Welcome! Check out our free B-School Guides to learn how you compare with other applicants.
Login or Register
 

Age of 30 today. 31 at matriculation. What schools to aim?

This topic has 1 expert reply and 4 member replies
Bookmark
Previous Topic Next Topic
dianegmat Just gettin' started! Default Avatar
Joined
03 Jan 2012
Posted:
15 messages
Age of 30 today. 31 at matriculation. What schools to aim? Post Wed Mar 28, 2012 3:07 pm
Age - 30 today, 31 at matriculation
GMAT- 730
Work Exp 9 years in engineering

What schools are receptive to older applicants. I don't have a strong undergrad GPA (just a 2.8) although my GMAT is pretty strong. I know that European MBA schools are more receptive to older candidates. Can someone recommend schools I can target that are good.

Need free GMAT or MBA advice from an expert? Register for Beat The GMAT now and post your question in these forums!
wi11iedigital Just gettin' started!
Joined
02 Apr 2012
Posted:
12 messages
Post Tue Apr 10, 2012 10:47 am
I'm in the exact same situation (minus about 30 pts on the gmat and plus a stronger gpa). Do you have a good understanding why schools are looking for 20-somethings? I find that I remain the youngest key staffer at my firm.

Pharo Rising GMAT Star Default Avatar
Joined
19 Jan 2010
Posted:
61 messages
Thanked:
8 times
Post Tue Apr 10, 2012 11:57 am
wi11iedigital wrote:
Do you have a good understanding why schools are looking for 20-somethings
Why are they looking for younger students?

wi11iedigital Just gettin' started!
Joined
02 Apr 2012
Posted:
12 messages
Post Tue Apr 10, 2012 3:20 pm
Pharo wrote:
wi11iedigital wrote:
Do you have a good understanding why schools are looking for 20-somethings
Why are they looking for younger students?
Right, I would think that 30ish is more the sweet spot for professional experience/maturity/liklihood to go on to bigger and better things. Yet, all I head in the mid-20's is more strongly preferred. What is the logic from a B-school perspective? Younger star=farther to climb?

kaps786 Rising GMAT Star Default Avatar
Joined
13 Aug 2011
Posted:
52 messages
Thanked:
2 times
Post Tue Apr 10, 2012 8:03 pm
HI Diane - I am not an expert, but I saw some suggestions on another similar post, so thought would share.

Cranfield in UK is a program which has an higher average age - 32 years . They specifically look for more mature profiles, and most of professors are people with experience from industry, and so in that sense is a fairly unique school..
Particularly good for consulting and banking , you can check businessweek profiles.

You have a fantastic GMAT so I guess any school will want you...

GMAT/MBA Expert

Jon@Admissionado MBA Admissions Consultant
Joined
01 Apr 2011
Posted:
1968 messages
Followed by:
208 members
Thanked:
379 times
Most Active Expert Most Responsive Expert Most Thanked Expert
Post Wed Apr 11, 2012 12:26 am
Well 30, 31 is a totally "normal" age, even if it is a bit on the older side of things. Meaning that it won't make things impossible at any school. Yes, some schools do prefer younger students, and yes European schools are more flexible in their age range than American schools. Why? Well I figure is that the schools want someone with just enough experience that they can contribute and get a great deal out of the program, yet they want you to be young enough to "propel you forward" because they know and believe that most "shooting stars" start off young, and if they can help through their program, all the better. But it all has to do with how you present your "Readiness" to the AdCom, how you prove to them that NOW is REALLY the right moment for you.

As for which schools, with a 730 you can target anywhere. Are you planning on staying in tech and do you want a school with strengths there? Then you can look at Stanford, ( a long shot... Stanford does seem to favor the younger students) Haas, Sloan, Columbia, Tepper, Anderson, Oxford, Austin... but there are also plenty of "General Management Schools" which can get you what you want as well.

_________________
Jon Frank
Harvard MBA, 2005
Founder and CEO, Admissionado

Ask us a Question!
Get a Free Consultation!

Best Conversation Starters
1 varun289 34 topics
2 killerdrummer 22 topics
3 sana.noor 21 topics
4 guerrero 14 topics
5 sanaa.rizwan 14 topics
See More Top Beat The GMAT Members...

Most Active Experts
1 image description Brent@GMATPrepNow

GMAT Prep Now Teacher

 200 posts
2 image description GMATGuruNY

The Princeton Review Teacher

 135 posts
3 image description Jim@StratusPrep

Stratus Prep

 106 posts
4 image description Anju@Gurome

Gurome

 56 posts
5 image description Jon@Admissionado

Admissionado

 44 posts
See More Top Beat The GMAT Experts