consultancies) that are way over-represented in the M7 and could be considered ‘feeder schools’, but that doesn’t change the relevance of the question: what is the ultimate goal? simply getting an MBA from one of the M7 is not an end in itself, but a tool to get to the next thing. If the ultimate goal is to get into consulting, for example, then graduate entry schemes at the big firms are an important pathway. If the ultimate goal is to be CEO of Lockheed Martin, the pathway is different.
OP seems to have decided that IB won’t work b/c of age, and is casting about for any career path that will get her/him an MBA from a tippy top business school- but to what end? most people do best when they are working in a field in which they are actually interested.
OP’s only stated goal is admission to one of the M-7 MBA schools/programs.
Got that 
That’s why I was asking for more info, to be able to give a better overall answer.- career paths don’t end at an MBA
I am interested in consulting
If you are interesting in consulting, with only a bachelors degree, you can get hired into the consulting groups of Big Four firms (PwC, Deloitte, EY and KPMG). They usually like to see a 3.5+ GPA. That, with 2 to 3 years work experience from a Big Four, you can pursue your MBA goal (you’ll need a good GPA anyway plus quality work experience, such as Big Four, for the top MBA’s). Big Four firms like to target certain schools for their hires. They have more spots available for the big name schools. That is not to say that if you attend a not so known school, you are eliminated. The Big Four do hire from the next lower tier of school, but less available positions.
^^ exactly.
Also, look for their summer internship programs during undergrad: they hire a lot from those.
@shannon gao: If I may ask; Why M-7 ? I ask because the real benefit of an M-7 degree, in my opinion, is the opportunity to switch fields and to switch employers/companies.
Although an M-7 MBA degree is your current goal, you may want to stay with your current employer (after graduating college) in which case leaving for a fulltime MBA program may not be in your best interest career wise.
For example, if you are hired by one of the Big Four accounting firms, they typically encourage everyone to get a CPA license as quickly as possible. Earning the CPA designation/license, and specializing in one of the firm’s practice areas may lead to a change of mind regarding further education. Especially regarding part-time versus fulltime pursuit of any additional degree.
Nevertheless, aiming for an M-7 MBA program is wise in that it should compel you to perform well in college & to seek out employment with a major national or international concern.
@Shannon gao: One can earn an M-7 MBA part-time in programs designed for working professionals. Acceptance rates to M-7 part-time MBA programs are quite high (think 60% and above acceptance rates).
If lucky enough to be employed in the Chicago area, two M-7s, Northwestern & Univ. of Chicago, have large part-time MBA programs.
In addition to Chicago & Northwestern, other top ranked part-time MBA programs include NYU, Berkeley, UCLA & Michigan.
You guys thank you so much for your answers! It was honestly more than I hoped for considering the vast amount of people who post on here. I think consulting would be the route I go because I’ve been told I am will graduate too “old” for investment banking. So the big four firms don’t care if I am a late graduate? Thanks again everyone!
I am hoping to get into one of the big four firms for consulting. I heard they value education and are willing to pay for my MBA AND reserve a spot for when I graduate :))
I want to pursure a M7 mainly because I want to challenge myself more than anything. I know I can do it (how many time have you heard that before?) and I know I am capable. This is to prove to myself and have a long-term direction to steer towards
The Big 4 will pay for a full time MBA and reserve a spot when you graduate only if you are considered potential “partner” material or on that track.
At least one Big Four accounting firm pays all costs for selected interns to get a one year masters degree & reserves a spot for them upon completion of the 10 month program.
The bigger challenge is to be successful WITHOUT needing grad school.