| Topic Name: |
Strategy on entering a Top B-school |
| Message Name: |
However..... |
| Date Posted: |
08/31/1999 |
| In Reply To: |
Perhaps your recommendation sounded good, but you are certainly biased in your evaluation of the best strategy. The nature of your exceptional work experience and the fact that you were exceptional have more to do with your present position than does the fact that you chose an unconventional route. In order to remove such a bias, we really need to look at the majority make-up of the B-School classes, or the consulting firms. If we look at the statistics as an objective observer in such a way then we are more likely to determine the most probable path to the successful completion of these goals. You are the exception. While it's true that you can say, "Hey, I'm here and it worked for me", it is still the case that more individuals took a traditional path and can give similar testimonials as to the effectiveness of that strategy. It's better, I think, to ignore biased testimonials and go with the numbers. As an aside, I too am one of the exceptions and did not get into B-School and my present finance position by way of the traditional path. Though this happens to some of us, it seems only fair to say that these instances are more the exception than the rule. |
| Message: |
...Your analysis is almost sound, but not quite. If in a class of 500, let's say 300 are consultants and bankers and 200 come from "untraditional" backgrounds. What do you think the average grades and test scores are for those coming from "untraditional" backgrounds? Are they higher or lower? In other words, the competition from more "traditional" backgrounds is more stringent. Another reason why you just can't simply "look" at the numbers is because you ignore the issue of self selection. People coming from consulting shops and banks (where the nature of the jobs are designed to push you out after 2 or 3 years) are more likely to go to b-school than, say, people coming from 3 or 4 years of government experience.
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