Work Experience for Top MBA Programs

Graduate School Business School - MBA
1

<p>Hi everyone-</p>

<p>I'm currently considering a change in careers and would greatly appreciate any advice on how best to proceed to look good to the top MBA programs.</p>

<p>A little background: I have 2 years of non-analytical work experience in a little known (outside of my metropolitan area, anyways although it has $38B in AUM) wealth management firm and a degree from a mediocre university (Santa Clara). I also have some volunteer work and pro-bono political work under my belt. I plan to get involved in a nation-wide rights advocacy group soon as well, and stay involved until I apply to programs.</p>

<p>I'm hoping to either get into management consulting or i-banking. I think my best career opportunities currently would be a mediocre i-banking firm (moderate prestige) or a completely no-name boutique consulting firm that specializes in serving insurance and wealth management firms.</p>

<p>A few general questions: do top MBA programs general look for prestige or quality of the work experience? For example, I'm curious if the breadth of experience available at a boutique consulting firm counts for anything. Or does prestige outweigh experience? What is the experience of those of you in top MBA programs? Are you only surrounded by veterans of top firms?</p>

<p>All advice and perspectives is greatly appreciated. And for those of you already in top programs, congrats and I think its great that you participate here to help future candidates.</p>

2

<p>The main thing they are looking for is evidence that you will succeed in their program. If you have a prestigious undergrad degree and/or work experience at a top firm that they're familiar with, it's an advantage, so you'll just need to find another way to stand out. If you can figure out how to position your work experience as a track record of uncommon initiative and success, you'll have a chance.</p>

<p>My classmates at Kellogg included people from family-owned businesses and even a career-changing dentist.</p>

3

<p>Check the businessweek MBA forums:</p>

<p><a href="http://forums.businessweek.com/n/login/login.aspx?webtag=bw-register&seamlesswebtag=http%3a%2f%2fforums.businessweek.com%2fn%2fpfx%2fforum.aspx%3fnav%3dstart%26webtag%3dbw-bschools%26redirCnt%3d1%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://forums.businessweek.com/n/login/login.aspx?webtag=bw-register&seamlesswebtag=http%3a%2f%2fforums.businessweek.com%2fn%2fpfx%2fforum.aspx%3fnav%3dstart%26webtag%3dbw-bschools%26redirCnt%3d1&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

4

<p>I feel that 3-4 years of additional work experience and a position in a managerial role coupled with top GMAT scores (720+) would make your file much stronger than it is now.</p>

<p>Why are you in such a rush?</p>