Hi

I would like to know my chances of getting into a top UK school ie Oxford, Cambridge. I think my main problem will be age and lack of work experience, but I would like to know your thoughts anyway.

My credentials are as follows:

(i) I am 24y.o
(ii) Graduated Law(Honours) / Commerce(Finance with Distinction) at an Australian university
(iii) During university I worked in a number of corporate law firms, as a judge's associate and had volunteer work etc
(iv) I have 3 years work experience under my belt now after graduating. I work in a big 4 Australian bank as a corporate banker.
(v) I haven't done a proper GMAT test as yet, but did a 'practice' GMAT test in first year uni to see where I stood and I acheived 675 but that was when I was 19yo, so I can probably go a little bit higher now with more maturity.

Like to hear your thoughts

Cheers

Oxford and Cambridge are actually not the top UK schools if you talk about MBA programs...

Malia -- Cambridge is the top one year UK MBA program according to the Economist ranking.

Your profile, as you have described, sounds competitive, assuming you score a good GMAT. However, while you meet the three year minimu work experience requirement, I should say that admission is very competitive at the three year work experience end of the scale. The average work experience in the Cambridge MBA is between six and seven years and we only admit a small number of candidates with very strong qualities at the low end of the work experience scale.

We have found that candidates with more work experience are able to contribute more substantially to our one-year program. However, we have had good students apply with less work exp under their belt, so you should consider Cambridge when applications open in August. Check the website for more details.

Kind regards.

Conrad Chua
Head MBA Admissions
Cambridge MBA.

Malia -- Cambridge is the top one year UK MBA program according to the Economist ranking.

Malia

Thanks for the post. As an LBS alum now working at Cambridge, I agree with you that all three are excellent programs but I would add that there are significant differences that are not picked up through the rankings. There is also a difference in dynamics between LBS' 2 year program and Cambridge's 1-year program.

I usually advise good candidates not tobe too fixated with rankings (and it is not because Cambridge isn't at the top of the rankings) as all schools in that band are of comparable quality. Instead, good candidates should focus on the core characteristics of the different schools and choose the program that best suits them.

Dear CambridgeMBA,

Shall the competition in the 3 years work experience very high, how is the competition in the 4-5 years experience, as it is still under 6 years?

thanks for your advice.

Kate

Kate

I would say that competition is high regardless of the experience levels. What is more important is that you demonstrate, through your career history, essays and references, that you have excelled in your field and exhibit the core values of the Cambridge MBA, which include excellence, integrity, collaborative leadership, a global mindset. You should also show good intellectual ability and most of all, bring something unique and interesting to the class.

While it might be easier for someone with more years of work experience to demonstrate these qualities through their work history, it is not to say that candidates with fewer years of experience cannot show their maturity through work projects and things that they have done outside work.

If you want more details about the Cambridge MBA, you can register at www.JBS.cam.ac.UK for a Cambridge MBA portal account that will give you customized information about the Cambridge MBA.

Conrad Chua
Head MBA Admissions.

Thank you Cambridge MBA,

I will definitely register for the Cambridge MBA portal account to obtain more information.

Just one more question, what if I will have about five years work experience in international blue-chip company (not consulting or finance) upon entry, say 2011 August, but only 4 years work experience when apply (as usually apply 1 year early), will the school look at me as applicant with 4 years experience or 5?

Also, if the content and nature of my job is high profile, with significant transactions handled, but lacking the management content (inclusive the manager title), will this be a significant flaw for the school?

Additionally, I have a GMAT score of 720 but have considerably inferior undergraduate GPA ie. under 2.7 in Canada top 3 schools (but more than 8 year ago), will the school tend to weight GMAT score over the old school GPA?

Many thanks for your very kind answers in advance.

Kate

Kate

For work experience, we calculate based on what you will have at the time of matriculation, so in your case, you will be considered as having five years of work experience.

Intellectual and academic ability are very important factors in the admission process. We measure this through the GMAT and the undergraduate record. You have a good GMAT but as you mentioned, your undergrad GPA is weak. You will therefore have to show a strong work track record, and you might want to explain why your undergrad GPA was low.

Kind regards and all the best for your applications.

Conrad Chua
Head of MBA Admissions
Cambridge MBA