How old is too old for B-school?

D

Dermot81

New member
Joined
Jun 18, 2026
Messages
0
Reaction score
0
I've seen the average ages for the top 20 B-schools on US News rankings, but I'm not putting too much weight on those numbers given how a couple 30+ applicants can easily skew the average. Any idea on what the median age is?

I'm 25 now, and I've always been intending to start applying to schools around January of 2008 (I would be 27, 28 when the semester begins). However, there is a chance I may have to push this out by one more year to 2009, making me 28 when I apply and 29 when I start.

It seems to me, many of the top B-schools are trending younger with their acceptance pool. I would venture to guess that the median age at many of these schools is as low as 26.

Obviously much of the decision making process is done on a case-by-case basis and trying to generalize a forumula for admittance may well be of little consequence; nevertheless, amuse me --all other factors aside, how are my chances of getting into a top school affected as I age from 26 to 27 to 28.
 
Age will have absolutely no impact on your chances for getting in, especially for the narrow range that you gave.
 
Age is not really going to be a factor unless you're an extreme. If you're under 23 or over 40, worry about it. If not, it won't be an issue.
 
<<how are my chances of getting into a top school affected as I age from 26 to 27 to 28.
>>

They are not
 
"I would venture to guess that the median age at many of these schools is as low as 26. "

It's not. Most schools report their average student age, and it's always 28-29. When you consider that this number is constrained from below by college/work experience requirements, there are many students in their 30's.
 
equal ratio of 25-30 year olds. I started when I was 23 and I was by far the youngest in my class.
 
analyzethis3000 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> equal ratio of 25-30 year olds. I started when I
> was 23 and I was by far the youngest in my class.


Same scenario as myself. I started at 24, finished at 26 and was definitely one of the youngest in my class. Starting at 29 is by no means too old, but rather more in line with the ordinary.
 
I did my MBA when I was 28 and 29. Most students were my age or older.
 
started at 26, would say at least 90% were between 25 and 28 in my class.
 
Jeepers, 29 is pretty wizened, and 40 absolutely ancient (written with tongue firmly planted in cheek).
 
It depends on what you want to do...If your long-term goal is to go be a CFO or COO of some company then you can go later. If your goal is to work in securities the rule would probably be the younger the better (Within reason). If you are coming out of B-school at 30+ and don't have quite a bit of relevant experience pre-b-school then your chance of working in portfolio managment, IB, oe equity research diminishes.
 
I plan on starting my MBA in 2008 when I'm 32. I don't feel too old, but I wish I could have started earlier.
 
I did my MBA from 23-27 (part-time, year off in the middle due to my company cutting costs), and there were mostly people in their 20's and 30's but also some 40's and older. Granted it was an Executive MBA program so you'd expect an older crowd.
 
Exemp,

Not to nitpick but the fact that the number is constrained from below but (relatively) unconstrained from above suggests that the median is less than the mean.
 
It's not how old you are when you are there that matters in the least--it's how old you are for the positions that will await you when you get out. That is if you want to go into banking, research, etc.

Do you really want to be a 35 associate analyst working under some 32 year old senior analyst? That's why age actually matters--you might think it's not an issue--but it is for those that are faced with it. MBA grads get put in rigid tracks when they go into traditional banks--so from that standpoint--those extra years logging work experience mean nothing to them on the starting scale.

Do business school between 25-30. Beyond that--it starts to get too old.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top