How does my profile measure up?

[mili]

Hello!

Congrats on the GMAT - very well done! I don't think your 3rd attempt will hurt you- you've steadily improved your score, so that's great.

As you may know, as an Indian IT engineer, the bar is higher to differentiate yourself. I think your Oil/Gas sector experience could help differentiate you, but other than, I don't see too much. Your academics are exceptional, but it's hard to tell if you've had robust leadership experience inside and outside of work.

I'd say that if you want to be in the tech sector after school, you probably want to focus your energies on west coast programs (assuming you want to work at a big tech company like Facebook, Apple, Google, Microsoft, etc... or even at a tech start-up). I'd suggest UC Berkeley as a reach school. On the east coast, you could look at MIT (again, a reach). As safer options, you could apply to Carnegie Mellon (Tepper) and UT Austin. Wharton would be another reach. NYU Stern could be a great fit.

Hope this helps as a starting point!

Mili

Mili Mittal
Senior Consultant
http://www.mbamission.com

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[mili]

I think UCLA would be a great choice. I'm not sure that Duke is as focused on tech, but as far as your competitiveness, it would be a good target school.

Good luck!
Mili

Mili Mittal
Senior Consultant
http://www.mbamission.com

Read the mbaMission Insider's Guides (16 individual school titles)

Download mbaMission’s Free Personal Statement Guide

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[mili]

Hi there,

Congratulations on Tepper!! And on waitlist at MIT - that's something!

It's a pretty tough choice! Which programs would you aim for this time around? It seems that the waitlist and ding from MIT/Berkeley would steer you away from those programs to somewhere just slightly higher than Tepper? Let me know what you have in mind this time around... I tend to think that when an opportunity presents itself you seize it, but of course everyone is different!

What concerns do you have with Tepper? Financially is it more expensive than other programs you'd want to target? Even after scholarship? Are you concerned about employment opps after school? If so, check out their recruiting statistics and see if the kind of companies you want to work for after school are recruiting there.

Let's keep this discussion going -- my answer is "it depends." :)

Cheers,
Mili

Mili Mittal
Senior Consultant
http://www.mbamission.com
 
Read the mbaMission Insider's Guides (16 individual school titles)
 
Download [url=http:// http://info.mbamission.com/MBA-Personal-Statement-Guide/]mbaMission’s Free Personal Statement Guide[/url]
 
Visit the mbaMission Blog
 
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[mili]

Got it. Yep - it's a tough call, honestly! It's true that Tepper isn't quite as strong a brand as some other programs on your list, but it's also still a pretty good program (ranked #19) by US News & World report (though we should take rankings with a grain of salt!).

There is also no guarantee that you'll get into NYU, Duke, UCLA, etc... though I think you have a good shot. In the end, as you know, it has to be your decision. But if you liked Tepper and if you think it meets your criteria, I wouldn't worry so much about reputation... a couple years out from your MBA, your employment history is going to count more than which business school you went to (this is my opinion). So, if you graduate Tepper and go work for Google or Facebook, it's not going to be materially different than graduating from UCLA and doing the same. It might make a difference with a program like Wharton, but I'd say given the results of Haas/MIT, Wharton is possible but not likely. I'd try to focus on going to a program that in known in your industry, and if Tepper sends grads to the companies you want to work for, then I think that's a strong indicator.

Again, it's a choice that only you can make. Either way, I think you'll land on your feet. Good luck!!

Best,
Mili

[mili]

Glad I could help and congratulations! I'm sure you'll have an amazing journey in the next two years. Keep us posted!

Best,
Mili

Mili Mittal
Senior Consultant
http://www.mbamission.com
 
Read the mbaMission Insider's Guides (16 individual school titles)
 
Download [url=http:// http://info.mbamission.com/MBA-Personal-Statement-Guide/]mbaMission’s Free Personal Statement Guide[/url]
 
Visit the mbaMission Blog
 
Follow mbaMission on Twitter