4 ms·

The top MBA programs require that applicants have at least 4 years of work experience.

bduerst 8y ago
Most accredited MBA programs do too. This quote about 23 year olds is attacking a straw man.
mdorazio 8y ago
Source? HBS has no such requirement (a friend got in with just 3 years of management consulting experience). Here's a quote straight from the Stanford GSB page: "Work experience is not required for entry to the Stanford MBA Program." Work experience isn't even listed as a requirement on the Wharton application. Etc. Perhaps you're referring to European programs?
- speleding 8y ago
  They may not all list it as a hard requirement, but a school like MIT sloan says on their site applicants have an average of 5 years of work experience [1]. You can maybe get accepted with less than 4 but you would need relevant other life experience. (I'm pretty sure HBS listed 4 years when I applied decades ago, but I cannot find a reference) [1] http://mitsloan.mit.edu/career-development-office/employment-reports/mba-current-report/ http://mitsloan.mit.edu/career-development-office/employment...
  - mdorazio 8y ago
    Ah, that explains it. The business school cohort average age has dropped considerably since you applied. These days it's typical to apply with 2-4 years of real-world experience (acceptance & start add a year to that) and uncommon to apply/be accepted if you're over 30. Keep in mind that average experience statements like the sloan one are heavily skewed by the few old-timers in the programs who have been working for a long time in comparison to the kids who make up the majority of cohorts. [1] https://media.licdn.com/dms/image/C4E12AQE7CzE_-7bwNA/article-inline_image-shrink_1000_1488/0?e=2123917200&v=beta&t=bspvZvELY4ls5S-5F9uZTRoTVyTaIycQKISXlB0QqiA https://media.licdn.com/dms/image/C4E12AQE7CzE_-7bwNA/articl...
    - diminoten 8y ago
      I think you're overstating the effect. Most people I meet at Kellogg (I'm not attending, but my fiancée is) are here with 4-5 years of experience.

Most accredited MBA programs do too. This quote about 23 year olds is attacking a straw man.

Source? HBS has no such requirement (a friend got in with just 3 years of management consulting experience). Here's a quote straight from the Stanford GSB page: "Work experience is not required for entry to the Stanford MBA Program." Work experience isn't even listed as a requirement on the Wharton application. Etc. Perhaps you're referring to European programs?

speleding 8y ago
They may not all list it as a hard requirement, but a school like MIT sloan says on their site applicants have an average of 5 years of work experience [1]. You can maybe get accepted with less than 4 but you would need relevant other life experience. (I'm pretty sure HBS listed 4 years when I applied decades ago, but I cannot find a reference) [1] http://mitsloan.mit.edu/career-development-office/employment-reports/mba-current-report/ http://mitsloan.mit.edu/career-development-office/employment...
- mdorazio 8y ago
  Ah, that explains it. The business school cohort average age has dropped considerably since you applied. These days it's typical to apply with 2-4 years of real-world experience (acceptance & start add a year to that) and uncommon to apply/be accepted if you're over 30. Keep in mind that average experience statements like the sloan one are heavily skewed by the few old-timers in the programs who have been working for a long time in comparison to the kids who make up the majority of cohorts. [1] https://media.licdn.com/dms/image/C4E12AQE7CzE_-7bwNA/article-inline_image-shrink_1000_1488/0?e=2123917200&v=beta&t=bspvZvELY4ls5S-5F9uZTRoTVyTaIycQKISXlB0QqiA https://media.licdn.com/dms/image/C4E12AQE7CzE_-7bwNA/articl...
  - diminoten 8y ago
    I think you're overstating the effect. Most people I meet at Kellogg (I'm not attending, but my fiancée is) are here with 4-5 years of experience.