Now, if you're targeting a top-10 program, understand that for those schools it's all about the rankings. MBA programs are ranked on things like GMAT scores but also on starting salaries after graduation. What's the best indicator you'll get a high salary after graduation? Answer: you have a high salary before entering the program. If you want to get into a Harvard or Wharton MBA, tell them about your job making six figures at a Fortune 50 company and that you want the MBA so you can get promoted to the next rank of management. Acing the GMAT would also help. No matter what the brochure says, they don't really want dreamers who want to change the world. For those top-10 schools, the full time MBA program is really kind of a showcase to keep them up in the rankings. Then they can cash in with undergraduate tuition, executive and part-time MBA programs (companies usually pay for these for their employees), publishing, and other side ventures.