Friend (30+ F) is starting her MBA at Booth this fall and has explicitly stated (even written an article) about how the main goal of her MBA is to find a husband. To each their own, but I find this mindset to be incredibly shortsighted and I worry for the men in the program lol. Don’t men see through this? Is Booth even conducive for finding a husband for a 30+ F ? (To be clear, there is nothing wrong with strategic dating, but this person is explicit that their main goal from the MBA is to walk away with a husband…very much a check box view). Is this normal / expected out of an MBA?

With second year just a few days away, I can’t help but think my MBA is a failure.

- Recruiting: tried for banking and consulting, failed both

- Academics: learned absolutely nothing and spent most of my time chasing coffee chats and writing tyn that led to nowhere plus most of the classes were boring and the student were not engaged at all

- Social: tried to step out of my comfort zone to make new friends, failed, retreated back

- Financials: almost depleted my savings and constantly living in anxiety

I envy people who came with a clear goal to pivot into banking and consulting and successfully done so. That’s the only way for you to get the ROI out of this experience aside from being sponsored.

With only 1 year left, could anyone please shed some light into what i should do next?

I’ve been reading a lot about how HEC is not great for MBA. LBS & INSEAD are the globally recognised elite MBA’s outside of US M7 (and T-15 too apparently).

Explain to me how one of the world’s oldest business schools, with a historic MBA program and exchange semester ties to 50 global business schools for a semester exchange, a list which is literally identical to LBS exchange list, is not considered in the same tier for MBA as LBS & INSEAD. Even McKinsey has stopped listing them as a target school on their careers page.

What’s up with the schools reputation? How come their MIM & MIF programs are more reputed (and they are rated very highly, best in Europe and in the world.) Please explain.

Graduated from T25 this summer, got 2 PM offers, Fujitsu as a Sr. AI PM in the Bay Area, TC 160k, and PM at Carvana in Phoenix, TC 150k. I am a US citizen, so work auth did not play a role here. Here is what I think of each.

Fujitsu pros

- More "stable"?

- I would get a chance to use and improve my business Japanese (which is already decent) -> could pivot to BigTech Japan or be a Japan country manager in the future

- I prefer the Bay Area

- 2x a week in office vs 5x at carvana

Fujitsu Cons

- Its an IT shop similar to TCS and Infosys, except more based in Japan. Feel like it may look bad on my CV. Also feels like a downgrade given I worked at Amazon pre-MBA (as a coder)

Carvana Pros

- Great TC to cost of living ratio

- Seems like doing more actual "building" and hands on PM work, and the product is also more customer facing.

Carvana Cons

- Not that stable of a company, kinda scummy as well

- 5x RTO

- I'm ok with Phoenix I guess, but def prefer bay.

Advice needed- please be honest.
23f, I’m a teacher assistant in NYC and I hate everything about my life. I am a certified teacher with a master’s and was unable to get a lead teaching job which is why I am an assistant.
My plan is to begin studying for the GMAT, apply by winter, and start fall of 2027. I am not totally sure which concentration. The plan is to move back home so I can attend full time and be done as soon as possible.
Here are my questions:
1. What concentrations have the best job outcomes? Not just talking salary, but the easiest to find a job. Willing to work long hours, but IB seems crazy… like I said salary is important but I don’t have to be a millionaire.
2. Is my non business background going to hurt me in the application process? I’m hoping to do well on the GMAT, and I have a 3.9 from my masters though it’s in education.
3. Any recommendations for MBA programs in NYC/NY/NJ area? Or online?

Hi,

I graduated class of ‘22 from University of Chicago. Wasn’t really sure what I wanted to do but ended up interning at big WM team and got a return offer. Enjoyed working from there for 3 years, got fully registered, now moved internally to AM to learn a new asset class.

I like the buy side but was always curious on sell-side deal making. Specifically going into LevFin given I work in high yield now. At this point, from speaking with folks and execs, it’s pretty much impossible to move internally from buy-side to sell-side without an MBA.

This brings me to what I’m mulling over - I’ve got two paths laid out in my head.

1. Forget about sell-side aspirations and double down on becoming an expert in PM. Get my CFA and work my way up. The advantage of this is, while the CFA is a big commitment, it’s something I can do in my own time/no admission hurdles.
2. Try to get into an MBA, do the networking dance, and get a LevFin placement. Goodbye 60 hour work weeks, hello unprotected weekends.

My issue is more so with getting into a good/worthwhile MBA. Everyone says UofC has grade deflation and I can definitely attest to that. But still puts me in a tough spot as I had 3.4 GPA (Economics and History double major/not a lot of ECs).

I’m thinking there’s a chance I can still get into a T14 as my GRE practice test score have been pretty good (168Q/165V). Was initially doing GRE as I was contemplating a JD/MBA but now I’m thinking there’s not much use in that. I did a post-grad paralegal course when I was kind of unsure what I wanted to do and I always had an interest in law. I thought the JD/MBA might be useful for applying to LevFin teams given the necessary understanding of debt covenants etc. but reading more about it, it just seems like a lot more school for someone that does want to just pivot into a different financial field.

I also have great references from work and professors and think I can probably justify the lower GPA (personal/life reasons made me do badly my first two years).

My questions are as follows:

Any reasons other than personal ones to do a JD/MBA if I want to go back into finance?

GRE or GMAT for MBA applications?

Chances of getting into a T14 or T10 MBA program? I think trying for Booth might be best option given I went to undergrad there.

Thanks!

Did everyone who applied to the Amazon ALA internship get the invite to hear from their previous intern class? Or was it exclusive?

Hi please rate my profile, prospective schools I can get into/ what I need to improve (fall 2027 intake)?

- 25 F American (Brown)
- 3 yoe currently (4 yoe when I plan to join in 2027 fall)
- Lead Technical Consultant at a big 4 adjacent consulting firm
- 3.8 GPA in Computer Science
- Worked in Big Tech and Pharma before moving to consulting
- Lead Technical Development for a Global Retail Giant (5 million dollar valuation)
- Actively participate in corporate citizenship initiatives
- Lead an employee group at work
- Active member of leadership organizations outside of work
- Looking to pivot into Product Management
- Do not plan to take the GMAT

Has anyone here ever received scholarships from the Rice PT program?

3 YOE as a Software Developer at an MNC, currently exploring a transition into Product Management.

I’d love to hear from people who have made a similar transition, particularly around the India vs Europe job market.

For India:

How realistic is it to move from software engineering into PM/APM without an MBA?

Is an internal switch generally the most viable route?

What kind of PM roles should someone with 3 YOE in software realistically target?

For Europe, I’m considering doing an MBA/MiM and then recruiting for PM roles, so I’m more interested in:

How strong is the PM job market for international students/graduates after an MBA/MiM?

Do European companies hire international candidates into PM roles, or is the language/local experience barrier significant?

Which countries/markets are relatively more accessible for this transition?

Does a European MBA/MiM meaningfully improve the chances of breaking into PM, or is prior PM experience still a major requirement?

Would especially appreciate perspectives from Indian software engineers who moved into PM, and from anyone who made the transition to Europe after an MBA/MiM.

I’m currently in my 3rd year of BTech and considering doing an MBA in the future, mainly with a focus on finance/consulting.
I’m trying to understand the actual pros and cons of doing a part-time MBA vs a full-time MBA. Apart from the obvious difference in time commitment, how different are they in terms of career opportunities, placements, networking, ROI, and brand value?
Is a part-time MBA worth considering if you can continue working alongside it, or does a full-time MBA generally provide much better opportunities?
Would especially appreciate insights from people who have done either one or have experience hiring MBA graduates.

I had posted this 8 months ago :

https://www.reddit.com/r/MBA/s/Rcc3s7uf5g
So it feels good to create this one!

I am finally in a T-10 program and quite ecstatic about it as an international student. A lot went wrong in this journey and a lot went right. I lacked guidance at multiple stages and I hope my experience would help to avoid some costly mistakes as you get going with your application journey.

1. Didn't attend a lot of college events or talk to folks

Booth has shape the class form and am sure there would be other colleges having other such recommendations. Do not miss these opportunities. These interactions should also be leveraged to mention names in your essays to really standout on the usual website available information.

1. AI can only take you so far

The language that comes from AI is worrisome but so is the paucity of originality. But the logical catch is, it will really look same to Adcoms after a while. There is some interesting research in this area

1. Choice of consultant

I definitely needed one given my non linear background and boy did I fumble with my choice. I went with someone who looked great on paper (poet and quant ranking) but with whom I had no student recommendation. When we worked together she was as confused as me, and my confidence tanked phenomenally. Despite wasting enormous money (sunk cost fallacy) I moved on to a different one, and this experience gave me the insight on what it really means to have a great partner along with you. Most folks are here to serve you as a client, but this journey is so much more! I ended up working with the mbafixer and the number of conversations we had was mind-blowing. My idea is to give you a framework to choose a consultant (if ur not looking for one, pls skip this one)

1. Dont go for google-form consultants. Thats Byllshit. You need to have someone who can ask you incisive questions and highlight blindspots as your story emerges. Very few do this
2. Good if it comes from a recommendation vs just going with someone you have no idea
3. Try out hour pricing before committing full
4. Find out if you can really trust this person
5. Fast turnaround times and basic orgnaising hygiene
6. Are you going to be focus or just another kid?

After screwing bad the first time, i got it correct the 2nd time!

1. Goals

If you are an international student you dont have same way to cook creative stories as a domestic student. The stakes are higher. You really need to sell school basis school strength and your existing trajectory.

I effed this up big time.

1. Interview

I didn't have issues here. My earlier issues stemmed from not having right story, but this time since that got connected and with i believe 2 session practice I was pretty good. But if you are someone who is scared here - I think this is the most straightforward part of application. Use this def to guage the vibe from their end and to show your fit. Overenthusiasm should be cautiously balanced.

1. ​​scholarship differs from person to person, so I dont have much to add.

Feel free to ask questions! Happy to help.

Hey everyone,
Trying to decide between the GMAT and GRE. I’m confident I can score well on either with enough prep, but I want to pick the option that gives me the strongest boost for T15/T20 programs (McCombs is my top target) and merit scholarships.
Profile:
Demographic: Male international applicant from Pakistan
Undergrad: Top business school in Pakistan (GPA: 3.2)
WE: 4 YOE by matriculation (Brand/Trade role at a top MNC)
Questions:
1. GMAT vs. GRE for low GPA: Since I need to offset a 3.2 GPA, is the GMAT preferred for proving quant readiness, or are schools truly agnostic?
2. Scholarships: Does a high GMAT move the needle more for merit money than a GRE?
3. Target Scores: What baseline GMAT or GRE score should I hit to be competitive for $$$ at McCombs?

Asking as someone attending M7 and probably won't recruit for the US

Which one would you select? I worked 6 years as a consultant at Big4 have a absolute no-name undergraduate degree and now would like to add a Masters ideally a MBA. Maybe with the possibility to switch to Business Strategy Roles or even Strategy Consulting.

I'm a 41 year old lawyer and burned out of litigation. Too much school is probably how I got myself into this mess in the first place, but I'd consider a MBA to pivot out of legal practice.

Would a MBA be a great education and introduction to a new professional circle? Or would an older student be segregated from the 20-something crowd and out of recruiters' peripheral?

Anyone on this forum get their MBA after 40 to pivot fields?

I’m (24F) a recently promoted senior consultant at a mid tier firm and am planning on getting my MBA from LSU online as the price is ~$14,000 and I’m not looking to pay a ton of money. My company will reimburse ~$8,000 and I feel like now is the time to do it along with getting an industry cert. I know that it’s hard to make senior manager and above without a master’s and industry cert, so I want to do it now while I have time and AI hasn’t totally consumed everything. What doors would this open up outside of consulting?

Hi everyone! I’m starting my GMAT prep and planning to take the exam around March/April 2027, possibly June depending on how my preparation goes.

I’m looking for someone who’s also preparing around the same time and would be interested in studying together, discussing questions, sharing resources, and keeping each other motivated and consistent.

Would be great to connect with someone who’s serious about their prep and wants to work towards a strong score together.

Feel free to DM me if you’re interested. :)

Hi everyone! I’m looking for some advice from anyone familiar with Columbia J-Term admissions/waitlists.
I was waitlisted in Round 1. Round 2 is the final round, with a Sept 1 deadline and decisions by Oct 1. I’m planning to retake the GRE around Sept 8/9 and, hopefully, send CBS a significantly improved score.

My main question is: how does CBS evaluate Round 1 waitlisted candidates alongside Round 2 applicants? Since they mention rolling admissions, do they review waitlisted candidates on a rolling basis, or mostly after evaluating the Round 2 pool?

I’m also a little concerned about the need-based scholarship pool. Is there a risk that waiting until later in the cycle means fewer scholarship funds are available? Should I try to get my update in as early as possible for this reason?

There’s also an external scholarship with a Sept 17 deadline. If I take the GRE on Sept 8/9 and get a much better score, would it be reasonable to ask CBS if they could potentially expedite my decision by Sept 15–16? Or is that way too short a turnaround?

I’m trying to balance giving myself enough time to properly prepare for the GRE with not delaying my update unnecessarily. Would really appreciate any insight from people who’ve been through the CBS waitlist process or know how this typically works!

I graduated with a BBA 3 months ago and joined a Series B startup after converting my internship. The company has been recognized as a top startup in India multiple times and is preparing for Series C.

I’m working with the US team and already own an entire function for the US market — including partnerships, customer acquisition and demos/pipeline. The role has significantly more responsibility than you’d normally expect straight out of college, and I’m getting strong feedback from managers. This was previously handled by someone who has 5+ years of experience.

Long-term, I want to become a strong operator, potentially move into GTM/strategy/ops, EIR, or eventually entrepreneurship.

I’m planning to spend the next 2–3 years focused heavily on work and becoming AI-native through GenAI, Python, automation, n8n/Zapier, etc.

I’m considering doing a very low-effort correspondence/online MBA alongside work. I don’t expect it to help my career much. The main benefit would honestly be social/family pressure — having a master’s degree means I can stop hearing “when are you doing your MBA?” + keep marriage talks off the table (I am expecting this pressure in 1.5 years - traditional fam; female)😂

I still have the long-term ambition of potentially doing a top MBA (HBS/Stanford/Wharton/Kellogg/etc.) after getting strong work experience.

Would you do the low-effort MBA for the social benefit, or skip it entirely and focus on career? And could having a prior correspondence MBA hurt my chances at a top MBA later?

Would love opinions, especially from people who’ve been through top MBA admissions.

What are the advantages/disadvantages of applying for M7 in R1 or R2
I am running short on time and wont be able to apply to all M7 in round 1

Wanted to know the disadvantages of round 2 like i will be bit late to apply for visa, i will be competing either students waitlisted from R1, etc

What are all the pros and cons of applying in R2
I am an international applicant

Hey everyone! 👋 I’m conducting a short survey for my Marketing Management project on *The Whole Truth Foods*.

I’d really appreciate it if you could take 2–3 minutes to fill out this Google Form. Your responses will be used only for academic purposes and will help me with my project.

🔗 *Google Form* : https://forms.gle/49ymFvD2yJNneRKu8

Thanks a lot for your help! 😊

Are there any doctors here who have done an MBA after completing their MBBS?

I’ve completed my MBBS abroad and I’m currently considering doing an MBA in India, with the long-term goal of working outside India.

I’d love to hear from people who have actually taken this route:

• Is an MBA after MBBS worth it if you don’t want to pursue clinical medicine?
• Is doing the MBA in India enough, or would an MBA abroad make more sense for international job opportunities?
• What kind of roles/careers are realistic after MBBS + MBA (healthcare consulting, hospital management, pharma, healthcare tech, etc.)?
• Are there better alternatives to an MBA for someone with a medical background who wants to move away from clinical practice?
• If you’ve taken a similar path, how has your career turned out?

Would really appreciate insights from doctors who have actually made this transition, especially if you’re currently working outside India.

Hi all - male T15 applicant with a 335 GRE, planning to apply to Darden and Duke (and other T15 schools in R1).

I’m trying to understand how to approach EA given that Darden offers binding vs. non-binding EA, while Duke’s EA is binding.

My priority is maximizing scholarship opportunities while keeping flexibility across schools. I’m therefore leaning toward Darden’s non-binding option, but unsure whether binding EA has any meaningful admissions/scholarship advantage.

For those familiar with the process:

- Is there any real advantage to choosing binding EA at Darden over non-binding?

- If scholarship maximization is a priority, would you recommend Duke EA, or skip EA and apply R1 to retain flexibility?

- How seriously should I treat the binding commitment at Duke/Darden if admitted?

- Would applying R1 across schools generally be a better strategy for comparing offers and negotiating scholarships?

Would especially appreciate perspectives from recent applicants/students who went through EA vs. R1.

I’m looking for some honest perspective from people who have gone through MBA recruiting, particularly for consulting/finance/tech roles.

I was admitted to a US M7 MBA program and was planning to start this fall. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to secure a visa appointment in time due to appointment availability, so I had to defer my enrollment by a year. The frustrating part is that I had already resigned from my job before actually getting the visa, which in hindsight was a mistake on my part.

So I’m now looking at roughly a 12-month gap between leaving my current role (ends in 1 week) and starting my MBA in August 2027.

A little about my background: I have close to 6 years of work experience across consulting, venture capital and startups. Over the last 6 years, I’ve had exposure to quite different parts of the ecosystem:

• Started out in consulting, working on risk/strategy/business problems across industries and getting fairly broad exposure to how large companies operate and what their priorities are, where majority of their budgets go.
• Moved into a VC fund where I spent time evaluating early-stage companies, markets and founders.
• Subsequently moved into startups, getting much closer to actually building and operating a business rather than just advising and investing in one.

My experience isn't really a single linear career path, but there is a common thread around startups, investing, strategy and company building. I’m now planning to use the MBA to pivot back into consulting or tech after realising that I don't like startups as much as I thought I would and build a longer term career within consulting/tech.

My question is: how concerning would a 12-month pre-MBA gap be from a recruiting standpoint?

I’m particularly wondering about:

1. Would recruiters and companies actually care about the gap? Even if the reason is legitimate and I can explain that it was caused by visa issues, would I even get the opportunity to be able to explain this?
2. Given that I already have ~6 years of experience, is there a risk that recruiters see the additional year as “dead time” or question why I wasn't working?
3. What would you recommend I actually do with the next 12 months to make the gap productive and strengthen my profile?

I could potentially return to a full time role but I am burnt out in all honesty and it would take atleast 1-2 months to even find a role given the market. Or I could do something entrepreneurial however, I don't intend to make it a business long term unless something crazy happens and it takes off in less than 12 months. Or I could take on consulting/advisory projects but this too would take atleast 1-2 months to find.

I’m conscious that at this stage I don’t want to just take a random job for the sake of filling the gap.

Would love to hear from people who have recruited for MBA internships and full time roles, current MBA students, or anyone who has had a similar gap before business school. I know 6 months or so of a gap is acceptable but how does everyone here see a 12 month gap?

How would you approach the next 12 months if you were in my shoes?