Getting accepted into a top business school - what will it take?

Question

I'm 20 years old, did below average in highschool, and I haven't gone to college or into the work force. I spent the time after high school pursuing my own online business and figuring out what type of education I should get.

I want to go to school for business, but i'm afraid I won't be able to get into a top ranking business school, like NYU Stern or Columbia.

What will it take for someone in my situation to get accepted into a top business school and how can I best prepare myself?

Thanks,

Answer 1

I think your best bet is to talk to some admissions officers directly to assess your chances. The fact that you haven't gone to college and your high school grades aren't great are big, big strikes against you, because there will be people who apply to these places like NYU, Wharton, Columbia, etc. who have been successful entrepreneurs who also have those good grades in high school and college.

That said, there are certain things that you can do to increase your chances.

1) Have you taken calculus? If so, did you do well? If the answer to either of those questions is "no," I would take calculus at your local community college or state school, and make sure to get top grades. Take 2 semesters of calculus if possible; you will have a leg up in an MBA program if you have a decent math background. I would also take college-level statistics. Starting to develop a good academic background will help you with admissions, regardless of whether you try to go straight to an MBA or go to undergrad first.

2) I agree with an earlier answer to take the SATs and do really well. I would also take the GMAT, since that is the test you will need to get into an MBA program. The Kaplan books you can buy at the bookstore are excellent, and GMAC (the people who administer the GMAT) also provide lots of resources that are really, really good, like the Powerprep software.

3) Work on getting some really good business experience, whether that is through your own ventures or by working for someone else. MBA programs like to see evidence of leadership and critical thinking, so anything you can do to develop these skills will help you.

4) Develop great, GREAT writing skills.

5) If you have the money, you may want to talk to someone who does private admissions coaching for business school. This is $$$, but I have seen it get good results for people who want to get into their "reach" schools.

If you want to go to a top MBA program, I think that you may be best served by going for an undergraduate degree first.For undergrad, a local state program may be the best for you because you could go part-time while you work on your start-up businesses, if that is what you want to do. Focus on getting top grades while there; they matter more than people would let on. I am not sure if Stern has an undergraduate business program, but I know Columbia does not. Wharton and Yale both have programs where they will let undergrads submatriculate into the MBA program and finish both an undergrad and an MBA program in 5 years. At Wharton, you have to be a Wharton undergraduate student to do it. I know the Wharton program is very, very tough to get into- they maybe let 2-3 people do it every year, and it isn't the best route for everyone due to the fact that you get out of an MBA program with basically no experience.

Answer 2

How did your online business do? Is it something you are comfortable discussing with admissions personnel at a school you will apply to? It may be to your advantage. You have a little life experience, you aren't the "typical" student, and that may appeal to some colleges looking to promote diversity.

On the other hand, you have to keep in mind that even above average high school students have some difficulty getting into the top schools (in any field.) That's what keeps these schools at the top - they are very selective.

If you want to apply to a "tough" school I would re-take the SATs - as they're required for nearly every school in the country, and certainly at the "top" schools. Taking them now will show that you are serious about your education now. I recommend studying for the SAT. You're going to want to get the highest score possible.
I would also suggest looking into local community college classes. If you do well in a few classes that you take part time you can use that to demonstrate that your difficulty with classes in high school is behind you. If there is a reason you were less than a stellar student in high school you should be ready to talk about that when you interview. For example: if there were family problems, if you had a medical issue, or even if it was something along the lines of "those classes bored me, and I didn't feel like putting any effort into the work." As long as you can truly say that you understand the problem you had and have dealt with it, I think that you will still be considered as a serious applicant.

You also need to make sure you have a good list of "extra-curriculars." Have you done any volunteering? Have you joined any clubs (particularly any related to your intended major)?

It also wouldn't hurt to try to contact some alumni from the schools you are interested in. If you know an NYU grad he/she might give you some helpful tips about what the admissions people look for at NYU.

You also need to be aware that the most well known schools are not the only schools with a great business program. You should do some research to find outstanding programs at other schools too. Many people choose to go to school for a certain program's quality and reputation instead of the reputation of the entire college. People in your industry will recognize that x, y and z schools might be average engineering schools, and have a typical English program, but produces FANTASTIC business grads.

Lastly, as much as nobody likes to hear it... Apply to a few "safety" schools. If you are serious about getting this degree you should consider a few "stretch" schools - ones you'd really like to go to, but you aren't sure that you'll be accepted to, a couple "ballpark" schools - the ones you think you're right on par to get in to, and a safety school or two - so you know that you have the option of enrolling somewhere, even if it isn't your top choice. You can always try to transfer after a few semesters. (Chances are that you'll end up loving the college you go to though, and you may not even want to consider a transfer. There's always graduate school if you want a more prestigious diploma.)

Answer 3

Annie's advice is right on as far as what it takes, but I just wanted to add a little more "reality" to her answer. The schools on par with Columbia and NYU Stern are extremely difficult to get into for non-standard students. You do fall into that category. Realistically, with anything less than near-perfect grades and a very high SAT/ACT score, they are not going to pay much attention to you. The students that were accepted were among the elite of the elite in every area. You can look into the credentials of the most recently accepted class and see what it took to "make the cut". US News and World Report provides this data but isn't necessarily the standard source. I don't ever want to deter anyone from "going for it" and realizing your dreams, but what you want to do is not really possible based on where you are at this point. You can however be just as successful as those that did get into these programs, so there are no limits on WHAT you can do with your future, just HOW you do it. Remember, four of the top six wealthiest men/women in America do not even have a bachelor's degree! Find a realistic way to reach your goals and then execute to that plan! Good Luck.