Ask mbaMission

Hello -

I am currently studying for the GMAT (and will not rest until I have achieved a 720+ score, which seems likely given my practice exams).

My worry is that I am now 28, and graduated from a community college with my Associates degree at age 20 with a GPA of 2.75. I went back to school at an online university, Jones International University, and graduated when I was 27 with a GPA of 4.0, graduating Summa Cum Laude.

As I gain work experience, it is glaringly apparent that I will struggle to get into a top business school like Wharton or Columbia.

I am genuinely curious what the expert opinions are on this. Has it been done? Will I even get into a back-up school like Rutgers, or am I doomed because of my lazy childhood?

To clarify - at 20 I started my own business/self-employed. I lived on that from 20-25 then went back to school to finish my Bachelors. However, I chose an online college (Jones International University) so I could continue working full-time and finish my BBA in Finance. The intention initially was to use the degree to apply to Officer Training School for the US Air Force, but I was swayed to try my hand in private wealth management instead. After I finished the degree at age 27, I started doing internships for Financial Services in private wealth management for the last 16 months. So all in total, I have 6 years in sales to high net-worth individuals from being self employed, and then an additional 16-months of work experience in private wealth management. At 28 years old, I don't think it's appropriate for me to work until I'm 33 before applying to b-school where I'd be until I'm 35.

My main concern is, will any reputable school take a "distance" undergrad from a non-target regardless of GPA or work experience? Say I have 5-years of experience in Finance already; would they even consider me in light of my degree?

Thank you anyway.