Ask mbaMission

[supratims]

Thanks for clarifying my doubt. Could you suggest a couple of stretch and a few in-reach US b-schools for me. listed below is my criteria.
1. Focus on technology/consulting and/or entrepreneurship.
2. Fees should be low. Or good chances of getting scholarship to international applicants.
3. I am not aiming for the schools in ultra elite league like GSB,Wharton,HBS etc.
4. Average work ex of class should be around 5 or more.

Here is my profile in brief.
1. 28, male, indian
2. Work ex of 7 years by july 2010. IT experience.
3. 720/5.5 GMAT
4. Post mba goals : Entrepreneurship/consulting. Would like to stay in technology consulting ideally.

[winjitesh]

Hi,
I took GMAT twice.
sept 2008 got 650 Q. 51 V 26
Oct 2009 got 660 Q. 51 V 28

Currently I have 3 years of experience in Financial Services in IT..with Capgemini.
I have been to London for 13+ months during this period working for Barclays as a client. Have got loads of appreciation and provided benefits to the tune of 2mn GBP.

Could you please advise what are my chances in getting into any of top 30-40 univ.
Would highly appreciate your help in evaluating my chances for NYU, NSU, Nanyang, Darden, HKUST, INSEAD.
I am really confused at this moment which colleges to apply and would not be too much refrain of the idea of writing GMAT again..

I was getting 690-710 in most tests and powerprep I got 710 and 750.

[infernogaurav]

Hi,
I am Gaurav Sharma. My profile is below
GMAT- 730 Q- 50(93%) V- 38 (83%) AWA- 5.5
Toefl- 109
GPA- 8.33 / 10 from NIT Bhopal, India (One of the best universities in India)
Class X- 87%
Class XII- 89%
Awarded by school for 5 A grades + 99% in Mathematics in class XII.
Work Experience : 2 years + 2 months (By Fall 2010) In Global Computer Consultancy Firm- Tata Consultancy Services (TCS). Got an early promotion due to good performance. Working on APPLE Project. Team Leader of Database Team since May-2009. Best Employee of the month - TWICE. Stay in Apple project extended due to client willingness.
Extra-Curricular:
College: Lot of activities-- Organizing Events such as Fashion Shows, LAN Gaming Events. Won 1st Prize in Cricket Tournament (Inter City). Organized technical quizzes too. Class Representative of Computer Science Branch in 2nd Year of college.
After College: a)Community Service- member of NGO since June 2009. Basically involving children(underprivileged) . Counselling them and teaching them.(3-4 hours per week).
b) TCS Social Community- Blood Donation Camps, Children Days Celebrations.
c) Organized Fashion Show at TCS also at Family day.
I am planning to apply to the following schools. Can anyone tell me my chances.
a) Duke
b) UCLA
c) Rochester (Simon)- Re-applicant
d) Boston School of Management
e) Tepper-CMU
f) Georgetown Mcdonough
g) Rotman- Canada
h) Penn State (Smeal)

I want to shift into strategic consulting. Basically its career switch from IT to Strategic Consulting. I am good at analyzing situations and finding multiple perspectives for a given problem at hand. As I am from an engineering background, through out which I developed good Problem Solving and Analytical Skills, also I am good at mathematics and statistics so i ll be a good fit in the class. If everything persists then in the long run I want to start my own global consulting firm (Provided money is there and I make good progress).

If you need any other information for evaluating my profile then please do ask. I think I have a weakness as in Quantity of Work Experience but if quality is considered then for an International Client like Apple and an early promotion and an year long Leadership experience does cover for less number of work experience? What say??

Can you tell me what are my reasonable chances in my short listed universities, as in safe bet, perfect match, with in reach and Ambitious, considering my profile.

Thanks a lot in advance.

[nitinkashid84]

Hi,
I gave my GMAT exams on 18th. Got 710 (92 %) with 48 (83%) in Quant and 40 (89%) in Verbal.
I have a 4 yr engineering degree from India. My acads are pretty good all over.
I have 5 years of work experience in IT (2 yrs in India and 3 yrs in Singapore).

What are my chances of getting into top 20 colleges like INSEAD, NYU Stern, Chicago Booth, Kellogg and UCLA? Also, please recommend any other college in which i have a better chance.

Thanks,
Nitin Kashid

[varun83singh]

hi

please evaluate my profile.

please-evaluate-my-profile-t9331.html

-varun

[dodger42]

Hey mbaMission,

My profile is fairly different to the ones I've read in this thread so far.

I'm a 34 year old Australian male. I've been living in Singapore for 2 years and for the past 10 years have held information technology leadership roles (professional services) covering Asia Pacific and Japan for two prominent MNCs. I have a lot of cultural business experience in Asia.

I recently attended an executive education program at HBS (LPSF). After speaking to one of the MBA coordinators, I stayed an extra day to sit in on an MBA class. I was impressed and resolved to explore applying for class of 2013.

On discussing this with the leadership of my employer, I've been encouraged to pursue the HBS program with full support from corporation (funding etc). Additionally, they've offered to fund attendance of the HBS GMP program in July. I'm not sure if attending this program will strengthen or weaken my application. I lead a team of 40 professionals which is expected to grow to 90 with a acquisition in the next 6 months. Would a recommendation from a HBS professor be helpful?

I have several impeccable recommendations, quotes like "massive expandable, could run the company" and such from executive leadership. I am not meaning to brag, but give some perspective in the hope of an experienced opinion. Is it possible for them to believe I have too much experience, i.e., too old :)

I am yet to complete the GMAT but hold a masters degree in Information Technology with a 4.0 GPA (not sure how that correlates to US GPA). Never did an undergrad degree.

Thanks heaps!

[mbamission]

Hi Dodger42, and thanks for the inquiry.

Business schools in general, and HBS in particular, are trending a bit younger. HBS' average age is around 26 at this point. That still means that over 50% have at least 4 years of work experience, but it also gives you an idea of some of the challenges you'll face. It is definitely possible that they will question why you're not applying to the executive program - but you won't know unless you apply! Having company sponsorship and a guaranteed job, along with strong references and good grades, and a history of success and demonstrated are all going to help you. I wouldn't use a letter from an HBS professor as one of your main references, but if you have one, then a note of support in addition to your reference letters would be fine. The one aspect of your profile you didn't address is broader engagement with the world outside of work, either through community service or simply personal experiences. HBS wants to see its students be committed to activities outside of work.

I do think your age presents a challenge, but as I said, you don't know until you apply and you have some strong credentials that may make them take a serious look.

Good luck,

Jessica Shklar
mbaMission
www.mbamission.com

[jeremy.hansen]

I have a non traditional work experience - academic time line that I'd like some advise on.

In Dec 2001 - I was 2 classes short of of earning a BS in Accounting & BS in Finance with a 3.3 GPA. The previous summer I had interned with a Big 4 accounting firm who was in need for first years for the 2002 audit season Jan 2002 - ~ Apr 2002. I agreed to work that busy season with the understanding that I would then go back an complete my degrees either by working PT or taking time off.

Between Jan 2002 & April 2002 I started playing poker and started to do quite well. I decided that I wanted to pursue this as a career and let the firm know that I would be willing to work through the next busy season (which I enjoyed) before resigning. Which I did (total big 4 work experience 1 yr). I did not complete my degrees as my focus was on completing work and poker.

Between 2003 - 2007 I played poker professionally. I have experience presenting this on a resume in interviews that highlights the analytical thinking, risk management, statistical analysis, long term decision making and self discipline involved and it usually received quite well once I have that chance.

In 2007 I decided I wanted to go back into the business world and was able to get a temporary (through agency) job as an accountant for a sub of a fortune 500 company. I really impressed the controller when I found an error in the purchasing system (double expense) which ultimately resulted recovery of $1.6millon to net income. I was able to do this by designing a visual basic macro which was able to sort through 100's of thousands of GL lines and match like items. Something that was unavailable to the company.

After 4 months I was hired full time as Sr. Financial Analyst where I enjoyed a wide range of successes.

6 months later (after being offered a position with another company) I was promoted to Credit Manager (4 direct reports) while retaining the title and duties of Sr Financial Analyst (current title is both).

1 month ago I had my responsibilities increased over the entire NW region.

Additionally the VP of operations and President have indicated to me that I would an ideal candidate to either succeed to the current controller and if I choose to the operations route become VP. A lot of my work as SFA is working with and helping managers better understand their operations and enable them to make better decisions so both are an exciting opportunity for me.

Obviously I realized I needed to finish school which I am doing this term and next. In doing I realized that I very much want to and would benefit from going to grad school ideally as a MBA/MS Finance duel enrollment. My ideal career path would be one in which I meld financial and operational savvy either as a company leader or someone who through my knowledge enables the company leaders to have each function work cooperatively to attain company goals. Ideal titles would be COO or CFO

I Will be taking the GMAT this June with a goal score of 720. Dream school would be Indiana (Kelley) or similar

My questions (after all of that) is - Does my not completing my degrees until now nullify my work experience?

What kind of reception will the poker playing get? Can I use this?

Basically is it going to be possible to start a program fall of 2011?

Thank for you wading through this.

[reshma.boppana]

Hello,

I wish to apply for MBA programs starting in Fall 2010. I'm interested in schools in US and I am an indian citizen currently in US.

I have an undergraduate degree in Electronics and Communications ENgineering with a GPA of 3.7. I have scores of 510 in GMAT and 84 in TOEFL-IBT. I have work experience of 1 year in an electronics company based in India. I am interested in MBA with a Marketing concentration.

I have been a class representative in mu undergraduate studies and have been a volunteer leader in a charity organization later on. These activities lasted for about 3 years. For the past 8 months I have assisted a business school faculty member in literature survey for his research.

Can you please suggest me some schools that my qualifications fit for. Is there any professional help I can get to search for the best schools I could get into.

Thanks,
Reshma