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Can I get into an elite program? 31 years old, VP, 3.0 GPA

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Can I get into an elite program? 31 years old, VP, 3.0 GPA

by Nepats81 » Sun Jun 29, 2014 8:42 am
Hello,

It seems most of the profiles of people getting into elite MBA programs are students with a few years work experience, great GPA from a top university and 700+ GMAT. My profile is a bit different. I am 31, have worked for 9 years with the same company since graduating from a Big Ten school with a 3.0 GPA. I have rapidly moved up in my company, and now hold a VP title as a Wealth manager, with significant assets under management. I am also a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER.

I have not taken the GMAT yet, but have been studying quite a bit, and feel confident about getting a 700. With my current profile - what are the odds of being able to get into a top tier MBA program - Kellogg, Wharton, Columbia etc. ? My hope would be that more consideration would be put on my career achievement vs my GPA.

Any advice would be appreciated!
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by CriticalSquareMBA » Mon Jun 30, 2014 5:33 am
Hi there,

So using some of what you've written in your post as a proxy, I can make a guess that you've had a fairly impressive career to date. But that's just a guess! I need some more info! What were your positions and titles? What did you do? What leadership does your current or previous positions entail? Are you involved outside of work at all? The more you can share, the better! Also, why do you want an MBA? What do you want to do after?

That all said, you're right in that your work experience will be looked at more so than your undergrad GPA given your age. If you were 26, it would still be recent enough to matter but at 31 it's a bit more in the past. However, that doesn't change the fact that a 3.0 is low. Below the 80-percentile range for all of the programs you're interested in. So that'll definitely be something that catches their attention - 9 years ago or not. A stellar GMAT will help here because you don't have enough time to really build an alternative transcript.

I hope that helps a bit and starts the convo - looking forward to more info!

Bhavik

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by MBAPrepAdvantage » Mon Jun 30, 2014 5:54 pm
This post on MBA Admissions Criteria might help you. Your age and academic profile is part, but not all, of the evaluation profile.

Domestic students over 30 have less of a percentage chance of getting into an elite MBA program -although older domestic applicants get accepted all the time.

Students with lower GPA's have less of a chance than those with higher GPA's- although applicants with low GPA's get accepted all the time.

Students graduating from lower ranked schools have less of a chance than those from better ranked schools- although applicants from lower ranked schools get accepted all the time.

Your experience would have to both be commensurate with your older age and mitigate your lower GPA- if the GPA is in a difficult subject matter that would help too.

Kellogg, Wharton and Columbia all have Executive MBA programs that weigh career more heavily and are less selective. This article on Different MBA Program Types might help you.

Best of luck,
Michael Cohan
MBAPrepAdvantage Founder & AIGAC Board Director
305-604-8178
www.mbaprepadvantage.com

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