Hi Stacy,
I am a 24-year-old Western European woman looking to pursue an MBA in the US. I went to my country's best university and obtained a Bachelor degree in Business Administration with a GPA equivalent to 3.2 out of 4. My studies were conducted in German, which I spoke only very basically upon my arrival. I now speak fluent German, Italian and French in addition to advanced-intermediate English.
My options at this point are either to pursue a MSc in Finance or Marketing in my country this fall and be done in two years or to work for a couple of years, then apply for an MBA in the US. I would very much like to pursue this second option but I'm not sure whether it is a realistic possibility -- I would want to go to a good, reputable business school and I understand how competitive admissions to those are. I'm also a bit nervous about waiting so long to obtain a degree that most people in my country would already have finished before I even start.
Out of curiosity I signed up for the GMAT and spent three weeks studying for it. In practice tests I scored between 540 and 610 but ended up getting a lower score on the actual test. This was dispiriting to say the least but I believe that with proper preparation (and given some time to improve my English) I am capable of scoring much higher than this, in the high 600s or even low 700s. I am also thinking of taking an extra quantitative class in night- or summer-school to compensate for a low score in an equivalent class during my undergrad studies.
On the plus side, I have good work experience for a European of my age, with stints in television production, accounting and event consulting. I spent last summer in Germany leading a 10-person team as we worked on the soccer World Cup, for instance.
I am thinking of starting a business with a former colleague this fall and simultaneously looking for work. My questions are: do you think admission to a top-20 business school is a realistic prospect for me? And if so, what would you suggest I do to improve my academic profile, in terms of extracurricular activities, community involvement, etc? Also, in terms of enhancing my profile, would it be better for me to work for a large and international company rather than a smaller local one? Does this even make a difference? Lastly, when do you think the right time would be to apply? I would like to apply in two years so as to start my MBA in three years. Does this seem realistic to you or do you think I would need to gain more work experience? Thank you so much for your help.
I am a 24-year-old Western European woman looking to pursue an MBA in the US. I went to my country's best university and obtained a Bachelor degree in Business Administration with a GPA equivalent to 3.2 out of 4. My studies were conducted in German, which I spoke only very basically upon my arrival. I now speak fluent German, Italian and French in addition to advanced-intermediate English.
My options at this point are either to pursue a MSc in Finance or Marketing in my country this fall and be done in two years or to work for a couple of years, then apply for an MBA in the US. I would very much like to pursue this second option but I'm not sure whether it is a realistic possibility -- I would want to go to a good, reputable business school and I understand how competitive admissions to those are. I'm also a bit nervous about waiting so long to obtain a degree that most people in my country would already have finished before I even start.
Out of curiosity I signed up for the GMAT and spent three weeks studying for it. In practice tests I scored between 540 and 610 but ended up getting a lower score on the actual test. This was dispiriting to say the least but I believe that with proper preparation (and given some time to improve my English) I am capable of scoring much higher than this, in the high 600s or even low 700s. I am also thinking of taking an extra quantitative class in night- or summer-school to compensate for a low score in an equivalent class during my undergrad studies.
On the plus side, I have good work experience for a European of my age, with stints in television production, accounting and event consulting. I spent last summer in Germany leading a 10-person team as we worked on the soccer World Cup, for instance.
I am thinking of starting a business with a former colleague this fall and simultaneously looking for work. My questions are: do you think admission to a top-20 business school is a realistic prospect for me? And if so, what would you suggest I do to improve my academic profile, in terms of extracurricular activities, community involvement, etc? Also, in terms of enhancing my profile, would it be better for me to work for a large and international company rather than a smaller local one? Does this even make a difference? Lastly, when do you think the right time would be to apply? I would like to apply in two years so as to start my MBA in three years. Does this seem realistic to you or do you think I would need to gain more work experience? Thank you so much for your help.
