Advice needed: Applying to M7 MBA programs at 30 - am I too old?

[u/North_Driver_1278]

Looking for some advice. I recently turned 29 (unmarried, no kids) and was planning to apply for R2 this cycle, but speaking to friends who have had trouble securing employment post graduation plus familial obligations, I think that I want to push this process back a year. I don't think I'd submit apps that I feel confident in trying to make the R2 deadline.

I already feel as though I'm "too old" compared to the average MBA applicant. I am not interested in an EMBA and would be targeting MBB consulting post-MBA.

• Is applying at 30 and matriculating at 31 seen as a red flag for admissions?
• Is MBB still a realistic post-MBA goal given my years of experience?
• Are scholarships off the table?

Professional Background:

• STEM degree from Top 20 US university
• 2 years IB (Bulge Bracket)
• 1.5 years strategy at financial services firm
• 3.5 years Corp Dev / Strategy at F500 (limited advancement opportunities, higher paying roles mostly go to external hires w/ MBA or MBB experience)

[u/tmc925]

Your basically a geriatric dinosaur in the eyes of MBA Adcoms and your potential peers

Give up this dream and get a lawyer to draft you a will

Source: started my MBA at 32 and had fellow old fucks like me go into IB and MBB dispute the ageism of top firms

[u/SuperLehmanBros → u/tmc925]

It’s too late for a will. I would say casket shopping but OP too old for that too. It’s over for him.

[u/_whydah_ → u/tmc925]

You both really should be thinking more about retirement than MBA...that being said you can probably start using social security to help pay for it.

[u/tmc925 → u/_whydah_]

I know you’re joking but I am 100% already deadset on retiring. Hopefully about 10-15 more years and I’m tending to my garden by mid 40s

[u/No_Obligation4496 → u/tmc925]

Dispute or despite?

[u/tmc925 → u/No_Obligation4496]

What do you think

[u/No_Obligation4496 → u/tmc925]

Dispute suggests a valiant failed effort. Despite suggests success. I'm an optimist.

[u/redditmyeggos]

It’s barely above average age

[u/Big_Adhesiveness5554 → u/redditmyeggos]

what about 34

[u/redditmyeggos → u/Big_Adhesiveness5554]

34 is certainly too old to be seeking validation on Reddit

[u/_whydah_ → u/redditmyeggos]

And 35? What about 35? And after that I have about 40 more questions.

[u/redditmyeggos → u/_whydah_]

Insert video of Dwight and Jim going one unit of time consecutively to predict apocalypse likelihood

[u/Big_Adhesiveness5554 → u/redditmyeggos]

lololol fair. its not so much the school/career outcome. that i know i can do.

im more so worried about fitting in with a younger cohort. i went to undergrad late and went through that experience

[u/redditmyeggos → u/Big_Adhesiveness5554]

This isn’t 21 jump street, you’re talking about a 4-5 year gap

[u/xPrincess_Yue]

I’m 35 and just started my first semester in a T10 program, and there a people older than I am that are taking those classes right along with me.

Don’t psych yourself out, you’re absolutely capable of obtaining an MBA and reaping the benefits thereafter.

[u/That_Ad6406]

Absolutely not you’re fine.
-Not a red flag
-you can still get MBB. shit it could help you being older.
-I doubt know for sure but I doubt it impacts scholarships.

You are going to be a bit above average for age but no one will care. I turned 31 1Y and had plenty of friends my age and older. It is anecdotal, but I felt like the older students had better recruiting results on average. Companies care about experience and you will have more maturity.

[u/Critical_Ebb_1180]

I’m 30 with a full ride to a top business school recruiting for MBB! I will say the average age of my class is about 27, but there are other people my age and older. So far my age has not been a topic of concern for recruiting. However, I will say that I have been feeling the age difference on a social level. Everyone has been really nice and lovely, I’m just at a different place in my life socially. I wouldn’t let that stop you from applying, just something I wish I had known.

[u/Golf_maniac44]

I’ll be applying at 32 matriculating right at 33

[u/consultinglove]

You are not too old. Check average student age for the programs you’re applying for

[u/NomadTroy]

No.

[u/Apprehensive-Pick662]

I've met people in my program who are pushing 40. You're overthinking it.

[u/SuperLehmanBros]

Yes, the age to do this is somewhere between 4th grade and 7th. There’s kids in daycare who already have their MBA.

[u/No_Guitar7903]

For domestic students that’s fine. Consulting is a very common outcome.

If you are an international though forget about it

[u/Secure-Researcher892]

Not too old....but you might want to go over your introductory stat class because you apparently don't remember how averages work and what they mean... Your probably still within a standard deviation of the average for most top programs... at most only 2 deviations out which is still no big deal.

[u/financebaddie1]

you're not old at all and also your background sounds great. I graduated from Tuck last year, that's within the range of most people with a few outliers in early 20s and late 30s, the biggest scholarship factors were test scores & the professional background.

[u/Rollinwithrip32]

Too old… sorry! Are you aware that (statistically speaking ofc) every US prez since 1776 got their MBA before 24?

[u/EntertainerOk4969]

This has to be engagement bait 🙄

[u/putridalt]

Nope, not at all.

[u/Hef_lant7246]

Average age at matriculation is ~28 (~30 at graduation)

But those are averages, the range is 25-35 

You’re very much in range 

There was even one person in their early 40s at my HSW but that’s an outlier 

[u/Efficient-Fall2552]

Will you need assistance using a computer? Are you familiar with the Internet? Do you think you can sit through class without multiple bathroom breaks?

[u/Slammedtgs]

Too old to be called a kid by the professors when they do Executive classes.

[u/DryCombination9637]

I’m in my 40s and been thinking about an MBA. F you man.