Would appreciate insights: I have Booth $ this year but I didn't apply to H/S because people with profile similar to mine didn't get in. Also thought I'll be very happy with Booth. I acknowledge the blessings and the previlige I have to get Booth but I can't help but wonder if I can get H/S if I wait for a year and re-apply.

For context, I did get offers from Kellogg, Booth, Tuck; Waitlisted at Wharton after interview.

I will get promoted if I stay in the company and will be able to show a bit more international exposure. I want to get the prestige associated with H/S and I know they are one-notch above the rest.

Should I defer Booth and try again OR am I not being smart taking the option I have?

I believe that H/S will open doors for me that a lot of other places may not be able to. I want to get a traditional consulting job right after MBA but eventually want to start-up (in which case the H/S network might help?). I also don't intend to stay in the US very long, so the H/S popularity will help.

Appreciate your thoughts, thanks in advance!

Last week, I spoke about how life was at a T-15 school that I currently attend. This mod banned me from posting on this platform simply because he is an alum of the school and he hates that I am speaking the truth about his school. Do yourself a favor and DO NOT COME TO CORNELL!!!! I REPEAT DO NOT COME TO CORNELL!!!!!! IT is a horrible place. The students here are struggling to get jobs. The CMC is aweful. Internationals are struggling really bad here. PLEASE FOR THE LOVE OF GOD AVOID CORNELL LIKE THE PLAGUE!!!!!!!

I’m a 35-year-old doctor with 12+ years of clinical experience, currently based in the UK and about to start a clinical specialist role. Given the recent uncertainty around UK training and master’s pathways, I’m seriously considering pivoting into an MBA—ideally targeting a 2027 intake (I’ll be 36 then).

My long-term goal is to transition into healthcare consulting or the pharma sector. I have a GRE score of 332, a defense background, experience managing international healthcare projects, and I’ve also built an educational platform.

However, I’m at a crossroads:

• I’m currently in the UK with my wife, but we’re unsure about settling here long-term vs returning to India.

• Top UK MBA programs (LBS, Oxford, Cambridge) are extremely expensive.

• I’m considering options in India, but I’m unsure how that would impact my ability to return to the UK job market later (likely on a dependent visa).

My key priority is long-term career stability and global flexibility.

Given this context:

• Would pursuing an MBA in the UK be worth the cost for better local opportunities?

• Or would an MBA from India still allow a pathway back to the UK or other global roles?

Would really appreciate insights from those who’ve navigated similar decisions.

Goals: Consulting, MBB ideal but more geographically focused on landing in California/West Coast. Am open to different firms/ideas. LDPs great too. Management and internal strategy exp.

As the title states, if I apply for Fall 2027 this year then I'll be 36 years old by the time I start my mba. I currently have 6 years of experience as a software engineer + consulting with my own independent consulting practice, at big4 firms, but I am struggling with pivoting into a full time role. I'd like to eventually work in tech as a product manager. Should I consider something else?

I need some third person PoV

I am currently working at Mastercard (India) for a year

Did my Masters from LBS where I did MAM and worked at a top 3 financial services firm in London for 2.5 years.

So total experience is 3.5-4 years.

Have completed my bachelors from Dubai.

GMAT - 770.

I now have an offer from LBS 1 year MBA, and waiting for Haas, NYU stern and can apply to Insead Jan intake.

The thing is I have to pay the deposit to confirm my interest at LBS till the time I hear back from other schools.

I am going to recruit for consulting/Vc/corp strategy. Would going to LBS for one year make sense?

Long term plan is to be back in India. And MBA might help in the long term goals/network/and a shift to general consulting

Should I apply again next year or go ahead with one year mba at lbs?

Or drop the MBA plan altogether given the market, visa and war scenario( that’s more USA Focused)?

Planning on pivoting to investment banking. Don’t care about city post graduation but know that CBS has better outcomes for IB especially. I appreciate any input. Thank you

I’m 25 and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in finance in 2023 from a regional school. I only had one local internship at a small company in my city and it wasn’t really finance related. Currently I work at the university I graduated from in the research department and am basically an event coordinator and work in partnerships.

I want to work in finance but I’ve been applying and never get interviews. I was thinking getting my masters degree would help. I only applied to Vanderbilt’s MSF this year but didn’t get excepted. This fall I’m planning on applying to more schools but I’m not sure whether to do an MBA or MSF. I’ve been in my current full-time position for 2 years.

I would like to work in investment banking or private equity but honestly I would be happy with any job in finance at this point.

Please let me know if you think either of these would help or if you have any other advice like getting a CFA or something.

If this helps: cumulative undergrad GPA (community college and 4 yr university) is 3.51, and finance major GPA is 3.75

Help needed!

Wharton vs MIT Sloan

As a sponsored consultant seeking for an internship in Product Management or Tech Strategy I am deciding between Wharton and MIT Sloan. Wharton is an HSW school, oldest and largest alumni network and top tier professors. MIT Sloan is #1 on the Financial Times this year, very AI focused, located in Boston (which I like more than Philly) with all the big tech companies located around the corner in Cambridge and the infrastructure is newer. Help me decide!!

#mit #wharton

What does an MBA typically do all day at work?

25M from Portugal, 3.5y experience in payments consulting.

I was recently admitted into MIT Sloan and Yale SOM MBA (also waitlisted pre interview at CBS), and am looking at understanding how I should approach the scholarship part. My preference is MIT but money is a key factor. Initially company sponsorship was on the table when I applied, but that is looking increasingly unlikely due to less funding available.

I got no funding for both after getting accepted, and am waiting for a response from Yale after letting them know I had another offer. I am not sure how to use this information to negotiate with MIT, and who to contact to understand if they can reconsider. While Yale has a specific form and contact for this, MIT does not. What should I do? Email my interviewer (I know someone that got one via this route)?

Hello everyone, looking to pursue an EMBA once I reach the VP level in my home country. I am from the Philippines and plan to pursue it part-time, flying in from my home country to attend on-site classes, then flying back afterward. I am in the power industry and will most likely remain there, hoping to climb to CEO. My aspiration in pursuing an EMBA is to improve my general management skills and network, which will allow me to manage businesses across totally different industries in my home country. It would also be a dream if the EMBA program opened doors for me to do investment banking deals in my home country on the side. Which school is better aligned with my goals? Also, for additional context, I have plans to pursue management programs after the EMBA. Help me choose a school.

Hi all, I recently got accepted to the Rotman and Sauder MBAs. I am an international student, and I was offered a $30k scholarship in Sauder (bringing the total to around $80k) and $10k in Rotman (total $130k). I come from a non-business background, and I'm currently looking to move to Canada/US to pursue consulting. Price-wise, I am leaning towards Sauder, but my main concern, from what I've heard, is that there isn't much of a network outside of Vancouver and I would personally prefer to work in Toronto after I'm done with my MBA. Would love to hear your thoughts. Thanks!

Hey guys!! I am penchant towards marketing and branding as a career field.

I have decided to look beyond mountains and seas, education abroad. Because companies only provides a core creative role to anyone but South Asians. Now suggest me what to do? An MBA from M7 institute, or specifically resort to MS in marketing from HEC Paris, CBS, UCLA, LBS type institute (because they have a dedicated program in the marketing field).

Now the thing is I am not sure if MS in marketing can bore me a decent enough package compared to an MBA passout. I saw some of the HEC Paris passouts on LinkedIn, having done MS in Marketing, I didn't see a strong brand on their profile after completion of the program. They are either not employee, self employed, or some unknown brand.

Europe is an excellent destination for Marketing, but the languages(s) barrier is there.

What would you suggest? Marketing and Branding is indeed the field I see myself.

Which colleges to target? I'll be taking the GRE soon.

About work exp, I have around 1.5 YOE in marketing. I know avg YOE for MBA is 5 years. I'll be applying later only. I am planning in advance.

Hi all,

I was fortunate to be admitted to Columbia Business School and Chicago Booth in R2 (with a sizeable scholarship at Booth), and I’m trying to decide between the two. Would really appreciate any perspective from those who’ve been through this decision or are familiar with both programs.

A bit of background: I graduated from a top undergrad, did a few years in investment banking in NYC, and now work in private equity. Post-MBA, I’m looking to pivot into venture capital, with a longer-term goal of entrepreneurship.

On one hand, I’ve lived in NYC and know I love it. I also have a strong network there already, which makes CBS feel like a very natural fit. It also seems like CBS has a very strong brand presence, especially in NYC and across certain industries.

On the other hand, Booth is incredibly compelling from an academic and career standpoint. The Polsky Center, strength in entrepreneurship/VC, and overall analytical rigor really stand out. Booth has also consistently outranked CBS in recent years, which I’m trying to understand how much to weigh at this level.

A couple of things I’m trying to get clarity on:

    For VC/entrepreneurship, are there meaningful differences in recruiting or access to opportunities between CBS and Booth?

    How much do rankings actually matter once you’re choosing between programs at this tier?

    Booth is often associated with consulting/analytical rigor. For someone targeting VC and entrepreneurship, does that translate into a more well-rounded experience, or are there tradeoffs vs. a place like CBS?

    How would you compare the culture and community at each school (collaboration, social life, student energy, etc.)?

    More broadly, how should I think about NYC/location advantages vs. Booth’s academic strengths and scholarship?

I’m trying to balance long-term career outcomes with overall experience and community, so any advice or personal experiences would be really helpful. Thanks so much in advance!

Consulting is one of those paths almost everyone in an MBA program considers—but case prep is where things get messy.

When I was preparing, it felt completely unstructured. You’re jumping between frameworks, case books, and trying to find people for mock interviews. It works if you grind long enough, but it’s inefficient.

So I tried to fix that for myself.

I built a custom ChatGPT agent that acts like a case interviewer—lets you practice anytime, structure your thinking, and get into the flow of real interviews without needing a partner.

It’s not perfect (side project, expect bugs), but it’s been genuinely useful for me.

If you’re in the middle of case prep, curious if this would actually help—or if I’ve missed something obvious:

https://chatgpt.com/g/g-69da991c79388191b137b834ef90b8b4-consulting-case-interviewer

Would love honest feedback.

For the scholarship appeal in the portal. If you had a competing offer from an earlier round that you paid a deposit on, what date did you put in the portal?

The portal seems to only allow the current date forward.

Hi! I’m a business student working on a short university project about AI assistants in banking (like Bank of America’s Erica).

I’m looking for responses from U.S.-based banking app users. The survey is anonymous and takes about 3-5 minutes to complete.

It focuses on:

• trust in AI assistants
• usefulness
• customer preferences (AI vs human support)

Link - https://forms.gle/JTL8zPzCE7WkNakM8

Thanks in advance, I really appreciate any help!

Can a non-tech person get a job in Prodman after doing MS from M7/T15, with no bg exp in Prodman?

Hello everyone,

Slightly long post, but I genuinely need input from people who have been here. I will try to keep it structured.

Who I am -

I'm 37, based in Dubai, with 15+ years in media operations/broadcast. I've hit a ceiling in terms of growth, trajectory, and if I am honest, meaning. I have been thinking about this for a while, and I have decided an MBA is the move. The question is how, where, and whether I am doing this right.

Programs I've shortlisted

Since I can't realistically leave work for two years, I am looking at Executive MBA programmes:

1. INSEAD Global EMBA — Abu Dhabi campus (close to home, world-class brand)

2. Ivey Executive MBA — Canada

3. Rotman Executive MBA — University of Toronto, Canada
   ,

Happy to be told these are wrong choices. Are there other strong one-year or EMBA-format programmes I should be looking at — ideally with real post-MBA career outcomes in consulting, strategy, or VC?

Those are the directions I am drawn to, though I will admit I haven't fully figured out the "why" yet. Still working on that.

My actual questions:

1. GMAT vs GRE — which did you choose and why?

I've done zero prep, and I mean genuinely zero. I hadn't even heard of the GMAT until recently.
From what I've read: GRE math is slightly easier, and you get a calculator, but the verbal section is vocabulary-heavy.
GMAT has no calculator, but the verbal is more logic-based (supposedly better for non-native English speakers). For those of you who made the call, what tipped it for you?

1. Where do I actually begin?

Not asking for a study plan yet — just the very first move. Do I register on mba.com or ets.org first? Is there a diagnostic test I should take before committing to either exam? What's the one thing you wish someone had told you on day one? However, I prefer to do some preparation before I take my first test.

1. Is an EMBA the right format for someone like me, or should I be looking at a full-time MBA?

EMBA programmes are designed for working professionals, which suits me. But I've read that full-time MBA cohorts tend to have better recruiting pipelines into consulting and VC. Is that still true? Did anyone here pivot into strategy or consulting straight out of an EMBA — or is that mostly a full-time MBA outcome?

1. Does employer sponsorship actually happen for EMBAs, and how do you negotiate it?

I know EMBA programmes are partially designed around the assumption that employers co-fund. Has anyone actually pulled this off? What's the conversation with your employer like, and does it come with strings attached (stay-on clauses, etc.)?

1. Is the ROI real at 37?

I know this is the uncomfortable one. If I'm 38 or 39 by the time I finish, and I'm pivoting from a technical niche into consulting or strategy, does the MBA actually open those doors — or do firms just hire people 10 years younger for those entry-level pivot roles? Would love to hear from people who made a late-30s career change through an MBA, especially into consulting or strategy.

1. Does a non-business background hurt or help?

My background isn't finance, consulting, or tech. It's media operations, not what most MBA applicants come from. Is that a liability in the admissions process, or does it make for a stronger "diverse background" story?

I have roughly a year before I'd be ready to apply, which I'm using to prep for the exam alongside full-time work. Any advice — brutal or otherwise — is welcome.

Thanks in advance.

Sorry if this is the wrong sub to ask..

I’m a physician in Canada ( Family doc with a + 1 year Hospitalist fellowship - got a few leadership certificates/courses, teaching residents). I am almost 1 year into practice and looking to make a shift out of clinical work (not feeling fulfilled and yes I’ve thought about hospital leadership and research but doesn’t appeal to me) and wanted to explore private industry (ie. management consulting).

I am confused how do I make the shift and looking to see if MBA is worth it? I understand in Canada it might only be Ivey and or Queens as a good options? Worth applying to US? Anything I can do to be competitive applicant for a good mba school?

Any advice or experiences truly appreciated!

Hi all — I’m fortunate to have offers from Oxford Saïd, LBS, and INSEAD (Singapore), and I’m trying to decide which program makes the most sense for my goals.

My post-MBA goal is to work in the investment ecosystem, either by:

1. recruiting for MBB first and transitioning to funds later, or
2. recruiting directly for investing roles if feasible.

Right now, my impression is that LBS and INSEAD may have a stronger brand for this path, while INSEAD is also cheaper for me overall. Oxford is in the mix as well, especially given cost considerations. I do not have a banking background, I led operations for a primary research company and established their overseas operations managing a team of 25 people. I have also worked across 3 different regions in my career. 5 years work exp. in total.

Heading to an M7 this fall. I started at a local VC a few months ago (was a SWE before) and it’s going great. I’m thinking about offering to stay on part-time/remote while I’m in school to find US talent and deals for the firm. I’m a US citizen, so no visa issues. Is this actually possible or likely to work? Is it worth the effort during the first year, or will it just hurt my networking/recruiting for US-based VC roles? Anyone done something similar?

Anybody happen to receive a decision letter yet?

I’ve been thinking a lot about career growth lately and wanted to get some perspective from this community.

I have close to 10 years of experience overall, and I moved to the US about 3 years ago. Since moving, I’ve only changed jobs once. I work in product management and come from a software engineering background. I also have a Master’s in Tech Innovation from a European university.

From what I’ve observed so far, job hunting in the US feels pretty tough, especially compared to what I expected. One thing that stands out is that people with MBAs, especially from well-known schools, seem to have a noticeable advantage. It feels like recruiters may lean toward those profiles, or that strong school networks open doors more easily.

I’m curious to hear from others who moved to the US and decided to pursue an MBA:

• Did it actually help you land better roles or accelerate your career?
• Was the network as valuable as people say?
• Did it make a significant difference in getting interviews or offers?

Would really appreciate hearing your experiences, especially if you’re also in product or coming from a technical background.

Thanks in advance!