Everyone says MBA is “top 10 or bust,” but is it really a waste if you don’t go to a top school? I’m a lawyer and heard the same about law school. I went to a T150, but still landed a federal clerkship—which is basically the crème de la crème of law jobs and seen as out of reach for anyone outside the T20. Now I’m at a top firm. At what point do you just go for it instead of perfecting your app for a top MBA? Asking from the perspective of someone helping their partner navigate their MBA journey

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I think it depends. If someone is interested in competitive roles with structured recruiting like BB/EB IB, MBB, etc then a top MBA is important. For other roles, previous WE can carry more weight. For example, I work in big tech and many PMs I’ve worked with had MBAs from schools outside the T15.

I think the law school comparison is a bit different. Landing federal clerkships or big law from lower ranking schools is possible because you can compensate with top grades, law review. I don’t think grades matter nearly as much in MBA programs.

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EB = Elite boutique. These are usually the hardest banks to get into and have the highest pay as they run lean deal teams. Some names include Evercore, Centerview, Moelis.

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I see where you’re coming from, but they are inherently two different types of degrees. A JD let’s you practice law no matter what rank it’s from. Grades are also a huge part of law school and your outcomes. FT MBA programs on the other hand are not for learning how to “do business”. They are for the network and access to certain jobs at certain companies. A bank isn’t hiring an MBA associate for their grades or for what they learn at the program, but rather the prestige of the school and network itself. There may be few exceptions here and there, but these top banks and consulting firms rarely stray from the targeted list of schools they recruit from.

Sure, not everyone needs a T15 MBA but they will give you the most options to pivot. T20-25 programs also have their place but are usually are more regional/excel in one area.

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You’re welcome! Consulting, IB, and tech are usually the most popular fields MBAs recruit into. PE/VC is also there but harder withoutout the ideal pre-MBA experience. There’s also many other roles, such as brand management , LDP, marketing.

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I had the same question, highly recommend www.belegendary.ai to get a free assessment

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My colleagues
Just to put some intro
I am 22 years after college experience and worked in consulting for 15 years and currently in industry for 7 years.
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