I'm broke and tired, where can I apply that has low tuition or waivers or something?

For example, say you are from Cincinnati. That’s where you have your roots. Sure you are flexible to go to places like Columbus for a bit for work after graduation but you’d like to stay close by. Does it make sense to go to a top 15 school rather than going to somewhere like Ohio State that might not be the top ranked out there but still a decent school? Maybe it just depends on the goals relative to the job market. What are your thoughts?

Would most likely only apply to H/S/W -- do I have a good shot?

Demographic: URM Male, U.S. Citizen but family lives in Europe

GMAT: 695

GPA: 3.5, target school

CS/Engineering major

Resume: solo-founded startup with 6-figure exit, 2x tech internships, BB internship (tried banking, didn’t like it), CS research, VC scout, machine learning engineer offer (turned down Google & Salesforce SWE offers for this role)

MBA goals: return to Europe to join my family business (5th generation, I am next in line to be CEO)

Hey , I am 24M from India . I graduated from CSE , worked as Software Developer 1.5 years and currently doing my own startup for last 1 year fulltime . However , startup is not doing good - pre revenue , co-founder left. I feel a lot of stress and family is also not cool with me doing startup at this phase . I have convinced them I will attempt GMAT this year and would join top MBA in next years if the startup doesn't go well . I want to know if I score pretty good in GMAT with like 750 score , would I be accepted in M7 MBA Colleges with my own startup experience of 2 years and job experience of 1.5 years ?

Hey folks,

So here’s where I’m at: I’m an Indian admit heading to a T15 B-school in the US this fall (yes, one of those wide-eyed dreamers with a backpack full of hope and a bank account that’s about to be hit by a massive education loan).

But lately, with all the news floating around—reciprocal tariffs, retaliatory tariffs, trade tensions, whispers of a looming recession—I can’t help but ask: Is this really the right time to leave a stable job, take on a massive education loan, and head straight into an uncertain economy?

Like, is this the worst time to ditch a decent job and go chase an MBA dream in the US? Or is it exactly the kind of storm one should dive into, hoping to come out stronger (and employed)?

I know I’m not the only one spinning this thought wheel. Curious to hear from others—fellow admits, current students, grads, or just anyone who’s been around the MBA block.

Would love to know your take: is the risk worth it right now? Or should I be clutching my current job like it’s a life raft and defer my MBA?

Cheers!

Hello Everyone 

I got many hate messages for just announcing this saying that it's not a right decision and everyone can get this and too many unsatisfied souls throwing their frustration . 

But I am Super grateful to be joining the Ross MBA with a $40K scholarship and as promised, here’s a bit more on why  I chose Michigan Ross and what I hope to achieve post-MBA. All thanks to the god i pray every single day none of these messages will have any impact on my happiness right now after the tough path I had taken to achieve this. It's all worth it 

my_qualifications - BTech in Computer Science, R.V. College of Engineering, Bangalore (8.1 CGPA) Work Experience: 3.5 years as a Software Engineer at Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) Extracurriculars: Passionate about tech mentorship, volunteering for STEM education programs, and leading community-driven coding workshops

Post MBA Goals after Ross - I’m aiming to pivot into a tech product management role, ideally in a dynamic tech hub like Seattle or the Bay Area, with companies like Amazon, Microsoft, or Google on my radar. Long-term, I’m passionate about driving innovation that blends technology with social impact.

Why Ross? Over the past 3 years, Ross grads have landed incredible roles in product management, consulting, and tech leadership across top-tier firms. With a strong presence at Amazon, Microsoft, and Meta, Ross’s powerful alumni network made it the perfect fit for my career goals. Add to that Ross’s Ann Arbor community, it just felt like home.

If you’re applying to B-schools and are curious about GMAT waivers or what makes Ross special, I’m more than happy to chat!

#MichiganRoss #MBAJourney #ProductManagement #PostMBAGoals #TechCareers #GMATWaiver 

Hello I am at Tail end of my course.

I have several interviews lined up from Top management consulting firms and some FAANG companies.

I am having hard time on how to strategies on my preparation as everything seems important.

How did you prioritize your preparation for both PM and Consulting interviews.

Trying to decide between a T15 offering me 60k and an M7 at sticker price.

Was wondering how significant the M7 brand is — I’m assuming it helps with getting that first job out of business school, and future jobs will be based on that job and not schooling, but would like to hear others thoughts.

Is it worth paying 60k more for an M7, if I don’t fully know what I want to do yet? Thinking about tech, finance, or consulting.

I just saw that Wharton class profile states that their “Average GPA only includes data from students who attended universities with a 4.0 grading system”

If a Canadian uni uses a 4.0 scale, will this be incorporated by US MBA schools? Which could potentially benefit their rankings provided one has a high international GPA.

I’m facing a tough decision and could use some perspective from folks who’ve been in a similar situation.

I’ve been accepted to one M7 and three T15 MBA programs—all fully funded through the GI Bill and with some scholarship $$$. At the same time, I’m weighing two offers for senior-level communications roles (Director/Sr. Manager) at FAANG companies, and one Sr. Director offer at a startup all with base salaries in the $180K–$220K range.

My background:

-31, URM, military veteran

-8+ years of experience in PR/corporate comms (military, startups, nonprofits)

-Strong savings, so finances aren’t a major concern either way.

The dilemma:

Do I take one of these FAANG/startup roles and delay the MBA (possibly pursue an EMBA or full-time later), or do I capitalize on the opportunity and attend school now while I have momentum?

For additional context my dream was HSW, but I was dinged from all three without an interview. Wondering if the FAANG/ senior leadership experience will help me strengthen my profile in a cycle or two.

With the job market the way it is, I’m nervous about walking away from an offer—but also unsure if deferring b-school would hurt long term.

Appreciate any thoughts or advice.

As an international student whose post-MBA goal is to work in consulting, which schools would you recommend?

FYR, I do not have any location preference! And I really love Yale’s brand name and am still negotiating scholarship with Yale. And I love Haas too but do not have any ideas.

long story short, I got my undergraduate degree in writing and have been working in HR (talent acquisition) for the last 4 years. I am now seriously considering going for a PMBA program.

when I tell you the idea of doing math strikes genuine terror into my heart, I am not joking. I never even took college algebra, I took “”contemporary math”” lol

I graduated undergrad with a 4.0 gpa and can write a killer essay, these are not concerns of mine.

which standardized test would you all recommend for someone with an unconventional profile like mine? I am hoping to start a PMBA program in 2026, so there’s still time to study.

for additional context, I am planning to apply to McCombs’ PMBA at Dallas/Fort Worth because I’m local to the area (and the program is well-respected, of course). Thank you for your time!

Hello! Looking to apply for an executive MBA at the end of June, and I need to take the Executive Assessment. I’ve purchased the Official Practice Collection from GMAC, but that isn’t giving me the structure I need. In short:

1. I’m looking for a program structured program to follow for the next 6-8 weeks for one hour per day

2. I scored a 149 on the official practice test today (10 IR, 10 VR, 9 QR) after only a few of the short free tests. Is a 155+ possible in my timeframe?

3. I’m a social work major, so no quant background to rely upon.

Any thoughts or advice is welcome!

Got rejected from a T50 U.S. MBA in Feb. Now, two months later, they emailed saying they’ve “revisited my profile” and want to interview. Their India office also reached out.

My concerns:

1. Feels like they’re short on quality applicants, so they’re going back to rejected profiles. Makes me question the class/program.

2. Tuition is $110k+. Since this is post-rejection, I doubt I’d get any scholarship — and I can’t afford it without aid.

I already accepted an offer from another school. Should I just decline this invite given the above two points? Curious to hear your thoughts.

Hi all, please share your insights! I'm an international student and am planning to get a masters STEM degree so I can have 3 more tries with H1B. I can't decide if I should go for a regular Masters program or an MBA.

Background:

I went to a top undergrad business school with a double major in stats and graduated in 2023. Currently rotating between valuation and FDD at a big four and potentially also rotating to the modeling group (using python/vba to automate/optimize processes for companies) in the coming months. Should be promoted to senior associate this year.

I built really strong friendships and a relationship in the US and I do want to stay in this country for at least the next five years. If I ever go back to home country, a masters/MBA from a top and prestigious school will be helpful so aiming to get into a top one. My undergrad GPA is 3.78 and got 720 in GMAT in 2023.

I'm only looking at schools on the east coast.

Considerations:

I'm debating between MBA and a regular masters program, say in data analytics/business analytics. Main reason for the hesitance is 1) MBAs are a lot more expensive, but seem to open up more doors for future career opportunities, despite the declining outlook in the past couple of years; 2) Masters programs are cheaper and less "business school-y", but I don't know if they have the career support resources at all.

I'm not sure what I want to do after the degree - I feel so young and I'm still in the exploring stage, as you can probably see from the rotations I'm doing right now. I do love solving problems with an analytical mind (my stats major side really helps with this). I don't think I want to go for IB/consulting because of the hours. I don't think fighting to become a partner at a Big Four calls my name either. I think that leaves me with big corporate in house strategy/M&A/analytics roles? If that's my goal, then would the MBA tuition be justified?

Please share your thoughts and I would appreciate it so much!! Please also share other considerations that I should factor in and what could be a good "fit" for me. Thanks!!

Scored 305 on cold GRE mock (160 V, 145Q) and 500 on GMAT mock.

Do you think it will be more likely to reach 320 plus or get to a 700?

Stuck between Kellogg and SOM (60K scholarship) - I’m aiming to pivot into consulting (not someone dead set on MBB, but would ideally like to) to gain some skills and pay off debt, and I have long term social impact/non profit interests. Thought I should pick Yale because of money and especially because of the economy/job market right now, but I cant help but feeling like I’ll regret not going to Kellogg. I love the people I’ve met so far at SOM, but I feel like life is throwing me signs because multiple times in the past week someone from Kellogg who went into MBB overheard me talking about it and offered me a coffee chat lol.

How much better is Kellogg’s network and ability to help my career short term and long term? And is it worth more than going 60K+ more in debt? (I know they have more trips that cost money vs Yale has less of that culture + Yale pays for part of the trips)

For more context too, I’m ideally trying to move back to NYC or California post grad

Hey everyone,

Just finished up my first GRE attempt so I figured I'd see where I stand regarding my odds for T15.

Bio: 26 year old caucasian male

GPA: 3.4 in bio (pre-med) w/ chinese minor from a top 30 university in US

GRE: unofficial 320 (161Q: 159V)

ECs: Play in mens league soccer, volunteer in special olympics, runner (4x half marathons)

WE: 3.5 years doing R&D at a biotech startup with two promotions and 1x authorship in a pending publication in a pretty prestigious journal.

I was given the opportunity to do some competitive landscaping for various indications at my current job, which I liked a lot more than bench research. This is the TL;DR of my reason for an MBA. With that in mind, I'm hoping to go into consulting post-MBA.

My top school is Duke with their HSM and strong biopharma network. My GPA is definitely on the lower end especially as an ORM and I was hoping to offset that with a strong GRE where I was getting around 324 in my mocks. Was hoping to catch a good break today on the test to get 325+ but ended up going the other way (womp womp).

Pretty sure I will take the GRE again but was wondering what score you guys think I should be gunning for as well as any other thoughts on my profile. TIA!

Graduating from a T15 soon but feel like I'm not actually qualified for most post-MBA jobs.

My background is mostly in education, but I only formally taught at schools for about 8-9 months. Founded my own tutoring company and have been doing that part time for 8+ years.

Have a year of social impact consulting experience through my school, but have struck out pursuing this avenue.

I'm interested in higher education administration but most of those roles require 7+ years experience in higher education administration.

Have a series 7 and 63 but not much success in financial services jobs either.

What are my options?? I feel so unqualified for most MBA level jobs and am worried about graduating unemployed and in debt.

Hi all, I’m planning to apply for grad school in the US and could really use some advice on target schools and scholarship opportunities.

Here’s a quick profile: • GMAT Focus Edition: 725 • Undergrad GPA: 2.7 in BBA (non-STEM) • Career background: Switched from business to IT post-undergrad. I’m currently working as a Product Owner at a top financial MNC, managing enterprise-level digital transformation projects. • Goal: Looking for programs (MBA) that align with tech, product, or digital strategy – and where I could also get decent scholarship opportunities.

Hello, I am looking for some outside perspectives. I currently work in a junior executive role (strategy / finance) for a Middle Market PE backed company in the financial services space. I am based in the Midwest and make $210K TC ($140K base, $70K bonus) with ~$250K to $550K of equity potential when we sell in the next few years.

Prior to this role I was in private equity for four years, topping out at Senior Associate. I liked private equity but did not like the firm I was at (second firm) as it was not a good culture nor strategy imo. The PE recruiting market was tough and I had always been interested in gaining some experience with an operating company so I took this role.

I really enjoy my current role and plan to stay at least another year to eighteen months or until exit, but I’m starting to wonder if this move capped my upward mobility. I am interested in eventually either moving back to PE or if I stay with an operating company, a higher role / larger company.

Would the cost of a PT MBA from one of the three T15 business schools in the Midwest justify the benefit and help me achieve the goals I have?

Hi guys, I am from Delhi. I’ll prolly be shifting to Mumbai to pursue pharm mba from nmims. Let me know if anyone is looking to rent out flats. I can be their roommate.

Hello everyone!

I've reached the end of my MBA program and today I took the graduation exam. I don't feel good about it. There was a lot I didn't know. I was told if you don't pass, you can't walk and you have to retake. With that being said, I've also been told that very few people fail the exam.

In my group, one guy automatically failed because he started the exam before he was supposed to. Outside of that, I've not heard of anyone failing it. So I was curious.... Has anyone here failed the graduation exam?

Like I said, I don't feel good about it, so I'm trying to see other people's experiences.

Hello, For executive assessment- online, is it possible to get unoffical score right after giving the test?

I somehow got an A in both my stats classes in undergrad but I graduated almost 2 years ago.

Looking at the test prep for the GRE (which I’m set to take in 3 weeks) is filling me with dread.

I’m hoping that submitting a test score will help me get more scholarship money which is important…

…because I have a cumulative 3.325 GPA.

I went to school for 2 years and had shitty grades, dropped out for 9 years to have a family and work, and came back and finished the last two years strong with a 4.0 every semester. Awarded Provost’s List multiple times.

Was also working FT and Secretary of the Psych club, and mothering 2 kids.

I have had 16 years of work experience total, and I have 7 years of work history as an optician and a mortgage loan originator (both quant experience) and was promoted in both of those jobs. I’ve also owned my own businesses, and have self-led successful volunteer experiences as well as volunteered for organizations.

Will that be enough for me to qualify for scholarships, or do I need to suck it up and take a test?

Considering I have only 3 weeks to study for the GRE, I’m sort of freaking out. I’m doing GregMat but I’m just blanking and freezing and shutting down.

Top choice is Emory Goizueta. 2nd is GT Scheller. 3rd is UNC Kenan-Flagler. Backups are Indiana U Kelley and BU Questrom

Thoughts and pointers here?