Hey guys, a number of top MBA schools have started doing their annunal recruitment drives in London lately. I've been to a couple of presentations by some of the top US schools.Although the alumni present were interesting people I was a little disappointed in the attitude of some of the other potential applicants I met at these events. The main similarity was the fact that most seemed to be looking to the MBA as a route to easy street or as a way of taking 2 years off from their jobs, which most seemed unhappy with (these guys/girls tended to be either in iBanking or consulting). I was a little disappointed with this attitude and it may simply reflect the fact that I'm a bit older (ie. 29) than the average MBA student, and have already considerable academics and work experience. Maybe I'm being unfair, but the complacency and arrogance of some guys really struck me. I wonder if anyone else has opinions/perspectives? I'm now considering more seriously the possibility of an exec-MBA (Wharton, Columbia, LBS all have exec programs with good rep).Have I just been unfortunate to meet some of the bad apples at these events?

I am at one of the schools you mentioned in your post, and would certainly agree that many people here are doing their MBA because they are unhappy with their jobs. Many bankers want to do something else, and many consultants want to move to industry or to more prestigious firms. However, nobody seems to be taking "two years off". Sure we are all aware that we are students again, but I (and most people I have spoken to) at least am not under any illusion that it will be easy and a clear path to easy street. In a whole class you will invariably not get on with some people, and there will probably be a few you actively dislike. Why not just decide what you want to do, ie MBA or no MBA, and part time vs full time, then go and do it. Worrying about your future classmates will not help you any. I too am 29, and in my class we have doctors, lawyers, engineers, PhDs, army officers, and probably 80-90% of the class has the "considerable academics and work experience" that you describe. Don't judge the overall experience by the small subset of people you have met that haven't even got in yet, and therefore cannot be a representative population.

Victor, thanks for taking the time to respond. I appreciate what you say, I'm sure that I have not met a representative sample of prospective students. Many many people I have spoken to who are at a similar career junction are both interesting and eager to learn through an MBA, I was just disappointed by the complacency demonstrated by a number (10-15) of people I spoke to recently. But hopefully the admissions teams do a good job of selecting the bright and enthusiastic, that is obvious from the alumni I have met from most of the schools I've been meeting with lately. Thanks for replying and good luck with your studies.