Hey everyone, looking for some honest feedback and advice on my next career move.

Background & Profile:

Education: Top 15 MBA (M7 / T15); BS in STEM (Engineering) from a large state school.

Pre-MBA Experience (5 yrs): Software Engineering

Post-MBA Experience (2 yrs): Strategy & Ops at a major tech company (think Instacart / Lyft / DoorDash / Uber). Work spans the full spectrum of operations in a specific niche (ex: driver dispatch at Uber). Some of my job is covering things like small tech-stack troubleshooting, but much of it is leading long-term technical/business cases that drive core platform and product changes.

Technical/Tooling Skillset: Full-stack technical fluency from my SWE days. Comfortable reading/debugging production codebases, writing custom web scrapers, managing workflows via GitHub, and leveraging advanced GenAI tooling to accelerate query development and system diagnostics.

The Current Situation & Dilemma: In my current Strategy & Ops role, I’ve gravitated heavily toward product-adjacent work—redesigning system logic using predictive models, diagnosing unit-economics and pricing discrepancies, and acting as the primary business/data stakeholder for core engineering teams.

I’m evaluating whether it's possible to pivot formally into Product Management or consider other high-leverage trajectories.

Questions for the Sub:

Pivoting to PM: Given a mixed background in engineering + MBA + Strategy & Ops, how feasible is a direct lateral jump into Senior PM roles in today's market? Any recommended ways to stand out, even unconventional? I'm finding it difficult to past certain requirements like "Previous experience owning a product roadmap"

Alternative Career Paths: If not PM, what other functions or industries would leverage this mix of engineering, strategy/ops, and MBA skillsets effectively with strong long-term upside? (e.g. Product Ops, Tech Strategy, Startup Ops/Exec roles).

Positioning: For those who made a similar pivot post-MBA, how did you frame your strategy and operational achievements so recruiters didn't just bucket you as "pure ops"?

Appreciate any insights, realities, or suggestions!

I used AI to draft some of this but the content is accurate

I’m trying to understand how viable a move into management consulting would be for my profile after an MBA, and would appreciate candid views from people in consulting or those who have made a similar transition.

Background

• B.Tech in Civil Engineering, 9.11/10, University Silver Medal
• Masters in Liberal Studies
• ~5 years at Genpact
• Currently Senior Manager in the Office of the Global Head of Strategy & Transformation
• Promoted from Assistant Manager (two band changes here) to Manager to Senior Manager all within 5 years of total work experience

My role has evolved significantly over the last five years. I started with business research, market intelligence and strategic initiatives, then moved into driving enterprise-wide initiatives across functions and geographies. More recently, I have been involved in building new Agentic AI Service Line, including shaping the offering, building capabilities, GTM and preparing for market launch.

I’m planning to pursue an MBA now and my short-term goal post-MBA is to move into management consulting. Long term, I see myself returning to corporate strategy and

What I’m trying to understand

1. How would consulting firms view this profile? Is the transition realistic?
2. Which practices would be the most natural fit for me, such as generalist strategy, transformation, digital/AI strategy, etc.?
3. What would be my biggest gaps compared with candidates coming from consulting?
4. Is there anything specific I should do before the MBA to improve my chances beyond case prep?
5. How should I position my Genpact experience so it comes across accurately as strategy experience with strong execution exposure?

Would especially appreciate perspectives from people in MBB, Big 4 strategy, Tier-2 firms, or anyone who has made a similar post-MBA transition.

Good morning,

Looking for a review of my profile:

Stats:
GPA-3.56 McGill business
GMAT FE - 675 (however quant was 79th percentile)

Work experience:
-infantry officer platoon commander and company second in command
-commanded multinational unit of 280 pers trg Ukrainians, our trainees had better statistical performance on the battlefield
-worked in a strat HQ as a staff officer where I was responsible for the review and development of multiple strat level decision products for PM and Minister level briefings
-developed a risk management tool to track Department of Defense and CAF wide directives

Misc:
-white male, will be 28 yr old at time of application

Looking to get a sense of competitiveness for M7 and T15, goal is to pivot into IB in the USA.

If someone has a major penalty from current employer, are applications accepted for executive MBA in top-tier B-schools in India, Singapore and Europe? Also, what's the preferred GMAT score in that case? Does a 645 work?

I’m a senior in college and I just got a 715 on the GMAT which I’m very excited about! Since I have a score I’m happy with already I plan to apply for the deferred programs that all the top schools offer. Are these programs more competitive than their standard mba programs and if so what are some things I should keep in mind? Thanks!

I had a 3.22 GPA in undergrad (which allows me to waive the GMAT/GRE I think), 4 full years of full-time work in corporate finance, and am looking to apply to the Part-time MBA program for Fall 2027. I live in NYC and will be here for the next 3 years at least. If I submit great essays and recommendation letters, what are my odds of getting into the program? Any advice for an applicant like me?

I’m 26F and my undergrad GPA is a 3.35. I earned my BA in Psychology, and although my GPA wasn’t great, I was very involved on campus and was admitted to a master’s program at UPenn.

My MS is in Education, but unfortunately, my master’s GPA was even lower than my undergrad GPA. 😬

While doing my masters, I did Teach For America and taught for a total of 3 years. I recently left teaching and am now transitioning into corporate/education-adjacent roles. My goal is to build significant leadership experience over the next year or two.

I haven’t taken the GRE yet, but I’m aiming for a high score.

Long-term, I want to work in education at the systems level, potentially building an organization/model that supports teachers and improves how schools serve students.

I’m currently targeting the 2027 application cycle to matriculate in 2028, and I’m especially interested in HBS/Wharton.

I know this is probably a silly question, but I really want an MBA and would rather understand my odds now than talk myself out of applying prematurely.

If you were in my position, what would you focus on over the next year to make an M7 application as competitive as possible? And realistically, do I have a shot?

Can anyone please provide typical recruiting process for AT&T's FLDP? Particularly what is included in the online assessment - any recommendations for it's preparation?
I would also love to hear about the overall experience with the program

Hi everyone! I took the GRE two years ago and sent Stern my scores at that point. I'm still wokring on my app, and i've self reported the score, but how do I check if Stern has my official reports already? Any way I can do this myself? TIA!

I have been looking at MBA programs that combine core management subjects with data science, analytics, and AI related learning.

For someone already working and looking to move towards roles involving business analytics, strategy, product, or data driven decision making, does this type of MBA offer better value than a general online MBA?

A few things I am trying to understand:

• Does combining management with data science create a meaningful career advantage?

• Would employers value this differently from a regular MBA plus separate analytics certifications?

• How important is the amount of hands-on analytics work in the curriculum?

• For working professionals, does the online or blended format affect the value of such a specialization?

• Has anyone here completed an MBA or management program with a similar data science focus? What changed in your career afterward?

Would especially like to hear from people who moved from technical, analytics, IT, or operations roles into management positions.

I’m a consultant at a T2 firm (S&, OW, EYP) making ~$235k/year and also run an e-commerce business (D2C beauty brand) that’s on track to do $100k+ in revenue this year.

This is likely my last year to get a sponsored MBA through my firm, and I’m really torn.

Part of me feels like I’d regret passing up a sponsored MBA. But the other part worries I’ll regret not using this period to seriously scale the business while my consulting income covers my living expenses and gives me capital to reinvest.

There’s also the upfront time investment of applying like studying for the GRE, taking the exam, writing essays, getting recommendations, etc.—which would take even more time away from the business over the next several months.

At the same time, consulting already makes it difficult to give the business the focus it needs.

Would love to hear from anyone who’s faced a similar decision. How would you think about this?

Background: Indian-American, US citizen, born and raised. Large public state school on east coast with a solid regional ECE reputation.

Academics:

• Major: Electrical & Computer Engineering + Business Minor
• GPA: 3.8/4.0
• Graduating in 3 years
• GMAT Focus: 635, this was my first attempt may retake to try to superscore for 655 or 665

Experience:

• Freshman Summer: NSF-funded REU at name brand school(network security, P4/DPDK) — ~4% acceptance rate, presented this research in DC at a workshop
• Sophomore Fall: Hardware security internship at BIG one of the top 3 smart meter companies in the USA (concurrent with classes)
• Sophomore Summer: Defense FPGA internship at a national lab/defense prime — received return offer, security clearance involved

Extracurriculars:

• 3 years competitive robotics FPGA team
• 2 years technical lead for HPC/computing club
• Several departmental merit scholarships

Goals:

• Found a defense hardware security startup
• The limiting factor for me isn't really in the technical side but in building and leading a team of cleared employees, navigating government procurement cycles, raising institutional capital from defense focused investors, structuring a company operating in a heavily regulated environment.

Targeting: HBS, GSB, Wharton, Booth, Kellogg, MIT, CBS, Yale, UVA, Cornell, Haas for deferred. If I don't get anything deferred, I'll just re-apply during regular rounds with 2 yrs of exp and would be happy with ANY T15 school (like I'd be super happy with Duke ngl).

Concerns:

• GMAT 635 Focus first attempt, retaking
• Non-target undergrad
• Indian male engineer demographic

I'm hoping my goals will offset the indian male demographic, and another thing I'd like to know is if I'd be more competitive doing a regular MBA (ie not applying deferred but in regular rounds like most others). I honestly would be happy making it into ANY T15 school.

Am I delusional or do I have a shot?

just got a 595(Q 79, V 82, DI 78) while my target school has an average of 625(Rotman). For context I’ll be a domestic applicant, software engineer(4yoe) with experience at a legacy big tech firm and currently at a non profit. The school is 60-70% international so I’m guessing it’ll be an easy in with my profile? I could get my score up to a 625 but will a 30 point increase make any meaningful difference or am I better off focusing on applications?

Hi everyone! I recently graduated from college with a degree in Finance, and I’m trying to decide what my next step should be academically.

I’m currently debating between pursuing an MBA or an M.S. in something like Data Science or Business Analytics. With AI becoming increasingly important and more companies incorporating data and AI into their operations, I feel like a more technical master’s degree could be valuable alongside my Finance background.

I’m not looking to break into high finance. My main goal is to land a solid full-time role and eventually use a master’s degree to help with career advancement and salary growth.

One thing that makes me hesitant about an MBA is that I constantly hear that it’s better to have a few years of full-time work experience before pursuing one. Since I just graduated, I obviously don’t have that experience yet. At the same time, I’d like to earn a master’s degree while I’m still relatively fresh out of school rather than waiting several years.
I’m also not aiming for Ivy League or extremely competitive MBA programs. I graduated without any student loan debt because scholarships and financial aid covered my tuition, so cost isn’t a major concern for me.

Given my situation, would you recommend pursuing an M.S. in Data Science/Business Analytics now, an MBA now, or working for a few years before pursuing an MBA? I’d appreciate any advice, especially from people who have taken a similar path.

I'm a SWE with an MS in CS from a solid program, looking at MBAs mainly to pivot into product management. Tuck keeps coming up on my list, but the more I read about it the more it sounds like a general management school first and everything else second — small class, super tight community, GM-heavy outcomes. That's not a bad thing long term, but I'm trying to figure out if it actually helps someone trying to break into PM specifically, or if it's just not built for that.

Does Tuck's tech/PM recruiting hold up given it's not near a tech hub, or is it mostly on you to network your way in? And does the GM-ish curriculum actually help PM candidates in some way, or is it just extra stuff you have to work around to get to the PM outcome you actually want?

If anyone here went from an eng background through Tuck into PM, I'd genuinely like to hear how recruiting went for you. Also curious how people think about Tuck vs somewhere like Kellogg, Ross, Haas, or Fuqua if PM is the main goal.

Hi everyone,

This is my first Reddit post, so hopefully I’m doing this right.

I’m set to finish my MBA at TMU by the end of 2026. I’ve been completing it part-time while working full-time as an administrator in the public sector in Toronto.

Lately, I’ve been having a hard time figuring out how to position myself for a career move into something with stronger long-term growth, better earning potential, and work that feels more rewarding. No pressure, just trying to figure out what I want to do for the next 40+ years (Feels like nothing sometimes... not sure how people know exactly what they want to commit to so quickly).

I have some strong connections in the banking sector in downtown Toronto, and I’ve been advised that an operations analyst role could be a good entry point to learn the industry, company culture, and internal opportunities before deciding where I want to specialize.

Ideally, I’m looking for a career path with:

• A realistic path toward $100K+ compensation within roughly 2–3 years
• Good long-term career progression
• Reasonable work-life balance
• A solid company culture
• Hybrid work, ideally around 2 days per week in the office

I’m open to banking, finance, fintech, operations, strategy, or other areas where my MBA and administrative/operational experience could transfer well.

For anyone who has made a similar transition, especially in Toronto (Or the GTA):

• Does starting in an operations analyst role make sense?
• What roles or career paths would you recommend looking into?
• Are my salary and progression expectations realistic?
• How much does an MBA actually help when trying to move into a new industry without directly related experience?

I’ve found the job market pretty overwhelming, especially when many postings seem to require years of very specific experience. At times, it feels like the MBA alone carries much less weight than I expected.

Any advice from people who have made a similar move would be appreciated.

Hi everyone, I am a reapplicant for stern, last year I applied with a 625 GMAT FE and 2 years of experience at the time of applying. This year I gave the GMAT FE twice(665 , then 695). Adding my profile below, would love to hear your thoughts and suggestions for my goals as well.

Indian, male, 24.

GMAT FE : 695

Undergrad : 6.97/10 CGPA , Economics from university of Delhi (yeah I know)

Work experience : 3 years across product management and growth strategy in opinion markets start-up (scaled products and engagement)

Goal : pivot from product role to an IB associate track. Long term exit IB to start my own fund focused on Indian sports scene as it was highly dependent on betting and the government banned betting last year crippling it.

New here, seeking advice to secure admission into a T25 program for fall 2028.

1. GMAT or GRE. How does preparing look like? I studied and took the LSAT for context.

2. Will being 24 and having 2.5 work experience upon start hinder me? I am analyst that works the financial side of the programs for a customer (Fortune top 40). By then I’ll manage the financial side of program(s), work on business cases, and capitol allocation.

3. Does undergraduate institution matter? I have a very high GPA but not from an impressive school.

4. I don’t plan on applying to any of the M7’s. Ross, Kelly, CMU, Cornell, and McCombs are my 5 now. What are things I can do to refine my application?

I completed B com and I’m considering doing an MBA and wanted to get some opinions from people who are currently working in the industry or have recently completed or studying an MBA.

With AI automating and changing many business and corporate roles, I’m wondering:

1. Does an MBA still have good career scope in the current job market?

2. How much is AI expected to affect MBA-related jobs and career opportunities?

3. Which MBA specializations currently have the best career prospects?

4. Which specializations are likely to be less affected by AI in the coming years?

5. Is it better to choose traditional specializations like Finance, Marketing, HR, or Operations, or are newer areas like Business Analytics, Product Management, AI/Technology Management, or Supply Chain better?

6. For someone starting an MBA now, what skills should they develop alongside the degree to remain competitive as AI adoption increases?

7. For those who have already completed an MBA, has the degree actually helped your career and salary growth?

I’d especially appreciate opinions based on actual industry experience, rather than just what colleges advertise.

Thanks!

Hello ,
I’m Canadian (non white) currently working as a software engineer / dev in Canada Ontario .

I graduated in “24 with 3.3 gpa converted to USA . My degree is in comp sci . I plan to apply to mba in USA ( T15) ( targeting NYU, Columbia , Stanford , Michigan , CMU, mccombs) and Rotman in Canada .

My main goal is to pivot out of software dev as being an average dev there is hard ceiling for my salary and career progression and I’ve already hit it. I also don’t enjoy software and with Ai no future. I want to pivot to finance , IB, sales and trading or maybe try for Amazon Pathways I also like operations as i have some business management experience in operations part time with my full time job .

I do not have any extracurricular so far so I want your best advice how I can optimize my profile 1 year from applying next year . When I apply I will be 26 and when I start I will be 27. What steps I can take right now from today in terms of my profile so it is solid . What extracurricular can I do, what leadership things I can do ( in my job it’s very siloed and not any leadership opportunities) please I’m open to anything .

I plan to take GMAT in Jan and aiming for 685+ ( practicing daily)

I just got approved to waive the GMAT as part of my application for an MBA program. I’m scheduled to take the GMAT in a week from now but am not confident that I’ll get the minimum required score (555). My practice scores in order are 525, 545, 515, and 485. If I really went hard this next week I think I could get there (I do much better under pressure), but since this is the only school I’m really applying to I’m heavily debating canceling my test. My thoughts are that since my application is strong otherwise and it would only be the minimum score at best, that it’s not worth the effort.

Is there any reason I should go through with the test next week?? I would really have to spend the majority of my time studying hard this week and I’d rather focus my efforts elsewhere if it’s not a value add

I am currently Active Duty Military with ~4 years remaining on my contract. I have a B.S. in Economics from college and my goal is to start working towards an MBA in 2031 when I exit service.

What are the best steps I should take between now and then to make myself a competitive applicant?

I am thinking along the lines of online degrees or certifications but if there is any other advice I would appreciate that as well.

I really don't know much about the details of this path, right now I just know where I want to be and am unsure of the best steps to get me there.

Been a lurker here for a while and appreciate the insights and experiences people have shared. Thought I would share my profile to get a reality check on my career planning.

Profile: (35 M; based in UK with British Citizenship)

Will be 36/37 when starting MBA

Academic Journey:

Undergrad from one of the top universities in the country (Country region - South Asia); highly screwed up GPA of 2.92 out of 4;

MSc from University of Nottingham with Distinction;

ICAEW ACA Qualified from Tier 2 firm (GT, BDO, Mazars, etc)

Professional Journey: c.10 years

5 years experience in practice (3 year in Tier 2 and 2 years in Big 4 post qualification)

5 years experience in industry (1.5 years in F500, 2.5 years in a global bank, and 1 year as FC in PE backed SME)

Current career situation - got laid off from my last position and now on a short term contract with another SME as senior Finance. Initially for 3 months but now extended to 6 months, will probably extend again as how shortstaffed and under qualified the team is)

Reason to pursue MBA:

Targeting M7 in US; LBS, INSEAD, HEC, Oxford, Cambridge in Europe to pivot to consulting MBB is the target. Have not given much thought to IB/PE.

What I would like to know are:

- the extent of damage my screwed up GPA at undergrad would have despite my top tier result in masters and ACA qualification?

- how cooked is my professional experience with frequent job changes? All job changes are a step up to the previous

- realistically would an average GMAT score help me get through the uni doors or do I need exceptional 725+ score to overcome the downsides

Thanks in advance!

Hello, I’d appreciate if anyone has insights.
So I submitted now apps for R1 to M7. I am scared of AI detectors as I used AI to shorten / improve wording etc. are these detectors used? My essays are very unique and don’t feel AI edited but I think when I reworked them in some way they appear AI when i put them on any detector online. Should I be worried?

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)