INSEAD, HBS, Stanford, Wharton et al....What are my chances?

The most frequent questions you see posted on blogs, forums and admission director interviews is "Should I apply to school X" and "What are my chances of getting into school X". The following are my thoughts in response to these questions.

Stating the obvious, the reason you apply to business school is to get in. So, given that getting into business school involves a massive investment of time, you might as well invest that time wisely. This for me, means targeting the schools you want to go to and ALSO have the best chance of getting into.

I have already commented on the application process and particularly the emphasis on variables you control i.e. essays and GMAT. However, the key drivers that get you into the top business schools are often those that you cannot change i.e. where you did your degree from, your undergraduate grades (GPA in US terms), family who are alumni and the organisation you work for. According to Sandy (in the BW forums) the "dirty little secret" for HBS and Stanford is the GPA, with the second factor being the organisation you work for, the third being your essay execution and fourth your age.

Do not be misled by the outpourings of the Admissions Directors as to its all about the "individual" and they are looking at your essays. If you do not have the metrics for the top US schools i.e top undergraduate university, high GPA, well known company and below 30 (preferably below 28) then you have not got "a snowball's chance in hell" (for those unfamiliar with this colloquialism the appropriate translation is "no chance"). They use the metrics to gauge whether the applicant is already successful and, in this case, "past performance will be a guide to future performance". The schools want successful alumni in order to maintain their reputations and alumni and fund raising networks ensuring a virtuous circle that keeps them "profitable" - business school is a business - never lose sight of this fact.

The only way around the metrics is to add to the diversity of the school, thereby improving the statistics. To do this you need a "special" angle e..g military, charitable, Non Govermental Organisation (NGO), medical. If no special angle, and even if you know your brilliant and would be perfect for the school, then, if the metrics do not fit, its unlikely, if not impossible.

So when you start the application process you make your wish list....... and I'm assuming the 4 schools listed in the title are on the list. The next step is to decide how "ambitious" is this application. So :

a) There is the "Hail Mary" where you apply and hope for the best - you know its a long shot but its like a lottery ticket, unless you buy a ticket you can't win;

b) there is the "Ambitious" where you know its a stretch but you have a chance; and

c) there is the "Competitive" where you have a good chance of getting in.

Once you rank your schools under these three heading then you factor this into the overall decision on where to apply.

Ultimately it boils down to whether you agree that logic suggests to get the best return you target the schools where you calculate you have the best chance. Alternatively, you take the Accipiter view and add a dose of emotion - and hope for the best.

"Life's a box of chocolates, Forrest. You never know what you're gonna get."
You have to do the best with what God gave you."

Forrest Gump (1994)


As usual, my standard disclaimer applies to all the above.