<p>Below are my credentials. Please let me know what you think my chances are in getting into my top b-schools (Stanford, MIT, Duke, UCLA, Cal-Berkeley, U of MN).</p>
<p>Education
B.S in Mechanical Engineering (Graduate: May 2011)
GPA: 3.26/4.00
GMAT Scores: 680-720 (According to practice tests,taking exam in month)</p>
<p>Professional Experience
Below are internships for past few summers at software company
QA Intern: (Promotion) May 2010 - Aug. 2010
IT Intern: May 2006 - May 2010 </p>
<p>Leadership/Engineering Experience
Project Manager - Designed and constructed wind tunnel for Aerospace department
Project Manager - M.E. design class where we designed micro-economy kit for third world countries
Executive Board Chaplain of my fraternity for one year (did as sophomore, which is not heard of in my fraternity)</p>
<p>I also volunteer on a regular basis for Habitat for Humanity, Red Cross, etc...</p>
<p>I agree. You need full-time work experience of at least 2 years after graduation in order to stand a chance. To make up for your low GPA I would recommend you up your GMAT scores and work for more than 2 years.</p>
<p>After reading a lot of the other forums as well as the advice you have given me, does the type of work experience matter to get into a top b-school? Would it matter if I went on to get a job within an engineering discipline or should I stay more towards the business world after graduation? Another option that I have been considering is becoming a P.E. (Professional Engineer) which usually takes about 5 years of working in the real world and getting my MBA after that. Would that help set me apart from other candidates?</p>
<p>This would all depend on the career path you want to take. </p>
<p>I’m a ChemE with an MBA. My pre-MBA experience was engineering, bioengineering to be specific. I had no bioengineering courses in college and no bio courses since my sophomore year in high school. I worked for 7 years then got my MBA, no PE required for regulated industries, and now I am in technology design. I utilize my MBA coupled with my engineering degree and background to bring new technologies to the market, still in the biotechnology industry. I would eventually like to start my own company and then work in VC.</p>
<p>I tell you my background because it took a strange path after graduation. You should view graduation from college as a “stepping off” rather than a progression of your studies. Life can take you anywhere you work at it, not just where your degree dictates.</p>
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<p>Probably, but maybe not in a good way. MBA admission is going to be asking themselves, as they look at your application, ‘how will an MBA help this individual get to the next level in their career?’ I would do what I can, as quickly as I could, to be able to set myself up to show that I really need the degree to get pass the wall I am facing. Getting a PE is great for the earning potential of an engineer and will lead to opportunities in design and consulting, but does this say that in order to progress you need an MBA? Maybe, maybe not. It may even set you on a path that will completely diverge from even needing an MBA (note: many people are successful without an MBA). These are questions you have to ask yourself as you investigate more as to what an MBA is and why you might want one. Be aware that an MBA is not a technical degree and a PE is a technical certification, what are you doing to marriage the technical with the non-tech? </p>
<p>A final note about work experience; the best way to set yourself apart is to show you are a leader, a doer, and a team player. Figure that out and show success/advance doing so and you will have a good shot at Top 10.</p>
<p>The career path that I am wanting to take is to eventually start my own company. I enjoy engineering design, and with technology becoming such a large part of our lives I feel like my technical background coupled with an MBA can give my the necessary skills to put me where I want to be. Correct me if I am wrong, but I don’t think a BS in ME won’t get me to the top managerial positions of a company. I see myself as a leader with the positions I have held in my job as well as college career. That is the reason why I don’t have a higher GPA is because I want to become a well-rounded person involved in extra curricular activities and working during college. I know my supervisors and professors see my leadership skills, so how do I get that across to the b-school admissions team other than showing them my resume, letters of recommendation, and essays?</p>