UVA JD/MBA v. Harvard MBA Forum

[anstud06]

My goal is Goldman Sachs. I think my LSAT and GPA give me a strong chance at all law schools not YS. However, if applying solely to MBA, I don't think I'm a given for the absolute top business schools. Therefore, I was wondering if a JD/MBA from UVA would merit the same consideration from Goldman that a Harvard (or Wharton or Stanford) MBA would.

[bdubs]

My goal is Goldman Sachs. I think my LSAT and GPA give me a strong chance at all law schools not YS. However, if applying solely to MBA, I don't think I'm a given for the absolute top business schools. Therefore, I was wondering if a JD/MBA from UVA would merit the same consideration from Goldman that a Harvard (or Wharton or Stanford) MBA would.

What is your MBA application lacking? WE, quant, leadership?? What do you want to do at Goldman? Does it involve law at all?

[bdubs]

Also, did you mean UVA JD/MBA vs Harvard JD? If you can get into Harvard MBA but not Harvard Law then you should definitely do that.

[anstud06]

No, I think I could get into Harvard law, but not Harvard MBA. I just enjoyed college and got a good GPA, so the name of my undergrad and GPA was enough to get me a lucrative job after graduating, but not in one of those glamour firms like Goldman or McKinsey.

[bdubs]

No, I think I could get into Harvard law, but not Harvard MBA. I just enjoyed college and got a good GPA, so the name of my undergrad and GPA was enough to get me a lucrative job after graduating, but not in one of those glamour firms like Goldman or McKinsey.

Ok, sounds like you have zero WE. If you want to work at Goldman you are going to need to show you're capable. Part of that would be attending a top-tier institution like Harvard Law, but you will also have to demonstrate that you can handle the quantitative elements of a job in banking. If your undgrad GPA is good enough for Harvard Law and you majored in engineering, math, statistics, econ/business or a hard science you are probably best off going to Harvard. If your major was english, poli-sci, or some other liberal arts major then you will need to beef up your quantitative credentials. I would suggest the UVA JD/MBA in the latter situation, but you will need to do very very well at UVA to land a job at Goldman without WE.

[anstud06]

Thanks for the insight. I'm taking two things away from your information. Tell me if I'm wrong.

1) Goldman recruits at Harvard Law and getting a JD alone from Harvard Law is enough to land a gig at Goldman (with enough of an analytical major).
2) Not having WE in investment banking, private equity is something that must be surmounted.

[1Levening2013]

No, I think I could get into Harvard law, but not Harvard MBA. I just enjoyed college and got a good GPA, so the name of my undergrad and GPA was enough to get me a lucrative job after graduating, but not in one of those glamour firms like Goldman or McKinsey.

first, so why didnt you take one of these lucrative jobs, and work your way up from there, or possibly lateral over to goldman after 2yrs or so? i just think if you had the ability to get a lucrative job, and you are now trying to backdoor it into goldman via law school, then you haven't really thought this through all too well.

and secondly, what do you want? banking or consulting? or do you not really know

[Patriot1208]

Thanks for the insight. I'm taking two things away from your information. Tell me if I'm wrong.

1) Goldman recruits at Harvard Law and getting a JD alone from Harvard Law is enough to land a gig at Goldman (with enough of an analytical major).
2) Not having WE in investment banking, private equity is something that must be surmounted.

If you want Goldman Sachs, you need to go work in banking, do a damn good job, and either lateral or then get into a top MBA program. The way you are going about this is likely to leave you very dissappointed.

[bdubs]

Thanks for the insight. I'm taking two things away from your information. Tell me if I'm wrong.

1) Goldman recruits at Harvard Law and getting a JD alone from Harvard Law is enough to land a gig at Goldman (with enough of an analytical major).
2) Not having WE in investment banking, private equity is something that must be surmounted.

1) I don't know about Goldman's recruiting efforts at Harvard, you should ask someone at Harvard Law about that.
2) Yes, you will have to overcome the fact that you did not work after school.

If you want Goldman Sachs, you need to go work in banking, do a damn good job, and either lateral or then get into a top MBA program. The way you are going about this is likely to leave you very dissappointed.

I agree that this is probably the case. You are likely to spend 3 years in law school for an outside shot at Goldman. If you get a job at another BB bank or get an early associate promotion at a non-BB bank you will be in a much better position in 3 years to work at Goldman then you will be if you go to law school.

[005618502]

Am i the only one confused by what OP is asking? is he saying JD/MBA from UVA or Harvard MBA? JD? what! I feel like he is making no sense

[vanwinkle]

No, I think I could get into Harvard law, but not Harvard MBA. I just enjoyed college and got a good GPA, so the name of my undergrad and GPA was enough to get me a lucrative job after graduating, but not in one of those glamour firms like Goldman or McKinsey.

If you could seriously get into Harvard Law, McKinsey (and other consulting firms) recruit here, and don't require an MBA.

[bk1]

Am i the only one confused by what OP is asking? is he saying JD/MBA from UVA or Harvard MBA? JD? what! I feel like he is making no sense

I think what the OP is really asking is UVa JD/MBA vs Harvard JD for Goldman Sachs. The correct response is:

If you want Goldman Sachs, you need to go work in banking, do a damn good job, and either lateral or then get into a top MBA program.