Work Experience for MBAs

[IWMTBGL]

Hi,

Thanks for taking the time to look at my question:

How many years of work experience do you need for MBAs? How about internships, do they count as work experiences? Please provide some details on work experiences required for MBAs.

Thank you.

[mbamissionjenK]

Hello,

Schools look for several years of full time work experience, after you graduate from undergrad. Internships can be mentioned and if interesting/relevant might have a very small impact but are not counted as that full-time work experience.

Students can be admitted with any wide range of years of experience, from 0-15+; and schools like to create a microcosm of the world within the class so they may have a few class members at either edge of the spectrum. That said, the average admit has 5 years of experience, and generally 3+ years is preferred, given that schools want classmates who can draw from their past experience in classroom discussions and projects, and they want students to learn a lot from one another, not just the curriculum. So most top ranked schools will have classes filled with those who have worked multiple years, and you can view 'class profile' of schools you are interested in to see.

There are some programs where very strong applicants can be admitted from undergrad and essentially defer admission while working for a few years; HBS, Stanford and Yale have such programs. And lower-ranked programs sometimes accept more students directly from undergrad.

Generally we would advise getting a job in an area that makes sense given your long-term career aspirations and go from there. Good luck!