Hi everyone,

I'm about to join PA as a grad in Sept, but am concerned that it may not carry the brand name across the atlantic to get me into a top 4/5 business school in the US.

Would you all generally agree with this sentiment? Would it have been better to have accepted the offer at Accenture I turned down? How can i improve my chances. A lot of people score highly on GMAT and have good 'extras'....

It depends on so many things. Which practise are you joining? Which univ did you go so and how were your grades? More importantly what do you consider to be top 4-5. Respond with those and I'll go through the different points with u and let you know of how realistic ure chance is.

Im joining BOP, went to Kings in London and then Warwick, Grades are solid but unspectacular - solid mid range 2.1 and mid range MSc.

I might be wrong but i assume top 5 to be (include) - Wharton, Harvard, Stanford, Colombia, LBS. Possibly INSEAD as well?!!

a) business schools don't take students on the basis of who they work for. I know of someone who has just gone to Wharton who used to work for PA, likewise I know 4 people turned down by Harvard from PA, Bain, Accenture and Deloitte

b) you should look to join a firm based on their career path, challenges offered, salary, culture etc not whether they can 'get you into a business school'. And when you are interviewed for an MBA, at any school, you need something more compelling to say about your career choices and experience than 'I thought it would get you to take me'

c) check a list of business schools for the top rankings- yours are not correct according to any of the quantitative rankings I have seen (e.g. LBS are c 20th on most international rankings at the moment). And the very top schools would be unlikely to take someone of your profile- unless you do something spectacular in the next few years to elevate you from average

d) PA don't fund MBAs

Beth - many thanks

First thing that comes to mind grad is that you did a masters from kings. If your masters was in management or a mini mba type program, then some B-skewls might instantly turn you down as they will not take people who have done an MBA before.

Now regarding the grades - your perfectly fine. Due to the complexities and bias of cross atlantic grade comparison, a 2.1 shall do perfectly fine. It wont lose you any points nor will it gain you any. So your safe here.

Regarding PA, I'm not sure about the BOP practise, but there are a few people in their US offices from top B-schools. So if they are in touch with their alma mater, the name should be known. Whats most imp is for you to get into the firm, work hard and try to get promoted real fast. This is something that B-Skewls look at highly.

In terms of the top rankings - harvard wharton stanford MIT kellog are generally considered the best. Surely LBS and INSEAD are good but honestly there brand names doesnt carry itself in Latam and North Am.

You should be realistic abt your chances, I think that you can get into a good b-skewl. But not a top one. U'll need to do a number of things to prove your worth to the top mentioned ones. Your a good fit for a Faqu, Stern, LBS.

However even to get into those you will need to score highly on the GMAT, write some really compelling essays arguing your worth. If I were you I would concentrate on the US. This is becos not THAT many people from the UK go there for B-skewl. More importantly coming from a smaller outfit like PA shall do you well compared to a place like Acc or Deloitte from which many people apply.

Lastly planning is good but don't be navie. B-skewl is not the do all and end all of consulting or the corporate world. If your doing well in the firm, there may be no point of going to b-skewl. Secondly give yourself a year and see whether you like consulting and if its meant for you.If you don't like it then consider other options - Accountancy, IB, Trading, Industy.

P.S If you have a liberal arts degree, it would most definately increase your chances. I did ! :)

Cheers for this realistic appraisal . May I ask what BS you went to? Also why you dont think I can get into a top one?

I did mine at uchiacgo. I say that cos as beth stated u dunt seem any different form ordinary profiles.

But obviously its hard to make such a blunt judgement. If you answer a few ques - the following ques i mite be able to give you a more definite answer as to why I stated that. It shall also make it easier for you to understand my rationale.

Why did you do and masters and why Kings?

Hocome you couldn't get a high 2.1 letalone a 1st?

Why did you choose PA? Which other firms did you apply to and which fields were you looking at?

Why did you chose PA?

What exactly do you plan on getting out of the MBA?

Do you understand the costs involved in doing an MBA, let alone opportunity cost?

At first it might appear weird that I'm asking them. Trust me once you answer I'll provide clear cut thorough rationale. Also don't get me wrong you can get into a good b-skewl. I'm just saying that the top are the top. You need to be exceptional.

I have to head into a meeting now. But once i get home, I promise if i get some breathing space, I'll respond tonite.

I would be surprised if Chicago took you, unless they had some sort of diversity programme for semi-illiterates?

Grad--

It not where you work, it's what you accomplish where you work. Have you shown evidence of persistence, leadership, accomplishment, and the ability to take significant responsibility? How well do you work with others? I have two close friends who completed their MBAs at Harvard. One was a professional hockey player for four years, the other ran a family business for 6 years. What they liked in the hockey player was his story of persistence and determination. He turned his high school grades from mediocre to great, landed a scholarship at Princeton, and then fought like hell for two years to get drafted by a well known team here.

The other is a very down-to-earth guy: ran his family's business from the time he was 19 or so, took risks, and fell into some hard times. Eventually built it up, then decided to go to Harvard for his MBA.

Good luck. Remember: your grades will get you noticed, your character and accomplishments will get you the offer of admission.

PS: PA is known over here. So is Accenture, but it isn't terribly highly regarded. Most consultants and business execs think of them as glorified software vendors.

Matthew - many thanks for your response, much appreciated. May I ask where you work in the US?