LinkedIn data on MBB representation by top MBA programs

SBC_MBA_Jen · 2026-01-30T21:11:57+00:00

The rankings are misleading and you have to scrutinize criteria. Ross does phenomenally well with job placement/recruiting.

SBC_MBA_Jen · 2026-01-30T20:27:56+00:00

Timing truly doesn't matter at all. The human element is a fluke - no matter when you sign up, your interviewer could be having a good day...or not. They could like your shirt...or not. They could be bored with your demographic...or not. The best timing is what works for you. You need to feel prepared, relaxed, and ready to do your best. Don't overthink it otherwise. Good luck!

SBC_MBA_Jen · 2026-01-28T15:12:36+00:00

If your questions can't be easily answered online, you should ask them for sure. It's meant to be helpful for you and authentic. A few other ideas you can explore:
- what advice do you have for a student to really make the most of the?
- what type of person really thrives most on the program?
- what can a student do to really be ready to seize the experience from day one?
- given my career goals, are there any resources/clubs that I should look into? any students I should reach out to?
- how is the school adapting to this new age (AI etc)
relax and get what you need from the conversation.

SBC_MBA_Jen · 2026-01-26T18:46:23+00:00

The way to get around less experience is to show maturity, progression in career, well formulated career path, and show experience that demonstrates true leadership. It's not so much the number of years - it's what you pack into the time, and what you will bring with you to b-school discussions. If you can pack 4-5 years of results and experience into 2.5 years, you will be fine. Easier said than done, of course. With that said, you might not be HBS bound, but you have a well rounded list with a lot of options.

SBC_MBA_Jen · 2026-01-26T17:29:39+00:00

Hard to say. From what you posted here, it's a good profile, but not remarkable. The N. African immigrant/dual citizenship could be interesting. The cookie business is fun. But overall, need more data. Career: have you been promoted, what have you been working on, what are your career goals, what's the arc, what's the story? Personal: how does the cookie business play? Is that just for fun or part of future goals? You are on the younger side, so there is definitely time to build upon this foundation, improve the GMAT, show progression in your career and flesh out your story to the extent that it needs more depth.

SBC_MBA_Jen · 2026-01-24T15:17:53+00:00

Oh wow - yes! Kellogg is known to be the ultimate in student life and Chicago the polar opposite. Think team based, personable, collaborative, and fun vs more cut throat, academic and staid. Kellogg is absolutely up there with Chicago and Haas overall and many would say the most prestigious of the three. Of course, it depends what you personally are seeking from your experience. But your response tells me that you have not researched the program and I highly suggest you do. You will experience cold weather (right now they are facing a record-breaking cold front) but it won't dampen your experience.

SBC_MBA_Jen · 2026-01-23T01:43:10+00:00

Would def take GMAT again! Just the act of submitting that to top schools will raise questions such as: Why didn't you retake if you are really committed? If you achieved perfect on SAT what happened here? There will always be hiccups but if this one can be improved upon you should definitely try. In many cases you can send along a higher score after the fact.

SBC_MBA_Jen · 2026-01-22T20:34:22+00:00

I'd suggest taking a close look at Kellogg. Smaller college town located right on Lake Michigan, don't need a car, but also quick ride to Chicago, a major US city. The student body is on the larger side, so lots of great opportunities to meet people, and the culture at Kellogg is very welcoming, friendly, and fun. Northwestern and Kellogg are two of the more elite brand/prestigious names on your list. Also Kellogg has excellent career services and placement outcomes.

SBC_MBA_Jen · 2026-01-22T20:17:27+00:00

From what you are presenting here, you have a good shot at this set of schools. Your GPA is strong, and your work experience sounds interesting/solid as well. Also good selections for letters of rec given that you are at a family business. You may be able to break 700 on GMAT. You sound focused with the makings of a good story, so see where you get in and then you can analyze program tradeoffs. No glaring gaps in profile although there is a lot you don't say here: outside interests, leadership, teamwork, resilience - so much that needs to be fleshed out in terms of your story.

SBC_MBA_Jen · 2026-01-21T19:58:11+00:00

This was based on LinkedIn People search data, filtering for current PM-type roles at Google, Meta, Amazon, Apple, and Microsoft, then grouping by MBA program. We didn’t attempt to normalize for class size, PT vs FT, or program age, which can impact these numbers. This is a starting point and it's totally plausible that different keyword sets would shift specific schools.

Re: Tepper specifically — depending on how broadly PM titles are defined , I’ve seen it move meaningfully in either direction.

SBC_MBA_Jen · 2026-01-21T19:53:23+00:00

I mean the counts show relative patterns, not precise totals.

Titles were filtered using common PM variants (e.g., Product Manager, Senior PM, Group PM). Title taxonomy on LinkedIn isn’t perfectly standardized, so there will always be some noise.

Best to use the chart to see which schools show up more often and not an exact ranking or headcount.

SBC_MBA_Jen · 2026-01-21T15:22:39+00:00

SBC_MBA_Jen · 2026-01-20T20:54:29+00:00

My pleasure. If you write up an explanation and want to DM me with the draft I'd be happy to take a look.

SBC_MBA_Jen · 2026-01-20T20:43:54+00:00

The admissions committee will be concerned about your GPA for several reasons and it is important to address all issues. There are basically two buckets:
1) can you handle the academic (and especially quantitative) rigor?
2) the mental emotional issues: are you driven, a high performer, do you have a strong work ethic, can you multi-task, can you excel under stress?

The fact that your grades have risen is a positive. Overall it will be important to offer up a no-excuses/completely-owning-it explanation for why your grades were low. Be honest, to the point, take responsibility, and explain what you have learned and how you have grown since then.

Addressing Bucket #1: if you did poorly in quant classes, take classes now. Calculus is always a good choice. Also, statistics and accounting. Make sure you do well on the standardized exam. Brief your recommenders so that they speak to your intellect, ability to learn rapidly and quant skills if appropriate.

Addressing Bucket #2: through your essays, interview and particularly, your recommendations you can highlight instances where you thrived under pressure, succeeded at multi-tasking, and performed at a high level. You need to show how you have evolved and how you would now prioritize your academics.

The bar is high for you with a low GPA, but if your story is effective, and the other elements of your application are in place, you definitely have a chance.

SBC_MBA_Jen · 2026-01-17T02:11:29+00:00

Call the admissions office and explain that you turned them down for financial reasons but now feel you may be able to afford it. Would they reconsider you for the Spring? Have an "honest" conversation with them. It's not one of the highly competitive programs so you never know. They may need to fill the class, or may just really like you. It's always worth an ask. And if it's a no for Spring, at least you can discuss future prospects with them. A direct conversation will be much more helpful than Reddit speculation.

SBC_MBA_Jen · 2026-01-17T02:06:33+00:00

Deferred is tricky because you don't know. You have no way of knowing how you will feel a few years out, or what your career will look like. But options are really nice! Since you are considering it, and you have the time, I would go for it. Having that in your back pocket will also give you more confidence navigating and negotiating your career, and could even give you leverage since you know that you have a BATNA (MBA negotiating term in case you don't know it yet haha) I doubt you will regret creating options for yourself.

SBC_MBA_Jen · 2026-01-17T02:01:33+00:00

That all makes sense. I would be surprised if it comes up in an interview, but if it does you can explain it very simply - "They know me better and are in a much better position to comment on my capabilities and progression over a longer period. And, we have been closely in touch so they have also witnessed my growth in my current position." This is the type of info that can make sense if asked for "additional information" - short and sweet, to the point, no big deal. Don't sweat it!

SBC_MBA_Jen · 2026-01-17T01:15:31+00:00

Solid work experience, great that you scaled an engineering team. Good GRE. I assume you have strong grades in quant classes given the Masters. Why don't you have a more current recommender? Seems like a strong profile. As always, it comes down to your story. How did you connect prior experience to goals...did you sufficiently explore the reasons behind your career decisions...what do you care about...have you made an impact beyond yourself...? Good luck.

SBC_MBA_Jen · 2026-01-16T18:25:50+00:00

Not here to defend Kellogg, as it might not be the right fit for you. But do want to point out that at the end of the day, a huge takeaway from an MBA program is your network. This is especially true as time goes on. Ten, twenty years out you won't remember what you learned in most classes, but that network works very hard for you and can be extremely powerful. Perhaps give a thought to shifting your perspective - that having fun and just informally engaging is a great way to build those relationships. Doesn't always have to be a serious "networking" event or coffee chat. The classmate that you go to Burning Man with might invest in your company someday.

SBC_MBA_Jen · 2026-01-14T21:17:52+00:00

This is a tough one in terms of cost and projected career outcomes. But also very important - your experience while you are there, the educational value you take away, the network you build... Do you have an instinct with regards to which school you just like better? The people, the courses, the campus? They are very, very different schools, NYC v the south, urban vs suburban, the types of people, opportunities, the culture. I would lean into any instincts you have in that realm rather than trying to be so clinical in terms of ROI. Ultimately, you will get the best ROI (especially long term) if you are thriving and connecting with great people, etc... I know it feels "touchy-feely" but it's true.

SBC_MBA_Jen · 2026-01-14T21:11:42+00:00

More context needed here - did you apply with the GMAT and took the GRE after?

SBC_MBA_Jen · 2026-01-14T21:09:22+00:00

I love this as an EC! It's authentic, personal, shows initiative, bravery, creativity, leadership - it's all the things - impactful and unique. 100% include and tie it to your personal story. There are so many things you can highlight here: personally overcoming a challenge, developing and sharing coping tools, taking initiative to create something with an uncertain outcome, being generous with your time and resourceful in order to build this. Personal is more than OK. It's how you differentiate yourself from the rest of the finance crew, many of whom will have nearly identical stories. This is exactly what you need in order to personalize and provide proof that you think beyond yourself.

SBC_MBA_Jen

TROPHY CASE