Hi

I would like to know my chances of getting into a top US school ie Harvard, Wharton etc. 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

You are a bit on the young side for the top schools (average age at Columbia is 27; at Wharton it's 26.)

But it seems to me that the average age of students at these programs is actually going down. A few factors influence this, like the fact that a lot of motivated people like yourself have jumped into solid workplace jobs right after graduating from undergrad; and also that EMBA programs are siphoning of the people at the top of the age range who would have, 10 years ago, been doing regular MBA programs.

Many schools regularly recruit people even as young as 22 (that's young, but I know there's a 22 year old at Haas now.)

Don't forget that you'll have about four years of experience by the time you take the GMAT, apply, get accepted, etc - which, assuming it's good business experience, puts you solidly in the experience expectations of top MBA programs.

So that said I say go for it - study and take the GMAT, and get your statements together. Are you currently working in the States?

(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