I want to get an entrepreneurial education at a top 10 school. Ideally, I want to go to a school that can help me incubate a business and help me network with VC or angel investors. So far on my list are: 1)Stanford and HBS 2) Haas/Stern and UCLA 3) Fuqua and Kenan-Flagler. You'll notice that I've paired two schools with relatively the same brand name (i.e. impossible to get into and really tough to get into even with a 710).
That said, which school is "easier" to get into? Haas or Stern? Stern is slightly bigger so I'd imagine its acceptance rate might be higher as well. But who's more entrepreneurial? Maybe Haas because of its proximity to Silicon Valley (although it might play second fiddle to Stanford...)? My concern with Stern is that with all the Wall Street analysts going back to b-school, it may see a huge surge in applicants while Haas might not see as much of a surge. Another concern is that Stern, despite what its website might say, may be heavily geared toward investment bankers and not so much to to-be entrepreneurs. Any thoughts?
Lastly, I noticed that some schools say that they will consider your highest GMAT, but that if you've taken it multiple times they'll look at all your scores. What does that mean exactly? I don't understand how they can consider only the highest GMAT when they say that they will "notice" the other scores. Sounds somewhat fishy to me. How many scores can they see? If one were to have taken the GMAT 10 times, would they see all 10 scores? (No, I didn't take it 10 times).
GMAT Forum
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- indecisive
- MBAApply
First, they will only consider the highest score. Take that at face value. They mean it. If you still are skeptical, then don't retake it - whatever makes you comfortable.
As for whether Haas or Stern is easier to get into - they're about the same. And yes, they are different in terms of student mix, but that comes with the cities they're based in - New York is the financial center, so it'll naturally attract those interested in finance careers moreso than Haas. Likewise, Haas is in the tech hub that is the Bay Area, so naturally it'll attract those who are interested in working in the Silicon Valley post-MBA. But schools across the board will see an increase in applicants -- not just "finance" schools. Keep in mind that just because someone works in finance, doesn't mean they necessarily want to stay in finance if they're applying to b-school.
Also, keep in mind that no school makes you entrepreneurial. Starting and running a business involves four things: brains, heart, guts and luck. B-school can only give you knowledge (brains), but it can't do anything about heart (passion for your product/service), guts (the willingness to take risks AND ride through many tough times), and luck (being at the right place at the right time). As such, very very very few MBAs at any top school starts a business right after graduation. Most don't bother until 3-5+ years in, and by then, it's less about what b-school you went to, and more about whether you have the heart, guts and luck to make it happen.
p.s. don't use the word "incubate" -- VCs, fellow MBAs, professors and recruiters will snicker behind your back because that word is so 1990s it will bring back memories of Webvan, Pets.com, and other dot-coms where "profitability was irrelevant" (and a NASDAQ at 5,000 - those were the days). If you're going to use jargon, you gotta keep up with the times, or not use jargon at all (i.e. "I want to start a business" is the easiest thing to say, bud).
Alex Chu
alex@mbaapply.com
www.mbaapply.com
http://mbaapply.blogspot.com
As for whether Haas or Stern is easier to get into - they're about the same. And yes, they are different in terms of student mix, but that comes with the cities they're based in - New York is the financial center, so it'll naturally attract those interested in finance careers moreso than Haas. Likewise, Haas is in the tech hub that is the Bay Area, so naturally it'll attract those who are interested in working in the Silicon Valley post-MBA. But schools across the board will see an increase in applicants -- not just "finance" schools. Keep in mind that just because someone works in finance, doesn't mean they necessarily want to stay in finance if they're applying to b-school.
Also, keep in mind that no school makes you entrepreneurial. Starting and running a business involves four things: brains, heart, guts and luck. B-school can only give you knowledge (brains), but it can't do anything about heart (passion for your product/service), guts (the willingness to take risks AND ride through many tough times), and luck (being at the right place at the right time). As such, very very very few MBAs at any top school starts a business right after graduation. Most don't bother until 3-5+ years in, and by then, it's less about what b-school you went to, and more about whether you have the heart, guts and luck to make it happen.
p.s. don't use the word "incubate" -- VCs, fellow MBAs, professors and recruiters will snicker behind your back because that word is so 1990s it will bring back memories of Webvan, Pets.com, and other dot-coms where "profitability was irrelevant" (and a NASDAQ at 5,000 - those were the days). If you're going to use jargon, you gotta keep up with the times, or not use jargon at all (i.e. "I want to start a business" is the easiest thing to say, bud).
Alex Chu
alex@mbaapply.com
www.mbaapply.com
http://mbaapply.blogspot.com
2 posts Page 1 of 1