GMAT preparation Group at 42

Organize face-to-face meetings with other members
This topic has expert replies
Newbie | Next Rank: 10 Posts
Posts: 1
Joined: Fri Jan 28, 2011 7:42 am

GMAT preparation Group at 42

by geet1977 » Tue Oct 09, 2018 9:37 am
Hi All
am 42, want to pursue my MBA, little nervous of an exam consideration at the age, can i still prepare for my GMAT, has anyone considered to start preparation. Considering the memory challenges, domestic work (2 kids) work pressure, is it possible to score a 650-700 score.

GMAT/MBA Expert

User avatar
GMAT Instructor
Posts: 2095
Joined: Tue Dec 04, 2012 3:22 pm
Thanked: 1443 times
Followed by:247 members

by ceilidh.erickson » Thu Oct 11, 2018 12:16 pm
The most important thing is to determine *why* you want an MBA at this age. Why not an EMBA? If you're seeking to level up your skills, there may be ways to do that outside of a full-time program.

It's generally the case that elite MBA programs want to accept students who are relatively early in their careers, so that they have a cohort of students who will form an effective network for each other as they're building their careers after b-school. That's not to say that schools never accept older students, but you'd have to make a compelling case for why you didn't choose to go before, and why it's the right move for you at this point in your career. It's harder to get accepted at 42 than 27.

If you're not targeting the ultra-competitive programs (top 20 or so), then you may stand a better chance of acceptance. For less competitive programs, you may not need a 700 to get in. They'd likely care more about your work history than test scores. You'll still need to make a compelling case for "why business school now?", but you might not have to stress as much about the GMAT.

I'd recommend doing consultations with admissions consulting firms to see what they think - many of the ones listed on this site offer free consultations. I particularly recommend mbaMission: https://www.mbamission.com/consult/

There really isn't any advice that I would give an older student about studying for the GMAT that's different from the advice I give to everyone: learn the rules, practice with OG questions, and review carefully. Detailed plan here: https://www.beatthegmat.com/materials-a ... tml#787892

Good luck!
Ceilidh Erickson
EdM in Mind, Brain, and Education
Harvard Graduate School of Education