Typical Early Career Profiles - Stanford GSB

According to Stanford GSB at http://www.gsb.stanford.edu/mba/admission/college_seniors.html.

College Seniors

We will offer admission to college seniors who present superior academic credentials and outstanding evidence of leadership potential through extracurricular and community activities. If you are a college senior and feel you would benefit from obtaining full-time work experience before enrolling, you may defer enrollment for one or two years. The Committee on Admissions also may offer deferred admission to college seniors whom they feel would better contribute, grow, and learn in the MBA Program after obtaining full-time work experience.

Qualities Stanford Seeks in Undergraduate Applicants

• Extensive leadership demonstrated through activities, research, or work experiences.  
• Superb academic credentials
• Maturity and self-confidence
• An ability to articulate why you wish to attend business school now

Consider attending business school immediately following your university program if:

• You feel ready to pursue your MBA.
• Your academic background, extracurricular experiences, summer work experiences and personal aspirations, combined with an MBA, will put you on a managerial career track.
• You know you want to pursue a career path such as marketing, sales, finance, or general management in which an MBA could provide you the opportunity to develop valuable skills, gain knowledge and a competitive advantage.

Advice for Undergraduate Applicants

• Take the GMAT or GRE in your junior or early in your senior year.
• Pursue opportunities for independent research, such as lab work, seminars, and theses.  
• Take courses in mathematics—such as calculus, microeconomics, or statistics—to strengthen your quantitative exposure.
• Take an accounting course to understand the language of business.
• Take logic courses—such as computer programming, philosophy, and physics—to refine your analytical capabilities.
• Read the Wall Street Journal, Economist, and Financial Times to understand the business environment and learn about industries, careers, and organizations.
• Explore professional pursuits through challenging summer internships. Cultivate strong relationships with supervisors and mentors, and seek out opportunities to learn new skills and knowledge.
• Investigate different careers to refine your goals. Sites like WetFeet offer a wealth of information about organizations and professional fields. Talk to friends, or relatives who work in your field of interest.
• Even if you intend to enroll in an MBA program directly after graduation, participate in your college’s recruiting process to learn about careers, organizations and industries. It’s smart to have options.