MBA after the age of 30? MBA for senior candidates? MBA with families? YES YES YES!

by ARINGO, Nov 9, 2018

Here at ARINGO MBA Admissions Consulting we have a dedicated team that works with senior applicants on full-time and part-time senior MBA degrees. Whether you are 30, 35, 40 or more, you still have several MBA options!

It is sometimes claimed that once people hit the age of 30, or have too many years of experience, or have kids, that an MBA is not feasible any more. It is true that some top business schools are quite selective when it comes to age, thus accepting mostly applicants under the age of 30, but the concern that MBAs are mostly for the under 30 crowd is exaggerated.

First of all, all applicants, regardless of their age, always have the option of choosing a part-time or executive MBA program over a traditional MBA program, should they feel that it suits their needs better. Second of all, while it is true that there are fewer applicants admitted to top MBA programs that are 30 or over, one of the reason is that fewer applicants above the age of 30 apply to begin with.

There are also several highly esteemed MBA programs that appreciate older and more senior MBA applicants than others, especially in Europe, compared to the US. Some business schools have even designed full-time MBA or similar programs specifically for older and more applicants, such as Stanford MSx, MIT Sloan Fellows, Foster JEMBA, USC IBear or London Business School Sloan Program. All these programs offer mid-career professionals and older applicants a choice.

As for any applicant, junior or senior, considering an MBA it is important to have a reason for getting an MBA. If you believe that your career trajectory is satisfactory as it is, and you can get to where you see yourself in a few years without an MBA, you most likely do not need one. On the other hand, if you are interested in changing industries, fields or roles, or are looking for a solid business education, international network and are ambitious about your professional future, then an MBA might be the path for you.

Any applicant, regardless of their age, need to be completely clear about the reason they need an MBA, as they will also need to convince the business school admission boards of their need for an MBA and how an MBA will help them achieve their professional goals when they apply.

Older applicants should also be aware of the fact that ad-coms will generally expect older candidates to be more experienced, more accomplished and more self-aware than younger applicants, and this should show in their applications as well.

Are there any downsides to doing an MBA after the age of 30?

It depends. If you have a very well-established career with a high salary there might be a limit to how much your salary can increase in comparison to the comparative increase in percentage for younger applicants with less established careers.

Older applicants might also struggle with job placements in some industries (for example entry into the demanding strategy consulting industry).

Therefore, we suggest that anyone considering an MBA after the age of 30 should make a thorough plan, taking all the above into account, in order to make sure that an MBA is really the right path for them. And again, you should consider the pros and cons of a full-time, part-time, EMBA options.