tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6255671504631235632.comments2023-10-06T23:57:47.929-07:00MBA Admissions and CareersMBA Applyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03845975274006682317noreply@blogger.comBlogger69125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6255671504631235632.post-60520601324235825762014-04-22T08:30:20.830-07:002014-04-22T08:30:20.830-07:00Thank you. This is very helpful. Bookmark!Thank you. This is very helpful. Bookmark!Denisehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02066537177627570036noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6255671504631235632.post-52193893135671260402012-01-29T20:04:32.390-08:002012-01-29T20:04:32.390-08:00This comment has been removed by the author.Inspiration Boardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05258136693471822839noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6255671504631235632.post-18189281140105293292012-01-12T14:37:52.584-08:002012-01-12T14:37:52.584-08:00this comment is retarded. Bill Gates dropped out ...this comment is retarded. Bill Gates dropped out of undergrad, not b school. If itwas b school, then it was after he started Microsoft and then we would call him a vegabond/blue chip because he was harvard guy that owned a 8 figure company applying to hbsT-Rexhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07799169369787772698noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6255671504631235632.post-18107169407221638942012-01-10T21:20:35.671-08:002012-01-10T21:20:35.671-08:00The investment banker in his 30s .....this paragra...The investment banker in his 30s .....this paragraph is very interesting. How much of the population (or at least the MBA sub population) do you think has drastic career moves such as this. <br /><br />In reality, I can't really see myself doing the same thing for much more than 10 years at a time without shifting gears to something different. Interesting to see that many others have similar thoughtsDerekhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11596068295274704330noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6255671504631235632.post-77114612049701972612012-01-04T21:55:16.861-08:002012-01-04T21:55:16.861-08:00interesting read!!!interesting read!!!Gladiatorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15571247565565828971noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6255671504631235632.post-47049747008846301742011-08-12T21:17:09.091-07:002011-08-12T21:17:09.091-07:00I was researching MBA admissions when I came to th...I was researching MBA admissions when I came to this blog, the parts about business culture shook me... The sad part is that it's true, I knew this girl in high school, perfectly normal person back then, but after graduating business school she became so absorbed in herself that she actually blamed an old acquaintance for "distracting" her before her professional exam, and when the guy apologized by email, she used it as evidence and called the cops, then used the fact that she called the cops as evidence to convince her boss and everyone else that she was a victim and deserved a re-write. The guy was so shaken that we never saw him again... Quit his job and moved to another city he did. The business world must really be a dog eat dog world.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04232115324880320348noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6255671504631235632.post-53647941451689853992011-07-29T09:40:17.416-07:002011-07-29T09:40:17.416-07:00You bring up so many valid points in this article....You bring up so many valid points in this article. I agree that a lot of people think a career change is the way to go, but I think just expanding your knowledge in what you already know is good too. I'm looking into the <a href="http://thunderbird.edu/" rel="nofollow">executive MBA programs</a> through Thunderbird School of Global Management. This way I can still work, expand my knowledge for myself and my career. I really think it will give me a new outlook on my career and hopefully open up some doors for me as well. I definitely think people should consider your points when thinking a full time MBA program during the middle of a career for a change is a good idea, because it isn't. Not to mention full time MBA students usually don't have experience yet, so who could you network with?Katiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16433076937138805583noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6255671504631235632.post-27779313407119498522011-07-10T11:13:42.349-07:002011-07-10T11:13:42.349-07:00Thank you for this. As a current JD student, this...Thank you for this. As a current JD student, this is applicable across the board to all professional degree candidates.Rebeccahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08181861560403406559noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6255671504631235632.post-22133131868332283232011-06-15T01:07:24.948-07:002011-06-15T01:07:24.948-07:00if blue chips were the only folks who mattered and...if blue chips were the only folks who mattered and made all the difference in the world after graduating then whoever thinks along this line is thouroughly misinformed.dont forget that mr bill gates was a harvard dropout and he wasnt such a hot shot blue chip when he was taken in..but he WAS..and now has become the case study of the top b school which according to you would have been the "best thing that ever happened to him". if he had been such a desperate average joe he would not have left the best b school ever.starhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00599604682491903626noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6255671504631235632.post-13562046229919421262011-04-20T04:15:42.644-07:002011-04-20T04:15:42.644-07:00Lets look at some recent exploits of HBS alumni on...Lets look at some recent exploits of HBS alumni once they went out into the real world:<br /><br />1.) Robert Rubin (HBS: Destroyer of Citigroup),<br />2.) Stan O'Neal (HBS: Destroyer of Merryl Lynch),<br />3.)John Thain (HBS: Also helped destroy Merryl Lynch),<br />4.) Larry Summers (Harvard: PhD Economics: Almost single handedly responsible for half the Credit Crunch),<br />5.) Chris Cox (HBS: Head of SEC... epic FAIL)<br /><br />Who needs an MBA? All it's going to do is teach you how to destroy companies, no create them.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11847954430022650050noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6255671504631235632.post-68301103846222165172011-03-23T18:29:47.805-07:002011-03-23T18:29:47.805-07:00No offense, but I imagine that only folks who disa...No offense, but I imagine that only folks who disagree with this post are those who didn't come from the blue chip background. This post is a rather hard pill to swallow, though true. Blue chips self-select most of the time, because they can. And if they end up at a sub-par school, it's most likely for a really good reason, not b/c they didn't have options.open eyez open mindhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12947204826733989006noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6255671504631235632.post-11781132496552426792011-03-03T20:38:39.464-08:002011-03-03T20:38:39.464-08:00Ha! I may not agree with all the characterizations...Ha! I may not agree with all the characterizations, but this was hysterical to read. Well done!Courtneyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16849271413709929353noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6255671504631235632.post-76260258896986974172011-02-17T21:02:15.226-08:002011-02-17T21:02:15.226-08:00You mentioned extension courses. How do admissions...You mentioned extension courses. How do admissions look at accounting, or quantitive classes from community colleges? Is it the same? In terms of affordability, community colleges are much easier to enroll.CherieJolaihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06500608420295487080noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6255671504631235632.post-35299315025272962082011-02-14T08:33:23.579-08:002011-02-14T08:33:23.579-08:00Awesome article :)Awesome article :)Carcasshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14542157019935532443noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6255671504631235632.post-63496024838492373712010-11-02T19:40:54.911-07:002010-11-02T19:40:54.911-07:00Very entertaining read... even though the analogie...Very entertaining read... even though the analogies seem a bit contrived, I definitely know what you mean especially the distinction among the top 3.Da Fit MBAhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05012013990942383513noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6255671504631235632.post-85365902993586668522010-09-19T12:11:28.596-07:002010-09-19T12:11:28.596-07:00this was very well written and insightful. great p...this was very well written and insightful. great postBeilyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06654736673071335490noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6255671504631235632.post-59992145130339192532010-06-10T04:38:42.686-07:002010-06-10T04:38:42.686-07:00Great post Alex, I completely loved it. And I'...Great post Alex, I completely loved it. And I'm an Indian, and unfortunately this is the real state of Education. People here worry about Grades more than anything else. How BIG is your company, how HIGH are your marks, How LONG is your work experience, how FAT is your pay package. WOuld appreciate more if people did something if they really felt for it and understood that it added value to them rather than just a PREFIX to their name like a DR. <br /><br />Its because of this attitude, there is an MBA college in India in every street nowadays and the MBA degree has lost all its value. <br /><br />Thanks for this articleOhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03540125894618473670noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6255671504631235632.post-54956241495951593312010-06-09T19:13:54.325-07:002010-06-09T19:13:54.325-07:00Alex,
I'm starting the process for 2011 and ca...Alex,<br />I'm starting the process for 2011 and came across your blog. I appreciate your time and your insights. <br /><br />This post seemed a bit offbase. I looked at the employment reports for the schools and they all seem very diverse. Full disclosure: I'm most interested in Stanford.<br /><br />Technology and VC combined:<br />Stanford - 15% (12% and 3%)<br />Harvard - 9% (7% and 2%)<br />Wharton - 10% (8% and 2%) <br /><br />From your rant, I expected that GSB's number would have been much higher! That seems a pretty small difference. (Also, since it's zero sum, there must be an industry overrepresented at Harvard or Wharton, which went unmentioned.)<br /><br />For geography:<br />Stanford - 52% "West" but it's not broken out. (Where did you get the "Northern California" data you referred to?)<br />Harvard - 46% "East" broken out "Northeast" (38%) and "MidAtlantic" (8%)<br />Wharton - 50% "East" broken out "Northeast" (37.5%) and "MidAtlantic" (12.5%)<br /><br />You said geography is Stanford's biggest achilles heel. GSB is 6% more concentrated in "West" than Harvard in "East" and 2% more concentrated on "West" than Wharton in "East?" Isn't "West" is much more populated and larger than "East?" Maybe your data is not current?<br /><br />For Stanford I'm looking at http://www.gsb.stanford.edu/cmc/reports/documents/EmploymentReport_08_09l.pdf. For Harvard I'm looking at http://www.hbs.edu/recruiting/mba/resources/career.html. For Wharton I'm looking at http://mycareer.wharton.upenn.edu/report/profile_2.cfm.<br /><br />Thanks Alex. I'll keep reading!Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00247178166251739283noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6255671504631235632.post-88498340805953622372010-05-23T17:18:07.672-07:002010-05-23T17:18:07.672-07:00Quick question. You may not answer this as I know ...Quick question. You may not answer this as I know it's not relevant to your post but it doesn't hurt to ask!<br /><br />1. I'm a 24y.o UK (LSE) educated lawyer who's qualified in NY, England & Wales (UK) and Hong Kong. My background is ethnically Chinese. I'm from Hong Kong and I speak Cantonese and also Mandarin but I'm not 'fluent' (only conversational). English is my mother tongue.<br /><br />2. My long term career goal is to work in and run a PE business based in Asia that specializes in turning around family businesses. This is something I see as a long term opportunity due to the generational change (i.e. the children of the tycoons who are in my generation will screw up their companies!).<br /><br />3. I worked at a top tier international law firm for the past 2 years, which has given me experience in Hong Kong, London and Beijing. I then tried my hand at entrepreneurship with a friend in London but it hasn't worked out due to personal circumstances.<br /><br />4. I think that studying for an MBA would be a necessary step towards my long term career goal. I would only consider top 5 schools in the US.<br /><br />I now have the following options for my career:<br /><br />- Apply for an analyst position at an investment bank (based in Hong Kong);<br /><br />- Apply for an associate job in an international law firm in Beijing (that has a private equity slant);<br /><br />- Apply for an associate position in an international law firm in Hong Kong (also PE slant);<br /><br />- Try my hand at running a business solo (based out of Hong Kong) (something i'd be interested in doing but I don't think that it would help me achieve my long-term career goals!).<br /><br />If my medium term aim was to get into HBS, Wharton or Columbia (I'm more interested in East coast schools) which would be the best option to take my career for the next 3 years or so?<br /><br />Thanks so much for reading this far and giving any quick advice you can dispense! Any advice would be truly truly appreciated!Rainmakerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04752983187823640504noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6255671504631235632.post-7611489294635901722010-04-04T23:53:42.101-07:002010-04-04T23:53:42.101-07:00Alex,
What a great article! Bravo.
I am an asian...Alex, <br />What a great article! Bravo. <br />I am an asian living in US for last 12 years and this *subjective* viewpoint is what I feel makes me incomplete. Unfortunately this is the only part of the puzzle which you cant master in a 6 months or a year. One can still manage and impress adcom but I feel thats not the point. This particular aspect of myself, influenced a lot from cultural background, makes me often feel pessimistic about me being a good MBA candidate. I agree with you that one has to be aware of this weakness and sincerely try to overcome it not for getting into a good MBA school but simply to be a more complete human being. <br />-yvkShutterbughttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04982680439611591331noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6255671504631235632.post-8955723285701227342010-03-31T21:18:42.881-07:002010-03-31T21:18:42.881-07:00If you want to get ahead of the competition in any...If you want to get ahead of the competition in any field you simply have to perform. True, brand name school MBA grads have higher starting salaries but small town MBA school graduates, who are exceptional, can easily work their way up the chain faster than those of the brand name schools. It all comes down to performance.Austinstighttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07493105479781816849noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6255671504631235632.post-66085396427313188052009-12-17T02:01:55.022-08:002009-12-17T02:01:55.022-08:00Does a PhD count as a blue chip or a vagabond (or ...Does a PhD count as a blue chip or a vagabond (or an average joe for tha matter) or none of these? Does it matter what the subject is?Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13951655605777575658noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6255671504631235632.post-53391119828207554132009-11-20T21:03:33.788-08:002009-11-20T21:03:33.788-08:00Very well-said! It's great to hear this from a...Very well-said! It's great to hear this from an admissions consultant, a profession some believe have piggy bagged on this "all I want to do is get into b-school (and make money)" MBA culture~Dorothyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00834134992201103271noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6255671504631235632.post-60446711824350808342009-10-13T08:45:37.933-07:002009-10-13T08:45:37.933-07:00Great post. Not too much to disagree with here. Pe...Great post. Not too much to disagree with here. Pedigree of undergrad or work matters a whole lot when applying to these schools. As far as work pedigree is concerned, large consumer goods companies like Johnson and Johnson also seem to offer that pedigree (in reply to comment about engineers/scientists, engr/sci will fall into pedigree group if they worked at Fortune 500 consumer goods/Pharma or prestigious goverment/non profit organization). It also matters what roles you are in within those companies . Brand management seems to be favored. <br />I think people (adcom) do not like to take risks in general. (Can you blame them?) So, they are likely to go for certain types in spite of themselves. If you were adcom at H/S/W would you select state school graduate with a decent job over the Harvard student who worked at a Hedge Fund because those opportunities were available to him? Unless the Harvard grad is a total failure or the state school grad launched and sold a company for 8 figures, probably not. In fact selecting the ivy grad helps to further the mystique of these schools which works to their advantage. This is not to say that someone without pedigree but who has been a top performer every where they have been will not get into H/S/W. But this goes back to what the article and a few commenters have said; the kind of people these schools want to and will admit for the most, did not need an MBA from those schools to be successful. It is a snowball effect though. I think the HBS MBA brand does propel people into C-level suite. Take a look at bios of Fortune 500 executives. A good chunk of them went to Harvard (I have heard 1 in 3 of those with MBAs went to HBS). Unless HBS adcom can see the future, the name has to count for something. Moral of the story: If you are in your sophomore year at a no-name school, sit up, ace your academics, get leadership experience in clubs, get an internship at a firm with pedigree, hope they hire you full time, excel when you are there and then after 2years apply to HBS. Not a guarantee you will get in, but you will have a fair shot.Originalhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02115581431229714170noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6255671504631235632.post-18745566516723517282009-06-23T12:09:13.564-07:002009-06-23T12:09:13.564-07:00My comment itself is a testimony is that your blog...My comment itself is a testimony is that your blog post is still relevant even after 2 years !<br />Awesome job, Alex<br /><br />May be LBS is the Jaguar :)Prochttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12878229415949433290noreply@blogger.com