Ask an MBA Admissions Consultant

I'm 27 (28 at matriculation) with 6 years WE.

I'm a VP at a large private equity firm.

How does being a VP compare to being an Associate in terms of acceptance rates at the top programs?

GMAT and GPA all above average for top schools (750 / 3.7 from Dartmouth)

It's about your story, not the position. Why is an MBA the right move for YOU right now?

I'm going to focus full time on a startup that I've worked on for the past few years (somewhat related to the type of work I do at my fund) following MBA.

I know typically big PE fund associates get into the top 2 MBA programs at high rates...most of my Associate class did...I stayed on a post-MBA role and now am applying now. My clear focus is moving into the industry - related to consumer scale environmental tech.

In your experience, Jim, do you see VP level candidates with ~6 years WE apply and do they have success that deviates from those who apply 3-4 years out from similar firms?

You should have similar to success if you craft your story well. It will be a bit harder to get in because of the additional experience, especially for HBS but that doesn't mean you can't do it as your profile is still attractive. Definitely apply this year though and make sure everything is perfect with your application. Good luck!