Thinking about getting my MBA, have a few questions?
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Anonymous
| I'm a minority female in my early 30s. I spent my 20s working in financial services. I wasn't too fond of the industry, so I applied to a few schools last year and didn't get in to any of them. These were schools ranked from 15-25. I have a low GPA and I don't test well at all(600 GMAT). I'm in a low level marketing position at the moment and definitely want to progress into management in my mid 30s. I really need an MBA to do so, but the only programs that I could get accepted to are ranked in the Top 50 or lower. I'm not sure that'll be worth it. However, the internship experience is worth it. I spoke with an admissions counselor for a couple of part time programs and I believe that I could get accepted. However, I won't be able to obtain an internship and I do not want to stay with my current employer. What should I Do? I've taken the GMAT twice. I could take a prep class, but I'm short on cash. Also time is of the essence due to my age. |
Anonymous
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Are you sure that an MBA from a lower-ranked program will make any difference in your career? That's something you should find out, and it probably depends a lot on your sector and location.
If I were you, I would do some informal networking with people in positions that you'd like to have some day, and ask them what you would need to do to get there. Don't bring up the MBA unless they do. Instead, talk about how you've gotten a late start in your marketing career because you started out in financial services, but now you've found your passion. Ask them what it "really" takes to succeed for someone from a non-standard trajectory and whether there are specific things you can do to help you (i.e. experiences you should be asking for at work, etc). |
Anonymous
| I am networking and it's gotten me nowhere pretty much. Most of the people who are in managerial roles have MBA's or worked their way up from an entry level role |
Anonymous
Don't go for an MBA at any school. Go to the best one in the area. Practice testing until you can score high enough to offset your low gpa. If you can't do that, why would a company pay you big bucks? |
Anonymous
I do graduate admissions consulting. Low GMAT and low GPA + Im guessing fairy transparent essays (not sensing a lot of introspection and passion). How are your extracurriculars? Leadership at work? Career growth? Any recognizable names? How low is the GPA? What was the GMAT breakdown? Post MBA what's your goal industry, function and location? Ballpark what are your salary exepectations? Did you get any interview invites last year from the programs? Happy to give you real advice, but I'm a little low on details |
Anonymous
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You can study the GMAT online by taking practice tests at home. I did this every week for 6 weeks before the test and it improved my score 50 points to mid-600s.
I wouldn't go to any MBA program below the top 25-30, especially if you were paying for it fully or quitting your job. May I ask what your current salary is (ballpark) and what type of job you hope to have after MBA? If you don't know this and if the job is not at least 30-40k more than your current, it may not be worth it. Do most people who have the job you want have MBAs? IF no, then it probably isn't worth it easier. Lastly, don't use getting an MBA as an excuse to postpone real career decisions. |
Anonymous
No, you don't. You need to put your head down and work. You need to find a job description of what you want to do in 5 years, and choose your roles carefully to gain the experience you need. An MBA from a low ranked school is not a golden ticket. You don't have the chops to get into higher ranked school, so you need to execute Plan A. |
Anonymous
It depends on what her expectations are. If she is expecting to be recruited for C-suite track positions, immediately upon graduation, by prestigious firms, then I agree. If she just wants to "work in management," she doesn't need a top school for that. I agree that she shouldn't quit your job, or go into debt, for a non-top program. Of course, at a top program, you usually can't attend part-time anyway. I know someone who got an MBA from a mediocre private ("Rank Not Published" by USNews and World Report). She currently works in a call-center, taking support calls. I think it cost her a fortune, too. Don't be her. |
Anonymous
I had a 2.8 GPA. I was in treatment for a chronic illness during most of undergrad, which I addressed in my essays. I'm not sure of my exact Q/V breakdown, however, my Verbal score was higher both times that I sat for the exam. I know that's another red flag. I have worked for large and impressive employers since graduation. Unfortunately, none of my job titles translate to leadership roles, but I have been involved in a couple of roles with a few non profits outside of work(one of which I was 2nd in line of leadership). I'd like to make as close to six figures as possible and I am open to working in finance(for a marketing related role only), sports, or retail/CPG. I interviewed with all of the programs that I applied for, but I believe that is because I requested interviews when admissions reps were in my area or attended diversity events. |
Anonymous
I currently earn around $50k and I'm looking to obtaining a Marketing Manager position or move into Brand Management(long shot). I know of a few people who have MBA's and others who have simply moved up the food chain. The latter attended recognizable undergrad universities which normally have better recruitment compared to a mid tier State school(which I attended). The program that I am interested in attending is ranked slightly higher than UMD, but it's a decent part time option if I have to go that route |
Anonymous
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OP, if there will be any financial hardship associated with getting your MBA, then I don't think you are at the right juncture to get it. You might need one anyway, but right now it seems like you're doing it aimlessly as a way to help you figure out what you should do next. If it were a top program, that might work out for you, but a lower-ranked program for which you will need to quit your job and take on debt seems unnecessarily risky.
You've said that you networked, but it's not clear to me whether you did it to try to get a different job or to learn about what it takes to succeed long run in your desired career (beyond an MBA, there are likely other things you need and job experience you can get to give you a better flavor of whether it's something you want to pursue). You've got a really broad/diverse range of sectors you'd be interested in, which tells me you're really not that close to figuring out your longer-term career goals aside from "make more money" and "have more responsibility". Again, if you went to a top-ranked program where you will likely be heavily recruited afterward, an MBA might be a gamble worth taking. But that's not what you are talking about right now. Go on *informational* interviews with people in all of the sectors you've mentioned. Before that, do a lot of research into each of the sectors. Look at the work histories of the people who have more senior positions in those fields (not jus their educational attainment). Figure out what types of accomplishments you need to have/demonstrate. Honestly, you are not coming across as having done a lot of inward thinking about your strengths and weaknesses, which will impress neither an admissions committee nor a potential employer. If you had rock solid grades and an employment history at the types of places you seem to have worked but in better positions, then it might make up for these weaknesses. You'd be obvious potential that can be molded. But, perhaps through no fault of your own, you've got significant strikes against you right now on all fronts: low grades, inadequate test scores, and a mediocre resume. You've got to do some more work to make yourself marketable. That pluck itself will show you've got what it takes to succeed in marketing. |
Anonymous
Graduate admissions PP here - happy to talk offline sometime. No sales pitch, just faster to do on the phone than to type it all. If you want some guidance feel free to email me at cplwebinar@gmail.com and we can find a half hour sometime. |
Anonymous
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OP, don't know where you live but here is my two cents:
If in a large city, why not go part time to a top 15 or better school? Part time acceptance rates are much higher. Chicago, Northwestern, UCLA, NYU Stern. If you get in, nobody is going to care that the MBA is part time. If you live somewhere else, maybe top 15 does not matter. For example, if you live in Ohio, Ohio State will do. Minneapolis? University of Minnesota is fine. Also, reddit has an MBA subreddit which is actually quite helpful. You might see what people see on there. |
Anonymous
| OP - I think you would benefit too from talking to a career counselor. Sitting down with someone who can help you articulate your goals and give you some strategies for career advancement would be well worth the money. Best of luck to you!! |
Anonymous
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Based on your post, I still don't get what type of work you're doing, so please don't embellish it with flowery words. Specifically, are you saying you are working as a "low level marketing position at the moment" in the "financial services" area? To me, that just sounds like an administrative assistant. So please be more specific about. This is important to asses whether you should invest your time at all in applying for an MBA program. You need to understand that to land an offer at a top-ranked MBA program, you'll be competing against applicants with very impressive/accomplished resumes that screams MBA. a "low level marketing position", a low GPA and GRE score does not do that for me.
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